"Jorry's Gambia Page" a The Gambia Travel Page by Jorry

November - December 1996.

This is a little story about our holiday to The Gambia, a small country in Africa, it is stuck between the land Senegal. We did go there because it is in November 30 degrees and the flying is not so very long. In 6 hours time you are in a different culture.

Gambia was in that time a strange holiday country to go to, so it was something new to see. Don't expect to much from the country it self, it is a small country, no mountains, they have a kind of jungle. It is an African country where the people do not have much work or money, so they like a tip from us "rich" people.
If you have anything left at the end of your holiday, please give it to them, they are very happy with it.

Airport and bus trip to the hotel.

We came in Gambia in the afternoon, the airport is called Yundum and is not so far from the capitol Banjul.
There where dancers and they play music at the airport when we arrived. It is not so big, so in a little time we did have our bus and could go to our hotel. It is a very short trip and this is not bad if it is 30 degrees or more.

Hotel and pool and beach.

Some of the hotels are bad and others are nice. We had hotel Kombo Beach in a small village Kotu. 5 km. from Serrekunda. The food is good and it was a buffet, so you can have as much as you want. If you want a bottle of wine, ask for the price first!!!!!!!!!
De prices in the hotels are high and I found the prices in the restaurants round our hotel also high.
The swimming pool and the sea are very nice. The beach is also nice to sit on, the only thing that is not nice is that they beg for money the whole time, the first days it is ok but after 14 days it is not ok anymore.
Most of the time you give some money.
If you go for a walk, look out for thieves.

Trips.

Go by taxi to Banjul, the price is written on a sign, if you want a cheap taxi, walk a bit and then take the taxi that you find there, make a price.
Banjul is a nice town. If you want to go to a real African market, go to the market in Serrekunda. You can buy there everything and it is cheap, also dirty. Don't think it is an European market.
If you want to drink something in serrekunda, look for the bar with a Dutch lady, you can have a cool coke for a very small price.
The village Kotu is not much, there is more in the village Kololi.

We also rented a bike and went to Bakau, stay on the normal road and don't go in strange places. You can go to the crocodiles in Bakau, yu have to walk a bit so put on some good shoes.
There are more ways to make excursions to know how this little country look like.

Last words.

The people of Gambia are friendly, but most of the time they like something back for their kindness. They are poor so don't blame them to much.
Gambia is a country to go to in the winter time, if you look for a lot of sun and you don't want to go to far by plane. In the evening's is not so much to do. Stay in the daytime in your hotel or beach, and have a little trip sometime.
We did have malaria tablets and shots but I did not see one bug in my holiday.( lucky me )
You can change your money in your hotel, you can not pin money in Gambia. Everybody speaks English.
Go to a special African country go to GAMBIA.

Have a good time in THE GAMBIA.

Hotel Kombo Beach in Kotu.
This is a normal tourist hotel, it is right at the beach.
At the left and right are more hotels,
a couple of small shops and some restaurants.

This is a small beach bar at Kotu beach.
It is cheap and there where no people when we had our drink.