The Gambia Travel Forum

Hi! We have a week in Gambia in November, staying in Kotu beach resort. However, we really want to get out into the "real" Gambia during our stay so plan to travel out to different towns and nature reserves. Is it possible to travel to River Gambia National Park and back in a day or 2 days? What is the best way to get there? And how much can we expect to pay? Is there anywhere to stay overnight in that area if needed?

Does anyone recommend any other day trips which are a must? Which parts of Senegal are reachable in a day trip?

Thanks for any advice you can give me!

Hi I am thinking of holidaying in the Gambia next March. As The Gambia's main religion is Muslim do the restaurants serve Pork products as in Turkey and not in Egypt.

As the only meats I eat are Chicken and Pork I find this a little restrictive when eating out.

Thanks Danny

I have met a lady on the internet, who has invited me to come to Serrekunda for a holiday, I would be able to stay at her house, would this be safe to do.
I am a white english man

Hi all,
Have managed to book a cheap last minute holiday. Staying at a budget hotel, African Village Hotel in Bakau. Anyone know anything of that Hotel?

I am also going on my own, I am 62. I don't want to be wandering around at night looking for places to eat etc if it is considered dangerous. Anyone know what that area is like at night and if there are any 'cheapish' places to eat etc. Cheap as in , say, £5 a meal, not three course and all that.

If it is a bit dodgy in that area I will opt for the H/B option at the hotel for an extra £56 for 7 nights.

Also, during the day I will try to get out and about but I want to use the local transport to get around. No point in splashing out unnecessarily if I am on a last minute budget holiday. ALSO i think it would be more fun to get around like that and I guess it is all one price in those vehicles.

Any help or advice offered would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Pete

Is it posible to buy in Gambia Malarone or Lariam against malaria? Shoul I have a recipe? How much are these medicines?

6 Years ago I took a very interesting bus ride to Georgetown. Since this time I have heard there are no more buses travveling this route as the roads are too bad. Is this true and if so what is the best way to get to Janjanbureh. I do not wiah to join a tourist organised trip - keep it real!!
Thank you everyone
Sally

My girlfriend & i ( mid 40`s couple)are going to Hotel Jerma on kololi beach at easter for the very first time, we do not know what to expect as we know of no one who has been.(11th apr for 1 week) can anyone tell me whether it is out of season or too far away from nightlife.

Hello everybody. I am visiting the Gambia with my wife in April.

I am keen to find out how much I can expect to pay for a meal for two.

I am staying at the Kombo Beach Hotel (on the Kotu Beach)

I would be grateful for any tips, recommendations, advice.

Cheers, Ryan

i would like information on women traveling alone in gambia..any or all advise will be very welcome

Hi All

Going to Gambia for x mas
Is it necessary to get "tourist guides" as looking at some of the forums they seem to harrass you unless you had one.

Is it preatty safe to waqlk around in evening and generally.
Also do they have draught beer?

Thanks in advance
Bal

Hello all, I'm off to the Gambia in 2 weeks.
What nasty fever jabs will my Doctor give me?
Thanks JK

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 All
Just booked the above holiday for 7 nts from the 20th December 08 from manchester.

Any advice on weather, eating out, nightlife, beer prices, taxis, etc would be really appreciated.
Are taxis cheap?
Any nice lively areas by our hotel?
Drinking holes?

Thanks in advance

Hi All
Just booked the above holiday for 7 nts from the 20th December 08 from manchester.

Any advice on weather, eating out, nightlife, beer prices, taxis, etc would be really appreciated.
Are taxis cheap?
Any nice lively areas by our hotel?
Drinking holes?

Thanks in advance

What should we tip, at the airport, after a meal?

How can you decide who is a good guide to hire to take you about?

How many children are there in the schools? We are staying at the Senegambia, so want to go to a school in that area? Is it a good idea to give children we meet a little gift? like pencil case, pens, paper etc?

We have four children, is Gambia a safe place four our children?

Any places a must for us to visit?

Any other advice appreciated.

Sorry posted so late, just found website!!!

Can't wait, sounds great, just a bit worried about the Bumsters and mozzies!!!!

Hi all
Myself and my boyfriend are off to the gambia for the 1st time in December / January and are staying at the Balmoral Apartments near to the Senegambia strip - has anyone else on this forum stayed there before? If so can you tell me what the security at the complex is like?

We are there for new year's eve - any info on what local new year celebrations take place and where is the best place to go in the area we are staying?

Just a few more questions - for now, am sure i'll think of more! Does it get chilly in the evenings this time of year and what is the best anti malaria tablets around? i got bit terrible in thailand 8 years ago and want to avoid the same thing happening again! I have also seen an advert for patches from dontbiteme.com which aparently stop mozzy bites - does anyone know if these work?

Thanks in advance, any other 1st timer info will be greatly received x

Hi

Could anybody tell me if Malorone is available in the Gambia and at what cost.

Thanks

Hi all

New to the forum. Haven't had the chance to add any information about myself..Will do.I visited Gambia christmas '08 for one week.. I stayed at Palm Grove hotel.. I really enjoyed it there although it was a little isolated. Far from anywhere else. Taxis aren't a problem. I am thinking of revisitng again for the last week in December, spending the new year there. Has anyone stayed at Sunbeach or Kombo? Read some good reviews on Sunbeach hotel. Will welcome some useful tips/advice.
p.s Does anyone know what happened to Palm Grove? Heard that it will not be re-opening back as a hotel.
Thanx

Hy!
Will I have problems as a white man in a black country?
Manfred

Is the Palma Rima hotel child friendly? , like if they were on a holiday with the school?

Has anybody holidayed at the palma rima at Koto in Gambia. Thanks

Hi im going to the gambia in november, i have been to kenya is it simular,has anybody stayed at the palmer rima. thank you

when you holiday in gambia can you buy your holiday clothes & toilitries there

Hey there,

I heading to The Gambia at the start of June for 2 weeks. its my first time and I'm very excited - I've been reading lots about it online - I've just noticed that the Roots festival will be on while I'm there... but other than what the festival is about and various press releases I can't seem to find any info on it, ie.whether its a ticketed event - where to buy tickets and where in the Counrty the festival will be taking place. Is it like Carnaval in Brazil and is simply celebrated throughout the country or will it mostly be taking place in Banjul??
I know that june is the start of the wet season - but what exactly does that mean - will it be raining all the time?? I'm Irish so it will be like home if thats the case ;)
Thanks...

Why do the main tour operators in the UK stop serving the Gambia between end April and start November? Is it really just too hot for a fair skinned person like me? Would You advise going anyway? Thanks, Jon.

Hello!!
I'm heading to Cape point with my parents next week and wondered if anyone could help. unfortunately, we have very different ideas about travelling and they booked us on a package deal with a nice hotel, etc, whereas i'm more used to travelling alone & trying to experience more of the local life....i'm not liking the idea of bein stuck in a tourist resort when i will be in such an interestiting country... Just wondered if anyone could offer advice about how i might manage to escape the tourist enclosure from cape point to see a little of the real Gambian life & try some local food, culture, etc...perhaps hiring a bike or something? would be very grateful for any advice.

would anyone know of or could recommend charity/ volunteer organisations in the gambia which would allow me to do some volunteer work - thanks

hello,

I am trying to get an idea of how much money to budget for a trip to The Gambia. What is a the average cost of food, lodging etc? I know that exchange rate is about 28 dalasi/1 USD, but I want to know what to expect....I want to know the local prices if possible, so that I can have an advantage in bargaining!

thanks,

michelle
M

the first question

Did anyone ever hear of the blue parrot as a place tostay in the kololi area?

the second question.... how easy is it to convert money (sterling) at the airport

Is there a better place than the airport to convert money

would bringing travellers cheques be useful in the gambia

Many thanks, yet again,

D.

Hi, We're off to The Gambia for a week next Friday and I've been trying to figure out how to do an overnight trip to Dakar. Because we're only away for a week it really has to be no more than 2 nights max in Senegal. I found a really good trip with Gambia Tours (http://www.gambiatours.gm/ex_senegal_roundtrip.html) but I've already enquired and they are not able to do the trip while we're there.

I'm thinking of going it alone (well, me & Jonathan) but overland sounds complicated. I also looked into flying but Air Senegal's online reservation system doesn't seem to be working and I think it's really expensive.

Has anyone made this trip recently and can offer advice?

Thanks.