Twelve things to do in The Gambia
Most visitors stay in the resorts on the Atlantic coast and add day trips. The usual ones are Banjul, the heritage site of Kunta Kinteh Island, forest reserves and a trip on the river. This list picks twelve experiences. It is an editorial selection, not an official ranking, and it is not run by any tourism board or tour operator.
Prices are published figures with the year they were seen. Fees and opening times change, and some sources are undated, so confirm on the day.
On the coast, 1 to 3
Sand, restaurants and a working beach.
1. Spend a day on Kotu beach
Kotu has a wide, flat stretch of sand with hotels and restaurants behind it. A guide to the coast warns of strong currents even though the sand slopes gently, and the German Federal Foreign Office warns of dangerous cross-currents along the coast. Ask locally before you swim. More beaches are on the beaches page.
Gambia beaches →2. Walk and eat in Kololi and the Senegambia strip
Behind the beach at Kololi you find restaurants, bars and shops. Note that open-air music and entertainment events in the Tourism Development Area, including on beaches, were suspended at the end of September 2026, according to press reports. Do not plan around beach parties. The reports do not say that restaurants or hotels closed.
The Senegambia strip →3. Watch the boats land at Tanji
Tanji is a working beach with a fish market and wooden fishing boats. Visitors come to watch the catch arrive and see how fish is processed. It is not a beach for lying in the sun, so go as an observer, keep out of the way and ask before taking photos of people.
Tanji and the south →Our picks: things to do
Banjul and its wildlife parks, the river by boat and a trip to James Island.
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.
Roots tour to James Island
Five hours with pick-up and return transfer. Entry and boat fees are not listed as included, so ask before you book.
Check availability →
River Gambia boat day with lunch
Seven hours with hotel pick-up, a boat trip, a local lunch and soft drinks, water, coffee or tea. Fishing gear, a guide, fees and taxes are included too.
Check availability →
Banjul city tour with wildlife parks
Pick-up, return and entry to the wildlife parks are included. Monkey food, meals and drinks are not.
Check availability →Gambia tours and day trips
River cruises, Banjul city tours, wildlife parks and day excursions from the coast, with live prices and availability.
In Banjul, 4 to 6
A market, a monument and a museum within a short distance.
4. Browse Albert Market
The market stands on Liberation Avenue. An older report describes food stalls, wholesale trade and areas for visitors. It is crowded, so keep your bag in front of you. Opening days and hours are not published reliably, so go in the morning and ask your hotel.
Banjul →5. Visit Arch 22
The monument marks the entrance to the city and houses a museum. One undated source gives about GMD 200 per person and hours of 08:00 to 16:00. Treat both as a guide only. Whether you can go up inside depends on its current state, so ask at the gate.
Arch 22 and Banjul →6. See the National Museum
The museum opened in 1985 and covers Gambian history and material culture. The National Council for Arts and Culture lists its premises on Independence Drive. Admission and visiting hours are not confirmed, so check before you go.
The museum →Heritage and the river, 7 to 9
Places of memory and a river that runs through the country.
7. Learn at Kunta Kinteh Island, Juffureh and Albreda
UNESCO lists Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites as World Heritage. The island and the ruins on the riverbank belong to the history of the transatlantic slave trade and of its abolition. This is a place of remembrance, and a guided visit is the usual way to understand it. One operator lists a day trip at €70 per person for 7 to 8 hours including the ferry from Banjul to Barra, the museum, the island boat and a guide.
Kunta Kinteh Island →8. Take a boat trip at Janjanbureh
One operator offers a circuit around Janjanbureh island of 2 to 3 hours for £75 for 1 to 10 people, a group price and not a price per head. The Gambia River is the spine of the country. Life jackets matter on small boats, as official travel advice warns about overloaded boats.
The Gambia River →9. See the river chimpanzees from a boat
The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project in River Gambia National Park was founded in 1979. Rehabilitated animals live on river islands, with feeding and health checks. Visitors watch from the water and do not land. One operator lists a 6 hour national park trip at £120 for 1 to 10 people. A sighting is never certain.
Chimps and river trips →
Forest and wildlife, 10 to 12
Three short visits near the coast.
10. Walk in Abuko Nature Reserve
Abuko is gallery forest with pools along the Lamin Stream, reached from the Brikama Highway. A January 2026 bird site lists GMD 35 (a 2025 price) and hours of 06:30 to 18:00. Treat the fee as a guide. A guided birding visit of 3 hours is listed at €15 per person or €30 per couple. Birds can be good all year; November to April is the usual birding season.
Abuko and Bijilo →11. Meet the monkeys at Bijilo Forest Park
The park lies near Kololi, with the entrance behind the conference centre, and many hotels are within walking distance. A visitor paid GMD 300 in early 2025. Do not feed the monkeys. Feeding makes them pushy and it raises the risk of bites.
Bijilo →12. Visit Kachikally Crocodile Pool
Kachikally in Bakau is a sacred place for local people as well as a pool of crocodiles, and it has a small museum. Visitor reports give GMD 200 per person in November 2025 and January 2026, and GMD 2,500 for two people in April 2026. Ask for the price at the gate. Follow staff instructions around the animals.
Kachikally →Good to know before you go
Current points from official travel advice.
Protests and power cuts
The German Foreign Office (updated 19 October 2026) reports repeated, partly violent protests against long power cuts around Banjul since 8 September 2026, and a presidential election set for 5 December 2026. Follow the news and avoid demonstrations.
Roads and nights
Checkpoints can cause delays. Avoid long overland drives at night. The Banjul-Barra ferry has unpredictable waits.
Offers of help on the beach
Men, often called bumsters, may offer to guide or help you without being asked. Say no politely and firmly. Many local guides are professionals, so choose one yourself rather than the first offer.
Health
The US CDC reports malaria transmission across the country and recommends prescription prophylaxis. See a travel medicine doctor well before you leave. See the weather page for seasons.
Things to do in The Gambia: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in The Gambia?
That depends on your trip. For a first visit, combine a beach day, a trip to Banjul, Kunta Kinteh Island or a river cruise, and one forest reserve. This page lists twelve, and each links to a longer guide.
How many days do I need?
The coast items fit into a few days. The heritage trip takes 7 to 8 hours including travel, and the national park river trip takes about 6 hours. Allow a day for each. See the tours page for examples.
Is there a single pass for the attractions?
No single pass is published. Fees are charged separately and change, so budget cash in dalasi for entrances.
Can I swim at the beaches?
Many visitors do, but strong currents are reported, and official advice warns of dangerous cross-currents. Ask at your hotel for the day's conditions.
Is the nightlife on the beach running?
Open-air music and entertainment events in the tourism area were suspended at the end of September 2026, so do not plan for beach parties. The reports do not say that restaurants or hotels closed. Check on arrival.