LOCAL EXPERIENCES
Tanji Fishing Village
Just a 30-minute drive from the Senegambia strip, Tanji Fishing Village is a feast for the senses and one of the most authentic and colourful spectacles the Gambia has to offer. The beach is lined with dozens of brilliantly painted wooden fishing pirogues — vivid blues, reds and yellows — as fishermen haul in their daily catch and the air fills with the smoky, salty scent of the smokehouses. Women balance enormous baskets of fish on their heads as the bustling market hums with energy and trade. It is raw, real and utterly captivating — a world away from the resort strip and an absolute must for anyone who wants to experience the true heartbeat of Gambian coastal life. 1-4 person – £45
Serrekunda & Banjul (Albert) Market
No visit to the Gambia is complete without losing yourself in the extraordinary colour and chaos of its markets. Serrekunda Market is the country’s largest — a sprawling, labyrinthine maze of stalls selling everything imaginable, from bolts of stunning indigo-dyed fabric and aromatic spices to fresh vegetables, live chickens, mobile phones and household wares. For a more tourist-friendly experience, head to Banjul’s Albert Market, where you can browse a wonderful selection of local crafts, antique carvings, hand-painted artwork, handmade clothing and traditional musical instruments. Be sure to seek out the legendary Lamin Kouyate for a truly special musical encounter. Bargaining is all part of the fun — so dive in and enjoy! Cost for a car there and back to hotel with guide £45
Ndungu Kebbe Lumo — Saturday Village Market
Every Saturday, the small village of Ndungu Kebbe comes alive with one of the Gambia’s most authentic and unhurried rural markets—the Lumo. Unlike the coastal tourist markets, this is a gathering driven entirely by local trade and community, offering a rare and privileged glimpse into everyday Gambian village life. Watch healthy, well-kept horses pulling brightly painted carts as traders arrive from villages far and wide. Browse bolts of colourful cloth, fresh produce and handmade goods, and don’t miss the chance to haggle over a bag of ‘pancakes’—the Gambia’s irresistible answer to the donut. It is the kind of experience that stays with you long after you leave. More on the market on the Youtube channel here
And for the fishing boat trip from Banjul instead of the ferry here’s a quick look at what that might look like – it’s an authentic experience!
Prices to pick you up from Barra and take you to the market and drop you back in Barra at the end of the day. This includes traditional Gambian lunch provided by a local family.
1 person – £60
2 people – £80 (£40pp)
3 people – £100 (£33 pp)
4 people – £120 (£30 pp)
Horse Riding
Whether you dream of cantering along a sun-drenched Atlantic beach with the waves lapping at your horse’s hooves, or exploring the lush farmland, forests and lakes of the Gambian countryside, Barry’s Tours can make it happen. Beach rides offer that classic, timeless experience of horse and sea — and on the right day, you can even take a swim with the horses in the shallows. More on that on the Kotu Horses website https://kotuhorses.mozello.co.uk/services/
For something more adventurous, the rides out from Ndungu Kebbe take you deep into the beautiful rural landscape, with options to combine your ride with a picnic and a dedicated birdwatching guide. And keep an eye out for Petra the donkey, who has a habit of trotting along to join the fun whether she is invited or not. For a one hour ride, costs are below. We are just setting this up at the moment so watch this space! Here’s a price for a one hour ride. This experience is best combined with a night at our lodge.
1 person – £60
2 people – £100 (£50pp)
Denton Bridge & Lamin Lodge
Begin your adventure at Denton Bridge harbour, where a brightly painted traditional pirogue will carry you away from the city and into the serene, otherworldly beauty of the mangrove swamps. Glide through the winding waterways, surrounded by the calls of exotic birds and the rustle of the mangrove roots, until you arrive at Lamin Lodge — a wonderfully eccentric restaurant perched on stilts above the water, accessible only by boat. Order a long, lazy lunch, sip a cold drink and soak up the tranquil views across the river. The atmosphere is blissfully relaxed and the setting utterly unique. Just one word of warning — keep a close eye on your plate, because the resident monkeys have absolutely no shame whatsoever. We pick you up at 9am and drop you off at 4.30pm. Costs are:
1 person – £60
2 people – £100 (£50pp)
3 people – £130 (£43 pp)
4 people – £120 (£30 pp)
Bring water bottles, comfortable shoes. Contact us to book your trip and we’ll confirm and send you an upfront payment link for your convenience.
overview
Tanji Fishing Village is a 30 minute drive from Senegambia where you can experience the many colourful wooden fishing boats and the hustle and bustle of a market place with smokehouses.
Serrekunda Market is a large sprawling market with stalls selling everything from indigo dyed fabrics to spices, vegetables, meat, fish and household wares alongside tech shops selling mobile phones and
laptops.
Banjul (Albert) Market is a tourist friendly craft market selling antiques and local art as well as carvings, hand made clothing, paintings and even musical instruments (see Lamin Kouyate)
Ndungu Kebbe Market hosts a weekly Lumo on Saturdays which is rural and authentic focussing on local trade rather than tourism. Witness true village life and local commerce away from the coastal tourist areas. See healthy horses pulling brightly coloured carts from far afield. Buy fabrics from cloth sellers and haggle over ‘pancakes’ Gambia’s donuts!
HORSE RIDING
The beach offers a classic sea sand experience of a ride alongside the waves and even a swim with the horses. Ndungu Kebbe offers more extensive riding experiences out into the farmland and around the forests and gardens and lakes of the area. Horse back riding with picnic and bird watching guide can also be arranged. Petra the donkey will likely come along too.
Denton Bridge to Lamin Lodge
Denton Bridge is a harbour from which you can take a brightly coloured pirogue out through the mangrove swamps to the ‘Robinson Crusoe’ style restaurant on stilts at Lamin Lodge. There you’ll be able to order lunch but be mindful of the plentiful monkeys! Views are lovely and it’s a very relaxing atmosphere.
