HOTELS
Where To Stay
Amidst the endless possibilities of accommodation in The Gambia, we have provided a selection of some of Gambia's most highly recommended hotels. The easiest way to find a good place to stay is by using one of the following websites: www.booking.com or www.hotels.com. However, these are our best picks of the bunch:
Nestled on a cliff top set high above a secluded beach, with stunning views across the Atlantic in the Fajara district of The Gambia. This romantic, adult-only, boutique hotel comprises of only 24 suites making it a perfect getaway and hideout location for those seeking a more relaxed and quiet experience away from the main resort areas.
Ngala also has a superb restaurant that has been run for several years by British chef Jonathan Groves. Even if Ngala isn’t your choice of stay, we highly recommend you visit the restaurant at some stage during your time in The Gambia.
Coco Ocean Resort & Spa is a stylish, five-star resort looking out over the sea. Commonly recognised as the most luxurious in Gambia, the hotel is designed in a blend of traditional moorish and modern decoration, and boasts some excellent fusion cuisine and a gorgeous, state-of-the-art spa.
Coco Ocean provides all the amenities you'd expect from a five-star resort - luxurious rooms which maintain the distinctive design theme, a delicious and broad selection of fine and more casual dining, and beautifully designed buildings. Expect a series of interlocking courtyards, tropical flowerbeds, sweeping ocean panoramas and moorish archways.
Another very popular choice, located just thirty minutes from Banjul International Airport, The Gambia Coral Beach Hotel & Spa is a spectacularly beautiful hotel inspired by local traditions on an unspoiled beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia Coral Beach Hotel's unique beach is one of the country's most breathtaking, in a nation of already-stunning beauty. With outdoor swimming pools and panoramic views of the ocean you also have access to daily water aerobics, premium pampering at the Naatange Spa & Fitness Centre and so much more.
As well as being the largest, the Senegambia Beach Hotel is one of the most popular hotels in The Gambia. The hotel sits in a prime position, right on the seafront and in the heart of the largest resort of Kololi, close to the popular tourist area of Senegambia. The Senegambia Strip is where most of the nightlife in The Gambia takes place, with a wide range of restaurants, bars, discos and a casino. Whilst the Senegambia strip can be lively, the hotel is large and spread out and is very quiet amongst the gardens where the rooms are situated. The beachside bar and pool area is where most of the daily activities take place and are the places to be during the day if you want a lively atmosphere, or head for the small pool near the main hotel building if you are looking to relax more. The evening entertainment includes folklore shows, traditional African dancing and also a weekly barbeque. There are also themed nights in the main restaurant.
Gambia’s stunning new hotel on the beachfront in Kotu. Offers a peaceful and quiet adult only haven, complete with modern furniture and fittings with a classic African style design. FYI - for those wanting to stay amongst all guests flying into Gambia, 80% of those flying from the U.K. will be staying at Tamala Hotel.
Now widely recognised as Gambia's best hotel
Mandina Lodges is an eco-friendly resort, deep in the sacred forest of Makasutu with just nine lodges (four floating lodges, one stilted lodge plus four more lodges set back from the river). Makasutu is a Mandinka word which derives from the words: ‘Maka’ which is Islam’s holy city of Mecca and ‘Sutu’ which means forest. This translates to ‘holy forest’.
Makasutu comprises of a palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the River Gambia encompassing many different ecosystems including dense forest, savanna and mangrove regions. The environment encompassing this forest is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, 3 species of monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer, man goose and if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of migrating baboons, that make the forest their home for several months each year.
At Makasutu, you couldn’t feel more removed from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist resorts in The Gambia and yet Mandina is less than an hour from Banjul airport.
Even if Mandina Lodge is not your choice of stay, we highly recommend a day trip to Makasutu Forest for those seeking peace, tranquillity and excursion.
N.B Given the distance that it would take for you to travel from Makasutu to Coco Ocean to attend the wedding, this venue is only recommended for those looking for a real holiday/experience during their time in The Gambia.
Surrounded by lush tropical gardens and kilometres of sandy beaches, Kairaba Beach Hotel is another one of The Gambia’s most popular hotels. It sits just a 2-minute walk from the nearest taxi rank and within a short walk from banks, restaurants and shopping outlets. Bijilo Forest Park can be reached in 10 minutes on foot and is a great place for observing animals in their natural habitat. This can also happen while the guests of the hotel relax on their verandas that overlook the peaceful gardens, which houses numerous colourful birds and friendly monkeys.
This is without a doubt one of the most popular hotels in Gambia, located by the beach, surrounded by a tropical garden and close to the centre of Kotu. Perfect for a relaxing holiday! Good to know: this hotel has the renowned sustainability mark the Travelife Gold, which means they do well when it comes to the use of water and energy, recycling, the treatment of employees, use of regional products and are actively involved with the locals. If you feel like going out not only is the centre of Kotu close by, there are also lots of stores and restaurants in walking distance from Kombo Beach. Banjul Airport is about a 20 min drive