Stores, Malls or Markets in The Gambia

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If you love your carvings then you must go to Brikama market,, be warned though i kid you not it can get a bit stressful,, i have been 3 times now and i have never made it round the entire market because of all the hassel,, the stall holders ask you to "look, no charge to look" BUT they never let you go!!!! once they have you!! be prepared to do some barganing and haggling,, but remember these men are trying to make a living,, get yourself a bargain but allow them to earn their money. we met on our first visit to gambia bubba, now we return every time and make sure we always buy something from him, you must visit bargains to be had i promise!!!

What to buy: Drums,, carvings, jewellery etc

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What to buy: The most beautiful wood statues of the Gambia are sold on this area and also in comparatively good price. Everything is handmade and you can see the artists doing the wood carving just there on the spot.A bit too anxious salesman are some pain in the ass but one must understand that they are just trying to make a living. Also be prepared for the young boys desperately trying to change addresses outside the market.

In all local markets you will find a vast range of hand crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

What to pay: Prices vary depending on where you are shopping. I found if you attempt to buy in more popular tourist areas those selling will attempt to charge you more than if you find a quieter local market. Still very cheap and i have always found to be of a good quality.

Food shopping is great at Bakau market, we bought two kilos of black pepper for next to nothing. The best place for all your non-tourist pesents has to be Serrekunda, all the Gambia's colour is here. One thing you must buy is Lucas' palm wine, get it fresh about 10am or at about 6pm when he has finished his collections. You can take a bottle back to your hotel, it will have fermented by the next day and will start getting more alcoholic. Due to restrictions on liquids in hand luggage you won't be able to take any home with you. You can however take home some well wrapped bottles of Cana and Casa Cana, the distilled palm and cashew juice in your main luggage. Our own four litres survived the flight, we're very pleased to say. Lucas also grows his own delicious fruit in the land around the lagoon that borders his Nature.

What to buy: Lucas is a lovely man and I do urge you to support him, try his palm juice he works so hard to harvest it. He does grow the whole range of those delicious tropical fruits buy it there and share it with him and his colourful friends who drop by.

What to pay: About 100 delasi for a bottle.

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In almost every hotel beach area you will see the fruit ladies. They carry fresh fruit on plates they balance on their heads. It is more of a show and an interesting experience.

Once you have agreed a price and which fruit you want, the fruit is prepared. Definately buy an orange. The lady pictured here "Ayshea" took out her very sharp MACHETE and peeled our oranges. The peel was removed as a single peice!

Cheap too.

What to buy: Definately buy at least an orange.

What to pay: Cheap. Just agree a price

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Always go the the local markets!! The Gambian markets are -- like most other countries -- the best places to really understand what people do for work, what they eat, how they relax, how they live...

What to buy: Beautiful batiks and woven coloured boxes; baskets, beaded belts, local wood carvings.

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The markets are interesting, But not for the faint hearted , when you see something you like be prepared to barter , have fun set yourself a price you would want to pay ,and dont forget these people are poor

What to buy: Gifts include local handcrafts and beautiful materials

What to buy: The Gambia is renowned for its creation of great batik designs and you can get cloth in all colours and sizes. Batik sarongs and tops are also a great purchase. There are specialist markets for batik goods where you can actually see how they make the different colours.

What to pay: Bargain and bargais some more...