SeneGambia

The Gambia

Kololi & The Smiling Coast: Where Most Visitors Stay

The Gambia's main resort strip

Kololi is where most of The Gambia's tourist infrastructure is concentrated — beaches, restaurants, nightlife and the bulk of the country's hotels.

Kololi — and the adjoining areas of Senegambia, Bijilo and Kotu — make up The Gambia's main tourist strip. If you're on a package holiday from Europe, this is almost certainly where you'll be staying.

The Senegambia Strip

The "Senegambia Strip" is the kilometre-long road that runs inland from the Senegambia Beach Hotel. It's lined with restaurants, bars, supermarkets, taxi ranks and money changers. It's the easiest place to find dinner, drinks and onward transport.

Beaches

Kololi Beach, Kotu Beach and Bijilo Beach are all walkable from the strip. Bijilo, just south, is the quietest. Kotu, with its lagoon and bird-rich estuary, is best for birders.

Bijilo Forest Park

A 51-hectare patch of coastal forest just south of Kololi, home to red colobus, vervet and patas monkeys. Two hours and a small entrance fee.

Top highlights

Senegambia Strip

The main eating and nightlife drag

Bijilo Forest Park

Monkeys 10 minutes from your hotel

Kotu Beach

Quieter and best for birdwatching

Best time to visit

November to April (dry season)

Getting there

20 minutes by taxi from Banjul International Airport (around D700).

Getting around

The strip is walkable. Yellow taxis and tourist taxis (green) are abundant. For day trips inland, hire a driver.

Safety & practical tips

Kololi is safe but persistent "bumsters" (informal guides) can be tiring on the beach. A polite but firm "no thank you" usually works.

On the map