20 Gambia Travel Tips From Local Drivers

What should you arrange before you land?

Your first hour in a new country is much calmer when the transport is already sorted. Banjul International Airport is at Yundum, about 25 to 40 minutes from the main hotel areas, depending on where you are staying and the traffic.

1. Book the airport ride before you fly. A pre-booked driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a board, helps with your bags and takes you to your hotel. Our Banjul Airport transfers page explains how the meet-and-greet works.
2. Send your flight number and hotel or area. We check flights before leaving, so a late flight does not mean you have to start again with new arrangements. Give us the hotel name too, so the driver knows the destination.
3. Keep WhatsApp easy to reach. If you cannot see your driver after you come through arrivals, send us a message. It is a simple backup when bags or passport control take longer than expected.
4. Tell us about extra bags before the day. A normal car suits up to four people with normal holiday luggage. If you have golf clubs or a lot of additional bags, say so when booking and we can send a bigger car.

How should you use taxis and private drivers?

There are different kinds of taxi journeys here. Knowing which one suits the trip saves time and keeps the conversation clear before you set off.

5. Agree the fare before getting in. This is the straightforward rule for a taxi you take from the street. With a fixed, pre-booked fare, the price is agreed before the journey and there is nothing to discuss on arrival.
6. Use the right taxi for the journey. Green tourist taxis work from hotels and the airport. Yellow taxis with a green stripe are town taxis shared with local people on fixed routes. They are a different option from a pre-booked airport car with luggage.
7. Book a driver for several stops. If you want to combine a market, a nature reserve and lunch, a private driver in The Gambia gives you one person and one car for the day rather than a separate taxi at each stop. Our day trips can also be flexible if you choose to stay longer somewhere.
8. Use your first market visit to get your bearings. Our local tip is to go to Serrekunda Market with your driver the first time. It is easy to lose your way among the stalls, and we can help you find your way around.

What makes a day trip easier?

Most visitors do not need to fill every day. Pick a few places that interest you and give each one its own time. The best outings are better when you do not have to keep watching the clock.

9. Leave early for the Roots trip. Kunta Kinteh Island and Juffureh is a full day from the coast. The day starts with the Banjul to Barra ferry, and ferry queues can be long, so we leave early to get ahead of them.
10. Wear trainers for the Makasutu forest walk. The creek canoe trip is a highlight at Makasutu Culture Forest, but there is also a walk through the forest. Trainers are more useful there than flip-flops, and a morning visit is cooler on the creek.
11. Take binoculars if birds are your thing. Abuko and Tanji are two places where a local bird guide can make a real difference: they spot things many visitors would walk straight past. Our birdwatching tours are a useful starting point if this is your main interest.

How should you behave around wildlife and local people?

Close wildlife encounters and busy working places are part of the appeal of The Gambia. A little care keeps them enjoyable for everyone and respects the people and animals you have come to see.

12. Follow the keeper at Kachikally. At the crocodile pool in Bakau, only touch a crocodile if the keeper points to it, and keep well back from the water's edge. The crocodiles and monkeys tour combines Kachikally with Bijilo Forest Park.
13. Do not feed the monkeys at Bijilo. Feeding is discouraged because it is not good for the monkeys and can make them pushy. You will still see plenty of them. Keep sunglasses and phones in your bag while you walk.
14. Ask before making close-up photographs of people. This matters especially around the boats and fish-smoking houses at Tanji. A quick question is more respectful than assuming, and it usually makes the encounter easier for everybody.

How can you enjoy markets, city life and the south coast?

The coast has very different days within a short drive: a market morning in Banjul, the boats at Tanji, or a slow beach day farther south. Choose the pace that suits you rather than trying to do all three at once.

15. Visit Albert Market in the morning. A weekday morning is when the market is in full swing. Haggling is normal there; begin at about half the first price and keep the exchange friendly. You can combine it with Arch 22 on our Banjul city tour.
16. Make time for Tanji in the late afternoon. This is when the painted fishing boats come in and the beach is busy with the catch. Allow about one to two hours, or add more time if you are also visiting the nearby bird reserve. Our Tanji and southern beaches tour links this working beach with the quieter south coast.
17. Take the sea seriously at Sanyang and Kartong. The Atlantic can have strong currents. Swim where local people swim, do not swim alone and do not go far out. These beaches are ideal for a relaxed day, so there is no need to rush into the water.

How can you plan a first week without rushing?

A week on the coast is enough for a balance of short outings and bigger days. Start near your hotel, then choose one or two full-day trips instead of spending every morning in the car.

18. Begin with something close. Bijilo Forest Park is close to Kololi, while Kachikally in Bakau and Banjul are useful early outings. That gives you a feel for the coast before choosing longer journeys from our top 10 places to visit in The Gambia.
19. Keep the upriver trip separate. The River Gambia National Park, Janjanbureh and the Wassu Stone Circles need about two days. On the chimpanzee boat trip, visitors view the chimp islands from the boat only; nobody lands on the islands. See the outline on our two-day Janjanbureh upriver tour.
20. Leave one day open. You may want a beach day, another hour at a place you liked, or simply a quieter day between longer trips. That space often makes a week feel more relaxed than a strict list of stops.

What else do visitors ask our drivers?