What the Senegambia Strip is
The Senegambia Strip is part of the Kololi resort area on the Atlantic coast. It is where restaurants, bars, shops and hotels are concentrated, a short walk from the beach. The name is also used for the wider Senegal and Gambia region, but this page is about the street and the resort district.
The airport is about 25 km from Banjul, and one operator estimates 30 to 50 minutes for the transfer to the Kombo and Kololi area. The Strip is a base for people who want food, a bar and a market stall within walking distance. If you prefer a quieter coast, look at Kotu, Cape Point or Bijilo instead.
Our picks: a day trip from the Strip
It collects guests from hotels in Senegambia, Kololi and Kotu, so you can start right from the Strip.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours from the Senegambia area
River cruises, city days and wildlife trips that pick up from hotels around Kololi, with live prices and availability.
Evenings in 2026: open-air events are suspended
A notice from the Gambia Tourism Board dated 29 September 2026, as reported by the press on 1 October, suspends open-air music and public entertainment events in the Tourism Development Area until further notice. The reports list beaches, concerts, beach parties and festivals.
Do not count on beach parties or open-air concerts. A report from 7 October describes continuing effects around Senegambia and Bijilo and uncertainty about background music and small acts. It does not say that all restaurants, hotels or indoor venues are closed.
Ask your hotel what is on this week, and check the current position shortly before you travel, because the rules can change.
The beach and the forest next door
Kololi beach is not the widest on the coast.
| Area | Character | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Kololi and the Strip | Restaurants, bars, shops, hotels | The beach is narrow in places, and more sand shows at low tide |
| Bijilo | South of Kololi, less densely built | Bijilo Forest Park has its entrance behind the conference centre |
| Kotu | Wide, flat sand with hotels and restaurants | Strong currents despite the gentle slope |
| Cape Point | Broad sand, hotels set back, beach furniture | Quieter than the Strip |
Rip currents are a risk along this coast, according to German government advice. No guide to a beach replaces local advice on the day, so ask at your hotel before you swim.
Bijilo Forest Park is walkable from many hotels and is known for its monkeys. Do not feed them. Feeding makes them pushy and brings a risk of bites. More on the forest is on the page about nature reserves, and the coast is covered in the beaches guide.
Getting around and staying comfortable
Practical points for the Kololi area.
Taxis
The tourism board describes green licensed tourist taxis with a number and tariffs, yellow and green shared taxis and other shared vehicles. Agree the fare before you get in, and do not assume a tariff is the same everywhere.
Airport transfers →Money
The Gambia is mostly a cash economy. Cash machines are limited outside the Senegambia area and not always reliable, and not every business takes cards. Change money at banks or licensed exchange offices. Unlicensed currency dealing is not allowed. The currency is the dalasi, and 1 dalasi is 100 bututs.
Approaches on the street
British advice uses the word bumsters for men who offer help or guiding without being asked. Decline politely and firmly. The word is not an official job title, and local guides should not be written off as a group.
Power cuts
Long power cuts can affect water and communications, and they led to protests from 8 September 2026 around Banjul, Serrekunda and Brufut, with tear gas used. Ask your hotel about its power supply and stay away from demonstrations.
Local laws
Illegal drugs are not tolerated, and same-sex relationships are a crime. Keep this in mind when you go out.
Staying on or near the Strip
Location profiles, not guarantees of quiet or comfort.
Kololi and the Strip
Restaurants, shopping and evening options are concentrated here. Keep the change to open-air events in mind when you choose.
Cape Point and Bakau
Cape Point has a broad sand beach with hotels set back from the water. Bakau has a market and an everyday town setting.
Bijilo
Further south of Kololi, with accommodation more spread out and a less densely built coast.
Where to stay →Plan the rest of your trip
What else to look at near the Strip.
Senegambia Strip: frequently asked questions
Where is the Senegambia Strip?
It is part of the Kololi resort area on the Atlantic coast, in the Tourism Development Area. Restaurants, bars, shops and hotels are concentrated there.
Is there nightlife on the Strip in 2026?
Restaurants and bars exist, but open-air music and entertainment events in the Tourism Development Area have been suspended since a notice dated 29 September 2026. Ask your hotel what is on before you plan an evening.
Can I walk to Bijilo Forest Park from the Strip?
Many hotels are within walking distance. The entrance is behind the conference centre.
How much is a taxi from the airport to Kololi?
One 2025 estimate is GMD 1,000, and it says the price is negotiable and may be out of date. Direct operator offers are listed on the airport page. Agree the price before you set off.
Is it safe to swim at Kololi?
Rip currents are a danger along this coast, and a guide cannot confirm conditions on the day. Ask locally and swim with care.