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Mangroves on the River Gambia

Travel guide · Beaches, the river and Africa’s “Smiling Coast”

Travelling to the Gambia

The beaches of Kololi and Bakau, the River Gambia with its birds and mangroves, the crocodiles of Kachikally and the bustle of Serrekunda. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from November to June
  • Where to eat: a fish stall or a Gambian restaurant
Photo: Forbes Johnston · CC BY 4.0

Gambia in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Gambia are from November to June.
  • To eat like a local: a fish stall or a Gambian restaurant. Don’t leave without trying: Domoda, Benachin, Yassa.

Gambia in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to the Gambia. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to the Gambia

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Gambia are from November to June.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in February · where to travel in March · where to travel in April

  • from July to October

    Rainy season

    Heavy rain, humid heat and lots of mosquitoes.

    What to do: The best time is November to May, the dry season.

What to see in the Gambia

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Banjul

    Banjul

    A small capital on an island at the river mouth, with a lookout arch and the Albert Market.

    • Arch 22
    • Albert Market
    • National Museum
    • King Fahad Mosque
    Banjul guide
  • Serrekunda

    Serrekunda

    The largest town, full of markets and bustle, with beaches and reserves nearby.

    • Serrekunda Market
    • Batik workshops
    • Traditional wrestling
    • Bijilo Reserve
    Serrekunda guide
  • Kololi

    Kololi

    The beach and hotel area, with the Senegambia nightlife strip.

    • Kololi Beach
    • Senegambia
    • Bijilo Forest Park
    • Sunsets
    Kololi guide
  • Bakau

    Bakau

    A fishing village with sacred crocodiles, a botanic garden and cliffs above the sea.

    • Kachikally Crocodile Pool
    • Botanical garden
    • Beach
    • Craft market
    Bakau guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Banjul

From Serrekunda

From Kololi

From Bakau

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in the Gambia

To eat like a local: a fish stall or a Gambian restaurant, and order domoda or benachin. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Domoda

    A peanut butter stew, the national dish.

  • Benachin

    One-pot rice with fish or meat.

  • Yassa

    Chicken with onion and lemon.

  • Superkanja

    Okra with fish.

  • Chargrilled fish

    At the fishing harbours.

  • Wonjo

    Hibiscus-flower juice.

The typical dish of the Gambia, at home

Domoda
Photo: Marshiayers · CC BY-SA 4.0

Domoda

The Gambia’s national dish: a stew of meat or chicken in a thick sauce of peanut butter and tomato, with pumpkin or sweet potato, served with white rice.

  • Serves 4
  • 1 h 15 min

Ingredients

  • 600 g chicken or beef, in pieces
  • 200 g unsweetened peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons tomato purée
  • 1 onion
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 300 g pumpkin or sweet potato
  • 1 chilli
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Oil, salt and white rice

How to make it at home

  1. Brown the meat in oil with the chopped onion and garlic.
  2. Add the tomato purée and stir for 2 minutes.
  3. Dissolve the peanut butter in 800 ml hot water, pour it into the pot and bring to the boil.
  4. Add the diced pumpkin and the chilli, and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring so it doesn’t stick.
  5. Finish with the lemon juice and salt, and serve with white rice.

The trick: When the peanut oil rises to the surface, the stew is ready.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about the Gambia

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • It’s the smallest country in mainland Africa.
  • It follows the course of the River Gambia and is surrounded by Senegal.
  • It’s known as “the Smiling Coast of Africa”.
  • Kunta Kinteh, the hero of Roots, came from Juffureh, by the river.
  • At Kachikally there are sacred crocodiles used to people.
  • It has more than 500 species of birds.

Traditions of the Gambia

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Kankurang

    A Mandinka initiation dance, part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

  • 18 February Independence Day

    A national holiday.

  • Tobaski

    The Feast of the Sacrifice.

  • Traditional wrestling

    Bouts with drums.

What not to do in the Gambia

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t travel by road at night.
  • Don’t swim when the red flag is up: there are currents and no lifeguards.
  • Don’t accept self-appointed guides on the beach if you don’t want them.
  • Don’t photograph people without asking.
  • Don’t show affection in public.
  • Don’t forget mosquito repellent.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about the Gambia

What people search for most before travelling to the Gambia.

What’s the best time to travel to the Gambia?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Gambia are from November to June.

What to see in the Gambia in a week?

The essentials of the Gambia: Banjul, Serrekunda, Kololi and Bakau. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in the Gambia?

Domoda, Benachin, Yassa, Superkanja, Chargrilled fish, Wonjo. To eat like a local: a fish stall or a Gambian restaurant.

What is the typical dish of the Gambia?

Domoda. The Gambia’s national dish: a stew of meat or chicken in a thick sauce of peanut butter and tomato, with pumpkin or sweet potato, served with white rice.

What should you not do in the Gambia?

Don’t travel by road at night. Don’t swim when the red flag is up: there are currents and no lifeguards. Don’t accept self-appointed guides on the beach if you don’t want them.

Is it worth travelling to the Gambia in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to the Gambia. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Forbes Johnston (CC BY 4.0). Banjul, Atamari (CC BY-SA 3.0). Serrekunda, Victoria Reay from Standish, UK (CC BY 2.0). Kololi, August Dominus (CC0). Bakau, Thukuk (CC BY-SA 4.0).