Love is on a Beach

The Gambia is a relatively easy destination to fly to, as flights generally go there from most major cities. Whilst we hope that you will accept this invitation, we also highly recommend you extend your stay, so you’ll be able to explore everything The Gambia has to offer. One way or another, we ask that you keep Sunday 7th November open to join in on the wedding festivities. 

The Gambia, or otherwise commonly referred to as the Smiling Coast of Africa, is completely surrounded by Senegal and situated in the Western Region of Africa. Despite being recognised as the smallest country on mainland Africa with an estimated population of 2,000,000, its captivating array of attractions belies its tiny size.

A former British colony and trade station, The Gambia became independent in 1965 and a republic in 1970. English is spoken as the primary language and is understood by most Gambians. The major ethnic groups are similar to those in Senegal and consist of the majority Mandinka tribes, and also include Wolof, Fulani and Jola, to name but a few. 90% of the population are mostly Sunni Muslims, thus making them the largest religious group, followed by 10% of Christians. The country is a secular state, with freedom of religious expression enshrined in the constitution.

The Gambian economy is heavily dependent on peanut (groundnut) production and export however, tourism in The Gambia has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy whereby visitors have increasingly become drawn by its beaches, birds, sunshine, the culture and the country’s biggest asset – the friendliness and hospitality of The Gambian people along with the peace, security and political stability of the country.

The Gambia has a sub-tropical climate with a wet season from June till October and a dry season from November through till May. It is considered to have some of the most pleasant climate in all of Africa – the perfect kind for a beach wedding ;-)

For a more detailed and humorous overview of The Gambia, please view the following clip

The Gambia has endless possibilities of accommodations. From boutique hotels, to guest houses to Airbinb. The easy way to find a good place to stay is by using one of the following sites: www.booking.com or www.hotels.com.

Alternatively, we've comprised a list of highly recommended hotel options that are relatively close to Coco Ocean - please note that rooms will go  fast due to tourist/convention season.

The Gambia is yet to introduce any transportation apps such as Uber or Lift, though this should not cause any difficulty in getting around.

Taxis

The quickest and fastest means of transportation in The Gambia are taxis. There are two types of taxis: green taxis and yellow taxis. They charge different rates for the trips - yellow taxis can be used by any passenger and can be found in and around the city and major towns. These taxis are shared amongst passengers heading in the same direction (an Uber Pool type service) and can be obtained by hailing the taxi driver. If you require/would prefer a non-shared taxi service where you'd like the driver to take you directly to a specific location, look out for a taxi with no passengers, hail the driver and ask for what is referred to as a 'Town Trip' then advise the driver of your desired location.  Green taxis are mostly stationed in areas with hotels and are referred to as tourist taxis.

Local tip: Always negotiate the price before setting out on your trip, as rates differ from one driver to another depending on your destination.

If you want to save money on your travels, you might want to consider flying from London Gatwick – for those that are based in the UK of course – where flights tend to be cheaper. Direct flight to The Gambia are offered via package deals with TUI: https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/africa/gambia/holidays-gambia.html OR Gambia Experience: https://www.gambia.co.uk/ 

Alternative options include

Tap Air Portugal (includes stopover in Portgual) - which works out to be the cheapest option. - https://www.flytap.com/en-gb/ 

Royal Air Maroc - Which includes stopover options in Morocco - royalairmaroc.com  

Brussels Airlines - with one hour stopover in Brussells  - brusselairlines.com  

As well as the rare opportunity to attend a beach wedding with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean in sight, you can also make your holiday a memorable one from an array of activities such as river cruising, fishing, village tours, to African wrestling, bird watching, trekking, horse and camel riding, and adventure trips. Musical events, family visits, evening entertainment, cultural orientation, and sporting events. The choice is yours!

Lazy Day Cruise on The River

If you want to free your mind and do nothing at all, the lazy day cruise on the river is the perfect trip for you. You can relax on the sun deck, take a swim and unwind your soul. Enjoy a scenic route with occasional sightings of dolphins and bird watching opportunities.

Creek Tours

A peaceful and relaxing day out on the creek or around bolongs (river tributaries) of the River Gambia.

Golf
The Fajara Golf Club has an 18-hole course, which is close to most of the resorts.

Swimming
The beaches in front of most of the hotels are safe for swimming although the flag should always be watched. Please never swim when the red flag is flying. As an alternative, most of the hotels have excellent pool facilities for swimming.

Horse Riding
A couple of stables in the country have a good set of horses.

Jet Skiing
Jet Skiing is generally available at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel, Sunsetbeach Hotel, and at Denton Bridge.

Fishing
The Gambia River carries with it a rich variety of fish, as does the vast ocean of the Atlantic. There are a variety of options available such as Creek Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing and Beach Casting.

Art Galleries
The Gambia has several art galleries that have works of Gambian contemporary painters on display.

Craft Markets
Banjul, Serrekunda and Bakau are known for their markets and craft markets. Many different things can be purchased such as wood crafts, batik, silver and leather products.

Brikama Wood Carving Centre
Brikama has a huge Wood Carving Centre, which produces and sells hundred of teak wood carvings, djembe drums and other souvenirs.

Juffureh
Juffureh is a small village located 30km inland on the North Bank of the River Gambia and is best known for its appearance in Alex Haley's novel "Root-the saga of an American Family". A slavery exhibition in the museum can be seen.

Sacred Crocodile Pool
There are several crocodile pools sprinkled about the nation. One of the most famous is Katchically Crocodile Pool in Bakau.

Village Tour
There are many villages in the Gambia that are worth a visit in order to gain an insight into the Gambia way of life.

Bird Watching
There are more than 500 different species of birds in The Gambia living within 6 protected areas. Gambia's abundance in diversity of birds is ranked as one of the highest in the world.

Niumi National Park
Niumi National Park features one of the last untouched mangrove stands in West Africa. 

Tanbi Wetlands National Park
The Tanbi Wetlands National Park provides and excellent boating, fishing, bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities. It includes coastal lagoons, mudflats, gallery forests, marshes and mangrove forests.

Abuko Nature Reserve
Abuko Nature Reserve is an all time favorite for wildlife and bird watching. Walk the 3km path, which leads you to the Bamba pool where Crocodiles live.

Amidst the endless possibilities of accommodation in The Gambia, we have provided a selection of  some of Gambia's most highly recommended hotels. The easiest way to find a good place to stay is by using one of the following  websites: www.booking.com or www.hotels.com. However, these are our best picks of the bunch:

Nestled on a cliff top set high above a secluded beach, with stunning views across the Atlantic in the Fajara district of The Gambia. This romantic, adult-only, boutique hotel comprises of only 24 suites making it a perfect getaway and hideout location for those seeking a more relaxed and quiet experience away from the main resort areas.

Ngala also has a superb restaurant that has been run for several years by British chef Jonathan Groves. Even if Ngala isn’t your choice of stay, we highly recommend you visit the restaurant at some stage during your time in The Gambia.

Coco Ocean Resort & Spa is a stylish, five-star resort looking out over the sea. Commonly recognised as the most luxurious in Gambia, the hotel is designed in a blend of traditional moorish and modern decoration, and boasts some excellent fusion cuisine and a gorgeous, state-of-the-art spa.

Coco Ocean provides all the amenities you'd expect from a five-star resort - luxurious rooms which maintain the distinctive design theme, a delicious and broad selection of fine and more casual dining, and beautifully designed buildings. Expect a series of interlocking courtyards, tropical flowerbeds, sweeping ocean panoramas and moorish archways.

Another very popular choice, located just thirty minutes from Banjul International Airport, The Gambia Coral Beach Hotel & Spa is a spectacularly beautiful hotel inspired by local traditions on an unspoiled beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia Coral Beach Hotel's unique beach is one of the country's most breathtaking, in a nation of already-stunning beauty. With outdoor swimming pools and panoramic views of the ocean you also have access to daily water aerobics, premium pampering at the Naatange Spa & Fitness Centre and so much more.

As well as being the largest, the Senegambia Beach Hotel is one of the most popular hotels in The Gambia. The hotel sits in a prime position, right on the seafront and in the heart of the largest resort of Kololi, close to the popular tourist area of Senegambia. The Senegambia Strip is where most of the nightlife in The Gambia takes place, with a wide range of restaurants, bars, discos and a casino. Whilst the Senegambia strip can be lively, the hotel is large and spread out and is very quiet amongst the gardens where the rooms are situated. The beachside bar and pool area is where most of the daily activities take place and are the places to be during the day if you want a lively atmosphere, or head for the small pool near the main hotel building if you are looking to relax more. The evening entertainment includes folklore shows, traditional African dancing and also a weekly barbeque. There are also themed nights in the main restaurant.

senegambiahotel.com/wordpress/

Gambia’s stunning new hotel on the beachfront in Kotu. Offers a peaceful and quiet adult only haven, complete with modern furniture and fittings with a classic African style design. FYI - for those wanting to stay amongst all guests flying into Gambia, 80% of those flying from the U.K. will be staying at Tamala Hotel.

Now widely recognised as Gambia's best hotel

www.tamalaresort.com/ 


Mandina Lodges is an eco-friendly resort, deep in the sacred forest of Makasutu with just nine lodges (four floating lodges, one stilted lodge plus four more lodges set back from the river). Makasutu is a Mandinka word which derives from the words: ‘Maka’ which is Islam’s holy city of Mecca and ‘Sutu’ which means forest. This translates to ‘holy forest’.

Makasutu comprises of a palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the River Gambia encompassing many different ecosystems including dense forest, savanna and mangrove regions. The environment encompassing this forest is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, 3 species of monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer, man goose and if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of migrating baboons, that make the forest their home for several months each year.

At Makasutu, you couldn’t feel more removed from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist resorts in The Gambia and yet Mandina is less than an hour from Banjul airport.

Even if Mandina Lodge is not your choice of stay, we highly recommend a day trip to Makasutu Forest for those seeking peace, tranquillity and excursion. 

N.B Given the distance that it would take for you to travel from Makasutu to Coco Ocean to attend the wedding, this venue is only recommended for those looking for a real holiday/experience during their time in The Gambia.

www.mandinalodges.com/mandina-lodges/ 

Surrounded by lush tropical gardens and kilometres of sandy beaches, Kairaba Beach Hotel is another one of The Gambia’s most popular hotels. It sits just a 2-minute walk from the nearest taxi rank and within a short walk from banks, restaurants and shopping outlets. Bijilo Forest Park can be reached in 10 minutes on foot and is a great place for observing animals in their natural habitat. This can also happen while the guests of the hotel relax on their verandas that overlook the peaceful gardens, which houses numerous colourful birds and friendly monkeys.

kairabahotel.com/ 

This is without a doubt one of the most popular hotels in Gambia, located by the beach, surrounded by a tropical garden and close to the centre of Kotu. Perfect for a relaxing holiday! Good to know: this hotel has the renowned sustainability mark the Travelife Gold, which means they do well when it comes to the use of water and energy, recycling, the treatment of employees, use of regional products and are actively involved with the locals. If you feel like going out not only is the centre of Kotu close by, there are also lots of stores and restaurants in walking distance from Kombo Beach. Banjul Airport is about a 20 min drive