The Gambia holidays are simply idyllic, imagine a soft golden sandy beach overlooked by palm trees and lapped by the Atlantic Ocean. Just six hours away, you could be enjoying some winter sunshine sooner than you think.
Description
Looking for a holiday destination with a difference? The Gambia holidays could be just what you're looking for. This small West African country, measuring just over 4,000 square miles is wrapped around the River Gambia and offer an idyllic holiday experience with year round sunshine virtually guaranteed. Gambia can be as busy or as relaxed as you desire, the wonderfully golden beaches,like popular Kololi Beach are very welcoming and ready made for sunbathing. If you're in the mood to explore you'll be spoilt for choice with beautiful landscapes, fascinating history and culture.
There's plenty to discover. Imagine a 30 mile stretch of superb beaches with soft golden sands, overlooked by palm trees and lapped by the Atlantic Ocean. Book Gambia holidays and you'll experience traditional culture and a landscape that has remained largely unspoilt by tourism. Gambia holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to see some of the wonders Africa has to offer including lush vegetation and exotic wildlife as well as fabulous beaches. The best of all worlds on your African adventure.
One of the best things about holidays to The Gambia though, especially if you tend to suffer from jet lag, is you can be by lapping up the gorgeous sunshine in no time at all. Gambia is in the same time zone as the UK and is only a six hour flight, making it even more attractive as a holiday destination.
The Gambia is one of the smallest African countries with a rich heritage and is ideal for winter sun holidays. The people of The Gambia possess a genuine willingness to help and Africa's oldest English speaking county offers visitors a truly warm welcome. This friendly country is teeming with vibrant markets and merchants trading against a backdrop of colonial architecture - a throwback to the British occupation in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Discover the vibrancy of Bakau, Serrekunda and the capital, Banjul, which is as colourfully African as you might imagine. The beach town of Kololi is one of Gambia’s most popular places to visit. Spend long days leisurely lolling on the golden sands before exploring “the Strip,” Kololi’s main thoroughfare, lined with restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. Brave the bush on a guided safari, chatter with the monkeys of Bijilo Forest Park and bargain for handmade treasures at the Senegambia Craft Market.
During the day, fish for Barracuda on the Atlantic Ocean, strike a bargain in one of the many markets and in the evening, sample the wide variety of Gambian and international cuisine. Dine on freshly caught seafood including ladyfish, barracuda, snapper, butterfish, lobster and huge Atlantic prawns. Gambia hotels offer a quality dining experience and most hotels offer some form of evening entertainment, varying from a single kora player to a lively stage show or an African dance troupe. Las Vegas it isn't, but there is a casino and there are a number of bars and clubs that stay open until the early hours - these are located mainly in Kololi.
In the evenings, you will have the choice of staying within your hotel or enjoying dinner and drinks in the wide range of restaurants and bars either nearby or a short taxi ride away. Gambia is fast gaining an international reputation with a wide choice of restaurants from casual beach bars to formal gourmet dining, serving a range of cuisine from Italian to Lebanese.
During your holiday, souvenirs can be bought in Banjul at the craft market across from MacCarthy Square and at Bengdulalu. One of the most popular purchases is the Gambishirt, made of printed and embroidered cotton cloth, mostly in bright colours. Popular items purchased by those taking holidays in Gambia include wood carvings, beaded belts, silver and gold jewellery and ladies handbags are also popular items.
The Gambia holidays are a journey into a tropical oasis with a wide range of activities to keep you occupied and to suit even the most discerning traveller. If you're in search of an all inclusive holiday, a family holiday or in need of some winter sunshine, then a holiday to Gambia could be the perfect choice.
Things To Do
The Gambia Holidays - Excursions
Make your Gambia holidays extra special and book one of our wonderful excursions. Carefully selected to cater for everyone's interests, here's just a few of our most popular excursions to tempt you. Your holiday can be a memorable one from river cruising, fishing, village tours, to African wrestling, bird watching, trekking, horse and camel riding, and adventure trips. Musical events, evening entertainment, cultural orientation, and sporting events.
Jeep Safari: Not like any other jeep safari you might have been on. When all the pick-ups are done we depart for Sukuta (which means "new settlement" in Madinka) to see the local market and mosque. Your drive then takes you through farming areas and forest parks and a stop is made to walk through the forest, where monkeys maybe seen. We then proceed to the beach for lunch where you can relax, soak up some of the sun and have a swim for a couple of hours. Driving back along the coast is a beautiful site and you pass by many fishing villages, one being Tanje one of the busiest in the area. Here you see the men taking in their daily catch and the women gathering and cleaning the fish.
3-Day Mini Safari: An early start begins with a drive to Makasutu Cultural forest. On this trip water birds, mud skippers, fiddler crabs, green velvet monkeys and women collecting oysters by the shore can all be seen while taking in the great views this part of Gambia has to offer. During your trip to Makasutu you have the option to visit the craft market, where carvings, sculptures, textiles and other African artifacts can be seen and purchased. The following day we proceed to Tendaba camp. On arrival a boat trip is organised on the "bolongs" which are the tributaries of the River Gambia. You then head back to Sindola Camp for relaxation and a chance to freshen up by the pool, and dinner is followed by a magnificent traditional Jola dance that will be one of the highlights of your trip.
Nature Explorer: Gambia is considered to be a paradise for birdwatchers. This is a trip which starts in the early hours of the morning and first takes us to Lamin Lodge, which is located on the famous Lamin Creek. After drinks we get into dug out canoes and silently paddle through the creeks, trying not to disturb the birds and surrounding nature. This is truly a relaxing and enjoyable trip as the water and creeks are so calm and peaceful at this time of the day. The trip on the creeks lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes, after which we head back to Lamin Lodge. Following breakfast we rejoin the coach and head to Abuko Nature Reserve. At the Nature Reserve you go on a forest walk and observation. You also visit a traditional educational centre, while passing an abidance of wildlife and plants.
These are just a few of the exciting days and nights out available from your representative in resort. We strongly advise you to confirm your place at the Welcome Get Together as places are limited and we don't want you to miss out.
Things To See
City Sights: A visit to the capital city, Banjul, to experience the hustle and bustle of the main market and learn about the local batik art and tie-dye crafts.
Southern Gambia: This is a great way to experience the real Gambia taking a trip aboard Swiss army trucks, heading south towards the border with Senegal. A real forage through the bush, passing local villages where children will welcome you with songs from the past. After lunch there is chance to swim from a deserted beach before visiting the largest fishing project in the area.
Cape Point: A small resort on the West coast, Cape Point's key attraction is a long golden beach. Visit the local market and pick up a bargain or two and if you travel a little further then you will com to the Botanical Gardens - created in colonial times and ideal for wildlife spotting.
Kotu: This tranquil resort boasts a lovely sandy beach with relaxing bars to while away the day. Kololi is just a short taxi ride away if you want more choice of bars and restaurants.
Transport
Taxis: Local taxis are widely available, with fares depending on the distance and duration of the trip. 'Town taxis' are painted yellow and are used mostly for local trips around Banjul and the Atlantic coast resorts. 'Tourist taxis' are painted green and can go anywhere in the country. Most hotels have Taxi ranks outside.
Weather
Best time to go to The Gambia
Located midway between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, The Gambia enjoys virtually uninterrupted sunshine and high daytime temperatures with almost no rainfall from the month of November and all the way to June. On the coast, The Gambia experiences only mild fluctuations in temperature from winter to summer.