Tourist Attractions in The Gambia

Pretty much any beach along the commercialised hotel stretches on the coast are dotted with a mixture of beggars and locals with sales skills that would put most corporate high flyers to shame. Be warned, the hotel staff tend to employ local folk to patrol the borders to stop them hard selling you so if you must venture out of the confines then you're on your own, and they give you a really hard sell and pressure for money.

Unique Suggestions: If you're really not interested you can make it known but expect to make the point a few times first!

Fun Alternatives: Gambia is a wonderful country and very friendly, if you don't fancy spending all your time on the beach there are plenty of tours and excursions in the interior of the country, be sure to go in a group though; with people who know the local value of things or expect to pay sometimes 5 times over the odds!

The Green Tourist taxis are not different from their yellow cousins other than colour and price! Walk out of the controlled tourist zones avoiding various touts, negotiate a competitive price with a yellow taxi or better still take a bush taxi - the large vans which take set routes. Just keep in mind they only leave when they are full. A lengthy wait may be the price of bargain fare. Travel at peak times may be problematic and if you are lucky you will share your ride with some livestock!

Unique Suggestions: Negotiate your price. The taxis attempted to charge prices that would make a British taxi driver blush!

Whilst on the beach be aware of all those who want to be your friend and ten minutes later are putting their hand out saying "give from your heart!" they want money off you,, dont get me wrong i have met lots of lovely people in gambia, that is the reason why i have been 3 times in 18 months i just love the locals,, but like every where in the world you get the ones who are just after what they can get from you, another is they say they are going to give you something they have made,, it is a gift from them,, then ten minutes later they are asking you to pay for it,, if you dont want it,, dont take and certainly dont pay for it!! whilst eating at the touristy bits you seem to get inudated with people coming up all the time trying to sell things to you,, hey im not saying turn them away because i too have bought some lovely paintings from the locals just be carefull thats all.

The holiday company reps will try to sell you their trips.They do this within the first 24 hours of your arrival,before you have time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings.They will advise against using the local guys as your guides,telling you that it may not be safe.DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD OF IT.The local guys will give a better service for a fraction of the price and you are then supporting the economy of the Gambia and not lining the pockets of the travel company.Remember the average wage for locals is £10 per week.If you are anywhere near the Palm Beach Hotel at Kotu Beach go and find Seedy who is the pool attendant.He will look after you well and take you on any trips that you like.Say that Sherie and Mark recomended him.He is an Honest hardworking family man.

Like a couple of suckers we took pens,pencils ,books,etc,etc AND GAVE MONEY TOO!
DON'T YOU BE FOOLED,yes this is a poor nation but the more we do the less they will try to help themselves.Basically the trick is the money goes straight into the teachers pockets and not into the school itself

Unique Suggestions: Definately do not give any money

A local bumster noticed my wife had several mosquitoe bites on her arms and legs. English mosquitoe cream no good" he said and picked up a jar of cream from a stall in the market. He opened the jar and said "Smell, coco butter very good protection from mosquitoes" and smeared cream down my wife's arm "Only 450 dalasis" he said. I replied "No thanks" by then the stall holder joined in "How much will you pay me" he said. I replied "Nothing, I do not want your coco butter" "You have already used it" he shouted, to which I replied "No your friend used it, so he can pay for it but I'm certainly not giving you 450 dalasis for a tub of coco butter" I then walked away leaving the bumster and the sall holder arguing. That particular bumster never came near us again. We did later buy a jar of coco butter for 50 dalasis only to find it was just a cheap skin cream. (But it does smell nice)

Unique Suggestions: Just smile and say "No thank you" most bumsters are just trying to make a few dalasis and are harmless, sometimes they can be annoying and will follow you for half an hour or more just say you don't want a guide and you prefer to walk by yourself and no matter how long they follow they will not get any money from you, they will eventually get the message and leave you alone.

Fun Alternatives: Most hotels have "official" guides who will take you around the markets and protect you from the bumster for 100 or 200 dalasis, but a guide is not really neaded.

The illegal money changers on the border offer a much better rate than the banks

but ask them the rate then do the maths in your head or on your own calculator.

They have a trick I cant quite explain it but it brings up a slightly lower amount which is negative so you might notice the minus sighn next to it

Also dont get seen doing this you wont get in trouble but the other guy will

Taking a visit to Jufureh to see Binde Kinte (a decendnant of Kunta Kinte, a famous slave taken to America around 200 yrs ago.) It is very very touristy, with people arriving by the bus load, waiting to have their photo taken with Binde, give it a miss if you want to avoid the crowds.

Unique Suggestions: Get your photo taken!

Fun Alternatives: Visit the much smaller villages that have unique character.