We chatted with most of the children who approached us, being friendly but saying a firm no when it came to exchanging addresses and giving presents. Mostly they accepted this and would still carry on chatting for the fun of it, but there were some very persistent little buggers who made it very unpleasant for everyone.
The alternative is to either totally ignore these children, which would be a shame as an interaction with them can enrich your experience of the Gambia. Of course, some people found the hassle so much that they never ventured outside their beach hotel after the first day!









