Where to stay at a glance
Most visitors stay on the Atlantic coast near Banjul, in one of a handful of areas: Kololi with the Senegambia Strip, Kotu, Cape Point with Bakau, and Bijilo. A few choose a lodge in the forest and mangroves away from the sea. The tourism board names four kinds of accommodation: hotels, self-catering apartments, lodges and inns.
Pick the area first and the property second. The descriptions below are profiles of locations from published guides, not checked promises about noise, safety or comfort. This is an independent guide, and it recommends no hotel and takes no booking. Room prices vary by season and property, so compare current rates before you book.
The areas compared
Location profiles from published guides. They are not checked promises about noise or comfort.
| Area | Setting | Good for | Think about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kololi and the Senegambia Strip | The main resort area, with restaurants, bars and shops | Evenings out, eating, shopping | Open-air music events are suspended for now |
| Kotu | Beach hotels and restaurants, with Kotu Creek behind | A beach holiday, birdwatching at the creek | Strong currents at the beach |
| Cape Point and Bakau | A wide sandy beach with hotels set back; Bakau has a market and everyday life | Beach days with local surroundings | Check the distance to the beach |
| Bijilo | South of Kololi, with a less densely built coast | A less built-up stay near the forest park | Properties are more spread out |
| Makasutu | Forest and mangroves, not on the Atlantic | Lodge stays and nature | No beach at the door; Mandina Lodges have a minimum age of 15 |
Our picks: a day trip from your resort
This 4x4 safari collects guests at hotels in Senegambia, Kololi, Kotu and Bijilo, which covers most of the areas compared above.
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 and transfers from the resort areas
Boat trips, birdwatching, city tours and day excursions from Kololi, Kotu and Cape Point, with live prices and availability.
Kololi and the Senegambia Strip
Kololi is the main resort area. It concentrates restaurants, bars, shops and hotels, and the Senegambia Strip is part of it. Stay here if you want to walk to dinner and have plenty of choice. The beach at Kololi is narrow in places, with more sand at low tide.
The autumn 2026 change matters here. At the end of September 2026 the tourism board was reported to have suspended public open-air music and entertainment events in the Tourism Development Area. A report on 7 October described continuing effects around Senegambia and Bijilo and uncertainty over background music and small acts. That does not mean every restaurant or hotel is shut, but ask your hotel what is on. See the Senegambia Strip page.
Kotu
Kotu has beach hotels and restaurants on a broad, flat beach. Kotu Creek is on the birdwatching lists of local operators, so it suits a stay that mixes beach and birds. Currents can be strong off the beach. See the beaches page.
Cape Point and Bakau
Cape Point has a wide area of sand, with hotels set back from the beach and beach furniture on it. Bakau, close by, has a market and everyday surroundings. Ask your property how far the beach and the shops are. The Kachikally crocodile pool is in Bakau.
Bijilo and the forest lodges
Bijilo lies south of the main Kololi resort area. Its coast is less densely built, and properties are more spread out. Bijilo Forest Park is reached on foot from many accommodations, with the entrance behind the conference centre. Do not feed the monkeys.
For a stay in the forest rather than on the sea, Makasutu offers lodges in a forest and mangrove setting. Mandina is the lodge named in published guides, and one UK operator sells it with a minimum age of 15. That is that operator's condition, not a rule for day visitors to Makasutu. Eco lodge is a name, not a certificate, so ask what the property actually does.
What to ask before you book
Questions that matter more than the star rating in autumn 2026.
Power and water
UK advice says power cuts can affect water, communications and basic services, and German advice reports long power cuts in the Greater Banjul area. Ask if the property has a generator and how it keeps water running. Do not assume it does.
Evenings
Ask what entertainment is on, given the suspension of open-air events. Do not book for a beach party.
Protests
German advice reports repeated protests since 8 September 2026 around Greater Banjul, including Serekunda and Brufut, and an election on 5 December 2026. Check the latest advice before you travel.
Season
November to May is much drier at Banjul. From June to October floods can disrupt roads, so ask about access in the rains.
Getting to your hotel
Banjul International Airport is at Yundum, about 25 km south-east of Banjul.
Operators publish private transfers. One lists €15 per person to the coast resorts, another €25 per person for 1 to 4 travellers and €20 for 5 to 14, with an estimated 30 to 50 minutes. A driver lists 1,000 GMD, €25 or £20 from the airport to Kololi or Bakau hotels. A 2025 estimate for a taxi to Kololi, Kotu or Senegambia is 1,000 GMD, and it is negotiable. Whichever you choose, agree the price before you set off. The airport page has the details, including the departure and arrival fee.
Where to stay in The Gambia: frequently asked questions
Which area is best for a first visit?
It depends on what you want. Kololi has the most restaurants, bars and shops. Kotu has beach hotels and a creek for birds. Cape Point has a wide beach, and Bijilo is less built up. The table above sets them side by side.
What kinds of accommodation are there?
The tourism board names hotels, self-catering apartments, lodges and inns. An eco lodge is a name a property gives itself and not a certified standard.
Is there nightlife in 2026?
Restaurants and bars are concentrated in Kololi and along the Senegambia Strip. But public open-air music and entertainment events in the tourism zone were reported suspended at the end of September 2026. Ask your hotel what is on.
Will I have electricity and water?
Power cuts can affect water and communications, according to UK advice, and German advice reports long power cuts in Greater Banjul. Ask whether your property has a generator.
How far is the airport from the hotels?
The airport is at Yundum, about 25 km south-east of Banjul. One operator estimates 30 to 50 minutes to the Kombo and Kololi area. See the airport page.