I visited The Gambia a few years ago and it was one of the best holidays I have ever had.
My family stayed at the Senegambia Beach Hotel, in the town of Kololi. I would recommend staying in Kololi, as it contains the most restaurants and bars. Alternatively, there are hotels in Bajul, the Capital, however there are less amenities there.
The Senegambia Hotel is a self-contained complex, with rooms based in blocks. There are about 8 rooms in each building block. This provides a bit of privacy and makes you feel as if you are not crammed in with hundreds of people.
The hotel is set on huge grounds, with plenty of places to go. The grounds contain lots of trees, grass and greenery, which is nice to look at. Also, there are many exotic birds and wildlife on site, which can be readilly seen. A set of particularly amusing inhabitants are monkeys! Yes, there are several monkeys swinging from trees and occasionally onto peoples balconys! I spent several hours watching and feeding the monkeys!
There is a big dining room, with indoor and outdoor seating. This is a buffet-style dining area, with a variety of food, depending on the evenings' theme. However, as with a lot of hotels abroad, the food is not always piping hot. I was unlucky enough to catch a stomach bug, probably from the salad. Alternatively, you can eat at a separate restaurant within the hotel, which provides snack-type meals. However, there is not much vegetarian food available, so i would recommend being Bed and Breakfast, as the restaurants near the hotel have plenty of delicious African food, suitable for vegetarians.
A typical room at the hotel has either double or twin beds, with a bathroom. There are two indoor chairs and coffee table, and two plastic chairs for sitting outside your room. However, a significant disadvantage of this hotel is the lack of air conditioning. It is extrememely hot during the day and can get uncomfortably hot during the night. The heat also means that there are a lot of mosquitoes around, which is a nusiance.
The staff at the hotel were fantastic, always offering to help. Infact, all the Africans we met in The Gambia were lovely and welcoming.
There are many interesting trips available. I took a trip to a local lake, where we rode in dug-out canoes, watched the fantastic array of birds, and had an authentic African breakfast while watching the sunrise. It was a marvellous and memorable occasion. However, the trips are fairly expensive, ranging from ₤50-₤100 per person.
Overall, The Gambia provides a sunshine holiday for people wanting to travel further affield, with the desire to explore new places, off the beaten track. I would thoroughly recommend staying at the Senegambia Hotel, as it provides a comfortable base in a beautiful country.
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Advantages: The largest grounds of any hotel in the Gambia, excellent food, friendly helpfull staff. Disadvantages: None really, overallgood, Locals can be tiresome outside of hotel.
Advantages: The largest grounds of any hotel in the Gambia, excellent food, friendly helpfull staff. Disadvantages: None really, overallgood, Locals can be tiresome outside of hotel.
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