Gambia Entertainment Guide

Restaurants are usually attached to hotels and there are many others in the city centres ranging from luxury to small eating joints (chophouses). Outside the main towns, you’ll find a lot of mid-range restaurants and chophouses catering to the tourist trade. You can opt for Gambian dishes or grilled chicken and chips even at the smallest restaurants. Vegetarians are not very well catered for, although buffets in many hotels serve a variety of local fruits and vegetables. Most hotels serve European cuisine and food is inexpensive compared to European standards. However, most European products are imported and sometimes there may be a shortage of supplies. Beer is reasonably priced but wines aren’t. Soft drinks and juices are readily available.

There aren’t too many nightclubs in Gambia and discotheques and entertainment are confined to hotels. If you are thinking of visiting the few nightclubs, it is best to take a Gambian friend along to avoid being harassed.

Shopping

One of the most popular purchases is the Gambishirt, made of “batik” prints and embroidered cotton cloth, very brightly coloured. Woodcarvings, beaded belts, silver and gold jewellery and ladies handbags are also popular items. Buy jewellery with extreme caution because fakes are common. Other West African handicrafts made of straw, beads, leather, cloth or metal can also be purchased in Banjul and at several craft markets near hotels set up by the “Bengdulalu”. The Albert Market in Banjul is a fascinating maze of covered stalls where you can get everything. There are local markets in Bakau and Brikama too. The Government has a fixed-price shop in Bakau.