Destination Guides
Gambia

 
ccommodation
 
Editor's Choice: African Bungalows

Community-run Tumani Tenda offers bungalows in traditional African surroundings. All the profits from a traveller's stay are kept in the village and are used to pay for development projects. The village houses 300 people. Travellers can stay in one of five traditional African style houses, each individually designed by a family in the village.

 
Hotels

By African standards, The Gambia has a fairly developed tourist industry, with many hotels geared primarily to package tours. During the tourist season (November to May), accommodation is often booked up and confirmation of advance booking is advised. Most of the hotels are self-contained complexes offering a wealth of tourist facilities, including swimming pools, bars, restaurants, shops, sporting facilities and spacious gardens. Bedrooms will not always be air conditioned. The number of hotels has increased greatly in recent years and this is expected to continue; today there are over 30 hotels with more than 6000 beds, both in Banjul and along the coast. Around 75 per cent of establishments belong to The Gambia Hotel Association. There are about a dozen camps, lodges and motels in rural areas which provide basic but comfortable accommodation and meals. The most luxurious of these is Sindola Safari Lodge located at Kanilai, the home of the President of The Gambia. There are others along the Atlantic coast line and they are a great place for boat rides and birdwatching trips - a boon for ecotourists. For further information on different types of accommodation, contact The Gambia Tourism Authority (see Top Things To See & Do).

 
Camping/Caravanning

Camping is available on MacCarthy Island. Safari tents with fans and lighting are already set up for travellers, overlooking the river. There is a small area set aside for travellers with their own tents or it is possible to hire a two-man dome tent including bedding. Those who have travelled through the Sahara are welcome to park their caravans here too.

 
Apartments/Self Catering

Self-catering apartments and bungalows are available in the main resorts.

 
Accommodation Information

The Gambia Hotel Association
c/o PO Box 2637, The Bungalow Beach Hotel, Serrekunda, Kotu, The Gambia
Tel: 446 5288.
E-mail: bbhotel@qanet.gm