Gambia Beach Guide

GAMBIA BEACH GUIDE

The Gambia has plenty of fantastic sandy beaches and most resorts are within walking distance of one.

The sea is also warm and inviting, but check the following for more details: -

Coastal erosion continues to affect the beach between the Kololi Beach Club/Holiday Beach Club and the Seaview Bar & Restaurant in Kololi (in spite of the beach reclamation project in 2003 - the results of which, at the time, were truly amazing). Swimming here is dangerous due to strong undercurrents, and you are therefore advised to check with your hotel or look for the lifeguards flags before going for a dip.

To the north of Kololi the beaches get better and, as a result, the stretch between Kotu and Fajara appears busier. There are plenty of bars at the Kotu end of the beach who offer the use of free sun loungers to their patrons. If you want to swim, again, check with the lifeguards who have a post on the beach (in front of Kombo Beach Hotel) or look for their flags before going in.

Between Leybato Bar (where you can take the opportunity to relax in a hammock) and Bakau, the beach gives way to small cliffs, and some hotels have built artificial beach platforms.

At Cape Point the beach sweeps round in a bay until it meets Oyster Creek from Denton Bridge. There are one or two smaller bars (some with sun loungers) along the beach, which is always much quieter than some of the other beaches. The water here is also much shallower and safer for paddling, although it does seem a little cooler when you first wade in. Nevertheless, there are strong currents towards the point itself and you are strongly advised to take heed of the warning flags and notices along the beach before taking a dip. With the reopening of the Sun Beach hotel and the refurbishment of the Ocean Bay hotel, this beach has got busier, and the availability of speed boats, windsurfers and small sailing dinghys for hire is surely a sign of things to come.

From Oyster Creek (Denton Bridge, and home to the main fishing and tourist pirogue departure point), and north towards Banjul and the Palm Grove Hotel, further land reclamation work was carried out to protect the main road to Banjul from erosion. This has resulted in a long stretch of beach punctuated by small lagoon areas which are practically empty of people.

If you really want to get away from it all, you need to head south of Kololi to Bijilo beach (follow signs to the Pirogue Bar off the main coastal road after Senegambia), Sanyang, Gunjur (follow signs to Footsteps Eco Lodge beach or Sankule's Beach) and beyond, where you really can walk for miles along uninterrupted beach.

Of course, you might not fancy lying on a beach all day, so why not try your hand at beach fishing? For more information on our beach fishing trips, please see Gambia Fishing Trips or Contact Us.