The Gambia Travel Forum

My wife and I will be in Gambia for a week next March. We are staying in a hotel in Bakau.

Due to the close proximity of Senegal, we'd like to venture there while we're in the Gambia.

Ideally, we'd like some sort of organised tour, preferably with an overnight stop in Senegal. We are not particularly bothered about getting to Dakar, and would be quite happy with somewhere relatively close to the Gambian border.

Can anyone recommend a tour company that would do a trip like this?

Also, is crossing the Senegalese border straightforward? Will we have to buy a visa (we're UK nationals) and will we have to pay a bribe?

Looking forward to any help we can get!

Jason

Hi Jason,
Presumably, you are staying in the African Village Hotel in Bakau! Nice place where you will get more of a Gambian experience than on the tourist strip. Some lovely craft stalls, and general market just a walk away. Fishing jetty down the road, where it is lovely late in the day to watch the 'catch' coming in! You will also not be far from Cape Point, which has a lovely beach.
I am very familiar with Bakau, as I lived there for six months.

To answer your question re: Senegal. It would be better (if you are up for it!) to organise the trip with one of the registered tourist guides, which you will find in the Hotel entrance (trained and wear a uniform) Discuss where you want to go, agree a price (roughly) and let him deal with all the money transactions for transport accommodation etc., as he will get it at their prices (not toubob - insist on this!) Yellow taxi (local), or if you want to be REAL Gambian Gela Gela's which go from Serekunda, (mini vans)
I went into Casamace area from Gambia. NO BRIBES should be pay'd. No visa, but you will have to take your passports for them to be stamp'd etc at the checkpoints.
I am sure that you can buy an official tour, but it will be mega expensive, and not so much fun!

Gambia is beautiful, once you get out of the tourist areas.

Pm if you want more specific information.

Hope this helps!

When I stayed in the Gambia (it’s a very very small country), the people at the hotel told me to only take excursions with their organised tours. They told us horror stories about ‘unauthorised’ tour operator breaking down in the middle of nowhere and how dangerous it was.

The only problem? They had no official tours into Senegal.

I went to the bar just outside the hotel (always a good source of information) and they gave me a telephone number of a tour operator. They picked us up the next day and it was one of the best days out ever. I paid once we were underway. The bar had several posters with local companies that had probably not bribed the hotel I stayed in. Ask around and only pay when they show up.

Have a great time!


The border is very informal. No worries.

Actually I may consider this as well
where would you suggest we go in Senegal?

Well, in defence of the Gambian people, the Hotel Reps etc. would tell the majority of the tourists that information, mainly because they want to 'rip them off' moneywise. This is always the case with all these 'organised' trips.

If you go with the local people, your money is going back into their economy, which can only be a good thing.

Breakdowns are always hit or miss because of the state of the roads, does'nt matter what vehicle you use.

Gambianlady

I sent you email but it bounced back

I wondering if you had any contacts with reasonable taxi drivers as we would like an all day taxi driver with us all the time
If its no trouble

Bal

there are many nice places in Senegal. Casamance is a dream, only I dn't go there all the time because I'm afraid of the rebels. But an experienced driver knows how to move there in safety.

Dakar is my nightmare, except for the Island Goré which is very interesting and beautiful.

I never went with organised tours anyway. When you're there,you will feel the country when you are moving with the people. I will mail you the fon number of a very reliable driver

I know a very reliable and experienced driver, who is licensed and registered as a guide. Call Lamin "Benz": (00220) 99 58 523

in feb this year we went into senegal.
we used the taxi rank outside the hotel, PALM GROVE, BANJUL HIGHWAY, and the price was displayed on the notice board at the rank as is prices for all journeys. we paid 3000 dalasis which did not include the hotel price but every taxi driver knows where to stay and if you tell him your price range he will oblige.
the official gambian tour guides , beige uniforms, sitting at the main gates and hotel entrances, can do all this for you as well, but, tip, they are all unpaid and rely on tips and what they can get away with as well so make sure everything is agreed beforehand, and i mean everything.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. A side trip into Senegal is definitely on the cards.

Yes, it will be our first time in the Gambia, but not Africa. We've already been to Cairo and Marrakech. Looking forward to seeing both the Gambia and Senegal.