Excursions in the Gambia

I offer guided tours, excursions and taxi services in Gambia for one to four persons at a time in my taxi. I know the Gambia very well as I was born there and will be happy to show you the most beautiful places, villages and customs. The culture, landscape and people are very different compared to Europe. When you book me for an excursion in Gambia, I will not only drive around. I will also introduce you to the local customs and help you during negotiations for prices, for example when you want to visit the market of Serekunda. I will be your private driver and your guide.

Apart from guided tours, I also provide taxi services to several locations in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinee Bissau. The difference between an excursion, or tour, and a taxi drive, is that an excursion is to a touristically interesting place. It includes the drive to that place, a tour, and a drive back to your hotel. A taxi drive is to any place and includes a waiting period for the driver of maximally 2 hours, followed by a drive back to your hotel. However, if you want to stay there more than 2 hours, the trip is one-way, and you have arrange your drive back yourselve.

I have a lot of experience with being a driver for European tourists. I am a certified taxi driver in The Gambia and have all qualifications for being a reliable driver. I have a list of fixed prices for excursions in Gambia, see the menu for excursions. You can be sure that you get value for your money when you book an excursion in Gambia or to Senegal with me.

Some companies that offers tours are linked to European companies or people from Europe who live in the Gambia. All money you spend on tours that are offered by these companies leaves the country and is not beneficial to the Gambian people. My business is guaranteed to be 100% Gambian and anything you spend on my tours is for the Gambian economy and people. So if you value sustainable development in Gambia, you are at the right address with me. You will find that my prices are reasonable and lower than other tour guides in Gambia. For a number of excursions and tours in Gambia, entrance fees, cost of guides for nature reserves and lunch are not included, so you have to pay those separately.

The tours and excursions offered by the bigger companies are often in a bus or large truck with 20 to 40 people. The schedule is fixed and the tourists are guided along the same things where you have no influence at all on how long you want to visit a specific location. They offer the tours with a price per person which is usually higher than the price per group when you book with me.

In contrast, with me as a driver and guide you have all the flexibility you need and it’s up to you if you want to stay a bit longer when you see something that interests you, or where you want to go.

Top 10 tips for visiting Gambia

1. You don’t need a visum when you visit The Gambia as a European tourist. However, on the airport of Banjul, before passing the passport control, you are handed over a small form from the immigration department that you have to fill out. So make sure you have pens for all your travel companions, and maybe a piece of cardboard to put the form on for easier writing, as you have to fill out the form while you are standing in cue for the passport control.
2. You need certain vaccinations before entering The Gambia, for example for yellow fever and DTP. Make sure you have the yellow fever vaccination booklet with you, especially when you plan an excursion to Senegal, because the custom department of Senegal requires this.
3. Make sure you have enough malaria pills and to take those every day. Also use Deet and spray it on your skin every evening before sundown, as there will be malaria musquitos even in the dry season.
4. Its best to take enough Euros or US dollars as cash money with you, because there are not so many banks with ATM’s where you can get Gambian Dalasis. There are opportunities to change euros or dollars at fair rates everywhere, also in your hotel.
5. If you go on tour and travel around the country, children will often ask you for pens which they need for school. So make sure you buy some pens to give to the children, You can get cans with pens in most supermarkets.
6. Some excursions include a visit to a primary school. If you want to help the school, it’s best to give the school principal some money instead of pens or notebooks. Parents have to pay for the school uniforms and this can be too expensive for parents. Gifts from visitors can help for buying uniforms and school materials for children that can otherwise not visit the school. More info about education in Gambia can be found here…
7. Remember that The Gambia is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Although the country produces enough food for the inhabitants and hunger is not such a big problem here, poverty is still an important problem. So if you have a choice, always try to support the Gambian population. For example, go to a restaurant with a Gambian owner and not to one with a European owner, book a tour with a Gambian company and not with a company owned by a European.
8. Embassies of European countries are often not present in the Gambia, but in Senegal (Dakar) instead. So before your travel to The Gambia, write down the telephone number and the address of the embassy of your country. This can be important when you loose your passport of when you need other help from your country.
9. When you enter the Gambia the first day of your holiday, you will notice that everything is very different from what you are used to. Things can be hectic at the airport, and people may offer help with carrying your luggage, sometimes in a very assertive way. Only do this if you know the price in advance and when you know the exchange rate.
10. You will notice that bargaining over the price is common in the Gambia. You have to get used to this. So, if you are not experienced at this it is recommended to visit the markets with a guide and ask him to assist you.