Gambia Experience

Gambia 'The Smiling Coast'

Advantages: Sunshine, Mid-haul flight, Everyone happy and helpful
Disadvantages: Friendship is not free!

I visited The Gambia in April 2008 and must admit I had mixed feelings when I returned. Looking back now, we did have an amazing holiday, but I will admit it was far from a relaxing experience!... however we did come home with some great memories. I had read all the reviews and was prepared for the friendliness of the locals - after all they call it the 'Smiling Coast'. Everyone is friendly, wants to show you around, take you to their home. Even ...
...get approached constantly when you are outside your hotel - predominately by the local 'bumsters', who are unemployed young Gambian men eager to earn some money by showing you around and some can be very very pushy. However, we did befriend a local and this in many ways made our holiday a lot more interesting and easier. Accompanied with a well chosen friend we were able to travel on the local buses and local taxis and learnt so much about life ...

flamegirl75 07.01.2009 · Read full review
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Review of General: The Gambia

No Sex Please We're British...True or False

Advantages: Economical package tours, all that you would expect from Africa
Disadvantages: Not that many attractions and may get boring after a time

Banjul is the capital city of The Gambia, which is located on the West Coast of Africa. Banjul was formerly known as Bathurst until 1973. It was founded by the British in 1816 and was governed as part of the British colony of Sierra Leone before becoming the capital of the British Colony and Protectorate of The Gambia. The Gambian economy depends on export of peanuts, fish and more importantly the tourism industry I have visited Banjul at least ...
...in July of 2000. Banjul is a very popular holiday destination point especially for the British. The overall package tours are very reasonable compared to other destinations. There are many tour operators doing packages to Banjul. I cannot give you much price information since I have not used a tour operator personally. I have always gone there individually. The Gambia has so much to offer all year round from its unsophisticated charm, miles of ...

vinodgm 11.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Banjul (Gambia)

ALONG UNSPOILT BEACHES AND THROUGH MANGROVE SWAMPS

Advantages: a different way to see the Gambian countryside
Disadvantages: I fell off!

A day spent horse riding in the Gambia, West Africa. During my first visit to the Gambia, about five years or so ago, a fellow tourist and I arranged (with the help of my Gambian friend, Dudu) to witness the sights, sounds and smells of the West African beaches and countryside on horseback. If you would like to read more about this country and about Dudu and my other Gambian friends, I will give my opinion “Welcome to the smiling coast of ...
...As this category suggests (well, it was me who suggested it!) this opinion is purely about trekking on horseback in the Gambia. The cost of the horse riding (the currency is Dalasi) was the English equivalent of a few pounds per rider. The ‘riders’ were a well-mixed group of Brits aged from 12 to 50+ years of age, with varying riding skills from complete beginners to experienced riders. With a few who thought they could ride as their ...

janna 30.06.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Pony trekking in the Gambia

Fishing Village of Tanji

Advantages: Lovely beach, camel rides along the beach
Disadvantages: Smelly. Dead fish on beach near the port

Tanji is a busy fishing village. When the colourful and handmade fishing boats come in it's a hive of activity along the beach. There is an area to one side where the fish is dried - for about 2 weeks (hence the smell). It's very colourful and nothing is put on for the tourists; what you see is what you get. The ladies, in their colourful clothes, along with small children can be seen either dragging the fish in buckets up the beach, or gathering ...
...the road from the beach is a camel stable (English owners) and you can go on a trek along the beach. This is a good way to see the fisherman & womenfolk going about their business without seeming to be too nosey! Once past the fishing port the beach is really lovely with small cafe's dotted along the edge. ...

Lindyloo100 04.02.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Tanji (Gambia)

The Serekunda

Advantages: knowledge of the locals' way of life
Disadvantages: stuffy air with pungent smell

Serekunda is one part of Gambia that offers one the opportunity to see the locals and know a bit of their way of life. Well, the duration spent in Serekunda determines how much one gets to know. I was only privileged to spend a few hours in one of the main attractions in Serekunda, which is the market. As I and my host trekked towards Serekunda Market in The Gambia, I was not sure what to expect as it was my first time in the market. I saw some ...
...it beside a trader in Serekunda Market, he is sure brewing Ataya. As we moved around the market, I saw shops that had spices, cereals, legumes, tomato puree and some other food items packed in small transparent poly bags. I commented to my friend and she said, "Yes, food items are sold in 'aliquots' so the least person could buy." The smallest pack of spaghetti would only be enough for a child of a few months or may be a year and certainly not for ...

Dawn1177 12.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Serekunda (Gambia)