Top The Gambia hotels
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For the Toyota Landcruiser we needed new tyres of the right size. We were advised to look for these tyres in a shop in Serrekunda.At the main road in Serrekunda we found this shop with lots of second hand tyres in all types and sizes you can imagine.
Before we could leave for our transsahara trip, the two 4WDs had to have a check up.In Ker Serigne was a local workshop. Every time we thought the cars were fixed, it turned out there was a new technical problem.Finally we had a delay of almost four days before we could start our overland trip.
Like everywhere in West Africa we saw also in the Gambia a lot of horse carts, like this one in the centre of Serrekunda along one of the mainroads.In the Gambia the most horse or donkey carts were used for transporting goods. In other parts of West Africa we saw that these carts were used as taxis or for transporting the whole family.
If you stay in one of the hotels at the coast like we did during our first visit to the Gambia, it's nice to hire a moped for short distances.We did hire a moped and visited quite easily other places along the coast, Serrekunda and even Banjul. We took the scenic old coastal road with wonderful baobab trees.When I see baobabs, it gives me always the real feeling to be back in Africa.
Driving standards are unpredictable and some local taxis are not roadworthy. Driving after dark carries added hazards because of poor road and vehicle lighting. For this reason, you should exercise particular caution when walking along roads at night. In the event of an accident, emergency medical facilities are very limited. During the rainy season (June‑October) potholes on roads are common and you should take care when driving. Poor roads up-country make travel outside of the Greater Banjul area difficult year round. You can use a UK driving licence for up to three months. Security checkpoints are common on all major routes in The Gambia. They are not always well sign-posted and care should be taken when approaching them, especially at night.
There are only two ways accross the River Gambia: the tiny fishermen boats, overcrowded, or the huge ferry, also overcrowded with people, cars, and TIR trucks.It was a very hard experience, since the overload made the boat run aground. One huge truck had to get out, so the trip could continue...Then, the overcrowded people compartments, with people vomiting, the smell of overdue meat and poultry, etc was just unbaring...Very hard times in Gambia...!
Green taxi'sThese tourist taxi's will also bring you somewhere for an agreed price, and if you like, the driver will wait for you to drive you back. And if you like, he also will join you to visit a market or so.Green taxi's are rather expensive...
In The Gambia, you have different kinds of taxi's...Yellow taxi'sThese ones are very cheap and are common used by the local people. Normally, they have a scheduled track, and stop every time someone wave with their hand. However, very often there's no place left, so you have to wait for another one.Price for one trip per person (approx. 5 kms) : 0,20 euroSome drivers also agree to bring you somewhere for an agreed price.
Buh Ba and Ibrahim Bah, two guys delivering sugar from one end of the country to the other waiting for the ferry as well...yes, there's a lot of waiting, and waiting and waiting and more waiting around here.
really looooong lines waiting for the one ferry that piles the river back and forth...the day i had to cross all 14km or something like that of the country, the single ferry had broken down and it took our taxi 6 hours to go that measely distance!
Kombo Beach Hotel Banjul
1 Review and 333 Opinions The Kombo Beach is the only hotel we have been to in The Gambia, we stayed here the first time and...
Kairaba Beach Hotel Kololi
2 Reviews and 283 Opinions well such an extraordinarily well run venue in Gambia. German influence, very efficient. What...
Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa Serekunda
371 Opinions
Reviews and photos of The Gambia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for The Gambia sightseeing.
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Q: Hi, we are going to Gambia on the 22nd Feb and our GP has given us a private prescription for Malarone. It's quite expensive and I...
A: It's not cheap anywhere as it is a relatively new and very effective anti-malarial drug, but is encumbered by patents, so there is only a single manufacturer, hence the...
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