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The Gambia Tourist Traps

Binde Kinte - The Gambia
Binde Kinte
by TracyG
Tips and photos of The Gambia tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and The Gambia locals.
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The Gambia Tourist TrapsTips 1 - 10 of 25  
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Hotel area
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    • JustinJansen
  • Updated By JustinJansen on March 28, 2005
  • The Gambia Page by JustinJansen
    • Abyssinian Roller - The Gambia
    Abyssinian Roller
    by JustinJansen
    Manu locals are around. So once out of the hotel people ask you if you need a guide ore a taxi and so on. Also some beggers are around. Also some prostitutes are around both men and woman!

    Please be friendly but ignore them! Try to arrange things in advance.

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    • David&Pauline
  • By David&Pauline on May 26, 2003
  • The Gambia Page by David&Pauline
    • David, Lucas, Abraham and Sam - The Gambia
    David, Lucas, Abraham and Sam
    by David&Pauline
    The biggest tourist trap has to be the one set by the international tour operators who get you into their welcome meetings before you can talk to the locals. The fill your mind with doubt and uncertainty putting you into a nervous state of mind so that you sign up for their overpriced tours of the Gambia. Don't commit yourself to any of these, take a walk down to the local bush taxi (that's the yellow and green ones that aren't allowed near your hotel) and ask a driver how much he'll charge for a trip across the Barra ferry to Juffure. That guy doesn't own that cab, he has to pay the owner a monthly fee for using it, put some money in his pocket not into the coffers of some German tour operator. Okay, so your going to be followed by one of the boys outside the hotel gate so be it, ask the driver should you trust this boy? Like as not he'll not want to share his tip with someone else and besides they have a five passenger limit. Please be generous to the locals they can show you the real Gambia for about quarter the cost of a tour operator and that includes a generous tip.

    Visit the local tourist sights but do it under your own steam. DON'T be lazy and let foreign companies take a bite out of local enterprise.

    Make friends with the people and experience the Gambia the way they do.

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    bargaining is the game
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    • johanl
  • By johanl on November 7, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by johanl
    • engine problems. - The Gambia
    engine problems.
    by johanl
    Whenever you buy something make sure you only pay 1/3 of the price that is asked. Always compare in different shops or markets.
    Look around for a while and do not buy stuff too quick. You'll be sorry afterwards

    Do discuss prices. Euro's or Dollars can be changed in the streets. You will get the best rate then. First inform at the official banks to see what the rate is like and than hit the streets. Youngsters will come over to your car and discuss a good rate. Get about 2 to 3 dalasi (local currency) more per Euro or Dollar more than the official rate.

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    This was my first trip to West...
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    • AndreasK
  • By AndreasK on September 8, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by AndreasK
    • The Gambia Tourist Traps
    by AndreasK
    This was my first trip to West Africa. We loved the country but were a little annoyed by the permanent hassle of the young local people, called Bumster, who will not let you walk alone on the beach or in the city. They will always offer their services, e.g. shopping or tour guidance.

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    "Friendly" children
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    • grets
  • Updated By grets on January 26, 2005
  • The Gambia Page by grets
    • Local banana seller - The Gambia
    Local banana seller
    by grets
    All over The Gambia you will be approached by friendly children practicing their English. "Hello", "What's your name", "Where are you from", "Your first time in Gambia", "How you like my country?" "I give you my address, you send me gift" so on and so forth.

    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!

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    • dedeckerm.
  • Updated By dedeckerm. on September 6, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by dedeckerm.
    • Friends forever - The Gambia
    Friends forever
    by dedeckerm.
    A lot of people make problems about the 'bumsters'.
    These are young people and they don't let you for one minute alone. If you walk for 2, 3, 5 or more km. - well they walk and talk to you.
    Even if you are sitting on the beach, well there are them!
    But for me and my husband : no problem. Because before we went to the Gambia, I read about this 'phenomenon'. So we like it but for others it is maybe a problem.

    Stay inside :-))

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    We were out walking one day...
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    • jill_archer
  • By jill_archer on August 26, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by jill_archer
    • The Gambia Tourist Traps
    by jill_archer
    We were out walking one day when we were stopped by a young guy and asked if we would like to see a new born baby just around the corner, we went with him and he took us down back alleys way off the main road, When we got to the house the 'new' baby was about 6 months old-what they wanted was us to give them some money, which we did to politely get away.

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    Some hotel guests had been out...
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    • jill_archer
  • By jill_archer on August 26, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by jill_archer
    • The Gambia Tourist Traps
    by jill_archer
    Some hotel guests had been out fishing and caught this beautiful Stingray fish (I think that is what it is called) the local fishermen hung it up and it was over an hour before the poor thing died.

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    The worst tourist trap has to...
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  • By simonforrest on August 24, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by simonforrest
    • The worst tourist trap has to be to spend all your money on 'tourist' activities rather than on local things. Is it not better to give a local driver/guide your money than give a tour firm/hotel/big business extra profit ? Sure you must be careful but isn't that part of the fun and stress of holidays.

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    The men working as local...
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  • By alex2000 on August 24, 2002
  • The Gambia Page by alex2000
    • The men working as local guides may offer to negotiate prices for you. This happened to me and i ended up being 'ripped off' for camera hire (the camera broke after one day and ruined the photos i had taken) I later found out that i had paid way over the odds and instead of getting me a good price the guide had actually been negotiating a cut for himself!

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