Has anyone been to the Gambia

LondonCypriot


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 426

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 23:10

If so how is it to holiday out there.



Many thanks

beejay


Joined: 21/03/2008
Posts: 68

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 00:14

We went there in April 1987 and stayed at the Atlantic Hotel in Bangul. Fantastic!!

Great weather but a bit third worldy. Probably changed for the better since then I hope.

This time of year is the best time to go so I'm told.

Make sure you get all your jabs though. Yellow fever jab a must.

The local people and hotel staff were very friendly. We want to go back some time.

LondonCypriot


Joined: 15/12/2008
Posts: 426

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 00:23

Yes I hear its summer down there, and there is quite popular with British tourists as well, and dirt cheap too.

Sandcastle


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 215

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 02:34

Had a lovely time there but not somewhere you can go and go off by yourself. We used a local guide who looked after us well and took us to places that were very local!



Dont go when its near the rainy season or for a month after as thats when the mozzies are out.



People are very friendly but can crowd you to ask for pens, paper, and force contact details on you for you to write to them.



We had a great time and would go back.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 09:27

Bit too "PC" for me environmentally. Plus in recent years they have stopped hotels etc employing non-ethnics.

I worked there for a whle in the mid 1970s, been back in last couple of years - not for me personally.

Geoff

Famagusta City

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 10:18

I holidayed there about 10 years ago and had a fantastic time. However, venturing off the hotel complexes is not recommended unless you have a guide. Be prepared for third world poverty and lots of beggars once you leave the sanctuary of your hotel. Worth taking a load of cheap pens/pencils and exercise books for the local kids as the schools are very short of the above.



My comments are based on my experiences over 10 years ago so hopefully much has improved in this time.



Regards



Paul

ang1706


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 570

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 11:04

I went to Gambia in 2005 and was in March and had a great time, Yes its cheaper than TRNC, clean and locals very friendly if not too friendly. Went on day trip to Senegal so take boos and pencils as the children really appreciate that. Beaches are patrolled to stop the hawkers and are clean. Its 6 hour flight from Bristol and same time zone as UK. Lovely scenery and lots to see and do and water is beautiful and clean.

Yes I rate it!

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 11:17

Went three times. Stayed at the Kairaba Hotel: http://www.gambia.co.uk/Hotel/6001/45001/The-Kairaba.aspx



Same company still doing the same thing.



You will love it. You can go out. There are many guides. It's safe and friendly. All the kids call "whities" toobubs. Do you know why?



If I knew you better, you could come round and watch the videos. Don't forget to go to a wrestling match. It's a great experience.







PS. The roads are better!

ajaney


Joined: 24/12/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 11:56

I have been to West Africa and to the best of my knowledge a toobub is a tourist. Regarding pens and books the kids really need these but my experience was that if you have one pen (they will start a chant which we couldn't understand but was in fact bic, bic, bic) so many children will turn up that it is impossible to have pens for all of them. If I went again I would find a school and give the pens paper to them. In that way also you will get involved with the local community and have a great experience. Don't take felt tips as they will dry out in the heat.

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 12:19

Went in 2001.



Never again, the poverty was too upsetting and the begging children heartbreaking.



We came home with almost empty suitcases since we gave most of our clothes away to the poor ( Same in Sri Lanka )

NanaJan



Joined: 15/10/2009
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 12:28

We went in January a couple of years ago and the weather then was lovely and the hotel restaurant was outside and it was very nice to have the evening meal outside in winter and the food was fine.

Electric went off twice during our stay and made the bungalow rooms we were staying in very hot and at more or less the same time the water went off. So always make sure you have some bottled water to drink in your room.



Monkeys jumped on the roof of the bungalow at night and they land with a heck of a thump and scared the daylights out of me until I got used to them. They can be dangerous and so do not feed or encourage them at all.



Outside the complex the poverty got to me and the airport was like an airport hangar for a flying school rather than a commercial airport.



Enjoyed it but not a place I would rush back to and my hairdresser has just returned and said the same thing a cheap and cheerful place but not the place of our dreams.

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 14:09

Whites are called "toobubs" because when the Brits ruled the world(!!!) the locals were always paid two bob, (two shillings) for doing a job.



Now the kids shout this at the whites. They do not expect two bob, but laugh with us.



The locals maybe the poorist in Africa, but they always appear friendly and happy.



Go and see for yourself. It's a wonderful experience.

Grinderman


Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 33

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 16:54

Be prepared for lepers waving their stumps at you.

You will almost certainly get a bad case of 'Banjul Belly' which will confine you to an area no more than 10 feet from a toilet for days on end.

Be ready for the beggars and mendicants pestering you for cash.

If you can cope with all that, you will enjoy your holiday.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 16:55

Message 13. I played cards with a leper once. He threw his hand in! )

ang1706


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 570

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 17:26

Its amazing at just how many people say they have been to Gambia.

I never once saw anything like what has been described on here, next you will be warned about sleeping in fear of the Leopardmen!

I ate at Hotel for breakfast and ate out EVERY NIGHT mostly at different places and never had any problems and as an ex Para I like to go exploring.

Yes one person was perfectly correct about a scramble for pens and pencils- but have you ever seen any group of children orderly when freebies are given out. Also they will give you all their email addresses but its your choice what to do with them.

It is a nice place this time of year, I even played Golf there and like CMC course you have to brush the browns,

My opinion is do not let these pessimistic people put you off. Go and see and enjoy !!

Sandcastle


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 215

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 18:24

As Ang1706 says, you do have to see it for yourself.



It is not commercial so if you want a holiday where you can go and relax round your hotel, but then see the "real" country its for you. If you want to experience something like you are used to but with different counrtyside, the dont go.



Not for the faint hearted but a great experience.

Texas


Joined: 22/09/2009
Posts: 634

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 18:39

One of the best restaurants I've ever been to was in Gambia.



It served Japanese Tepanyaki.



http://www.gambia.co.uk/Docs/Gambia-Holidays/Out-And-About/Restaurant-Guide.aspx



No Banjul Belly for me!

swannee7


Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 19:32

London Cypriot - Times & places change over the years. Reading the other posts I didn't get impression that anyone had been to The Gambia recently, although all the comments had something to offer. Suggest you log on to Trip Advisor (The Gambia) for more recent info/experiences from other tourists. (As you've gathered, I haven't been there myself!).

joanie1


Joined: 25/07/2008
Posts: 164

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 22:16

Went to the Gambia with my daughters then aged 18 and 20 in January 1989 - stayed at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul. Inside the hotel - 5 star international - outside certainly third world - but people so welcoming and friendly - gifts of pens. books, toys etc so welcomed - wished we could have brought more. Were advised to hire local guides - took advice - local guides wonderful - all for £1 per session( but have to say that the then weekly wage about £2 per head -guides were mostly misssionary educated and called names like Patrick, Dominic or George etc.-- and they did keep asking if we could get them into football teams like - Liverpool, Man U , Chelsea or Everton!!! Climate in January absolutely wonderful - about 70 deg with breeze - no idea what it is like to visit the Gambia now but one thing for sure the lovely weather will be the same! Beaches then were absolutely beautiful and unspoilt - but it was a long time ago.



Joan

Stephan


Joined: 22/05/2009
Posts: 211

Message Posted:
28/02/2010 19:55

...the only place i ever saw rats....as BIG as cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and vultures nesting in the trees of the Hotel...interesting place tho!!! Gambia...known as the 'white mans grave' in Africa!

Lazy days


Joined: 24/07/2008
Posts: 847

Message Posted:
01/03/2010 09:45

Hi LC

You will like the Gambia, we lived there for almost 2 years, its know as the Smiling coast of Africa, its mainly Muslim and crime is pretty low mostly petty pilfering and the like, the local peeps use what they call bush taxis to get about, there are also what is known as tourist taxis usually green coloured, there is also plenty of markets in Banjul, Bakau and Serrekunda, there is loads to do for tourists although the country is small

Mess 15 says it all really, and 19 it has changed but not as at 2006 too much

Assalamu Aleikum