Alfresco dining at Footsteps restaurant

A few words from our head chef, Famara.

Since being a small boy I have been passionate about creating delicious food. I could see the delight it gave my friends and family and from that moment on I was sure all I wanted to be was a top-class chef.

I use only the best high-quality ingredients sourced locally or grown in our garden to craft memorable dining experiences just for you!

While holidaying in Gambia, join me on a journey of discovery, where flavour and taste become an adventure.

Welcome to my kitchen, where the magic comes alive!

Famara-Chef at Footsteps Eco-lodge Gambia

Meet The Rest Of The Kitchen Team

Food in The Gambia- Trainee Chef

Buba – Trainee Chef

Breakfast & lunchtime Chef

Fatou – Chef

Gambia cuisine

Kebba – Chef

What’s the food like in Gambia?

Gambian food recipes are full of flavour and usually a little spicy. Like Domada, a peanut and chilli stew, Yassa, a mustard and onion sauce and Benachin, which is similar to Paella. Traditional food in Gambia uses the freshest seasonal produce. 

Fruit and vegetables are bought from neighbouring farms or grown at home. Bread comes in two styles. Choose from either Tapalapa, which is a heavy filling bread, perfect for toasting or Sen Fur which is a light, French style baguette.

At Footsteps we follow the Gambian way. Our fresh vegetables and delicious herbs are mostly grown by Sainey, who manages our own on-site organic garden. Fruit comes from the trees growing within the lodge and fresh bread is delivered by the local baker to our open view kitchen every morning.

Whatever your food tastes you’re going to love Gambia food and drinks while staying at Footsteps. Our chefs are experienced professionals who can cater for food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and of course meat-eaters too!

Local and International cuisine

Food and drinks at Footsteps are available all day every day from our bar/restaurant & open-view kitchen.

We offer a choice of light snacks, Gambian classic dishes as well as your International favourites.

Now, doesn’t that sound tempting?

Take a sneak peek at this short video to see what to expect from Famara and his team!

Grilled Labneh
Grilled Labneh
Fish-and-chips
Fish ‘n’ chips
Beef-satay
Beef-satay

Breakfast

After a great night’s sleep find tea, coffee, and fresh local juices waiting for you at the bantaba.

Then choose from our healthy food options of fresh local fruits, smoothies, muesli, and homemade jams

Enjoy a traditional English breakfast of local eggs, bacon, and sausages with grilled tomatoes, your perfect start to each morning while on holiday.

Gambian fresh breakfast fruits

Lunch

Available from noon till 4 pm, we offer a varied selection of Gambia food including Vegan and Vegetarian. 

Filled baguettes, light bites such as hummus and olives, and salads. If your appetite needs a little more satisfaction we serve homemade quarter-pounder burgers

Picnic lunches can be arranged on request.

Gambian cuisine
Take a sneeky peek at our new 2024 lunchtime menu?
Lunch time menu- Gambia

Dinner

Each evening we present a three-course a la carte menu. We offer a choice of two starters, three main courses and two desserts.

All menus serve vegetarian, meat, fish, and European and Gambian food from which to choose.

Starters & desserts £4

Main course £7 – £10

Gambia food & drinks

Local Gambian recipes to try at home

Here is some Gambia local cuisine for you to try 😋 For vegetarian versions of these Gambian recipes just leave out the meat and add a few more veggies.

First, let’s try the national dish of The Gambia, Yassa!

Food in The Gambia
Yassa

Ingredients

  • 1 fish or any meat, cut into pieces
  • 3 chillies, diced
  • 6 large onions, diced
  • 4 Maggi cubes
  • 3 tablespoons mustard
  • 10 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1 cup vinegar
  • Juice of 4 limes
  • 2 tablespoon peanut oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Now make it

  1. In a bowl prepare the marinade by mixing all the ingredients together bar the oil. Crush the Maggi before adding it to aid in the mixing.
  2. Allow to sit in the fridge overnight preferably.
  3. Heat oil in a large nonstick pan.
  4. Fry the chicken one piece at a time until golden brown and set aside.
  5. Add marinade and juices back to the pan along with the chicken.
  6. Simmer for 45 minutes, the chicken should be cooked throughout & the onions soft & yellow.
  7. Serve with white rice.
national dish of gambia
Soso beans

Ingredients

  • Dried black-eyed beans
  • 1 large diced onion
  • 4 cloves of minced garlic
  • 4 diced tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 oz tomato paste
  • 3 oz (85 g) of cheese (any)
  • Diced chilli (add to your taste)
  • Fresh basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Now make it

  1. Pre-soak beans for 1-2 hours.
  2. In a frying pan, heat your oil and add the diced onion. When onion is beginning to soften add the chilli and minced garlic. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Add tomato puree and diced tomato. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Add black-eyed beans and a half cup of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Present as the picture above topped with cheese and fresh basil.
Benachin-Gambia food
Benachin

Ingredients

  • Fish or meat
  • 500 ml of peanut oil
  • 200 grams carrot & aubergine
  • 1/2 cabbage
  • 3 chillies
  • 500 grams rice
  • 1 large onion
  • 100 grams tomatoes
  • 1-litre water
  • 2 bay leaves & 2 Maggi cubes

Now make it

  1. Deep fry meat and set aside
  2. Add onions, tomatoes & cayenne to hot oil
  3. Add water, Maggi cubes, chillies, bay leaves & veg
  4. Simmer for 30 mins
  5. As veg cooks, remove & keep warm
  6. Add rice to pan & stir well
  7. Bring to boil & then reduce to simmer for 25 minutes
  8. season with salt and pepper
  9. Serve as above

Domada Ingredients

  • 2 cups of peanut butter ( homemade is best )
  • Half a kilo of meat or chicken
  • 2 hot chillies ( Kani are best )
  • 2 large onions ( Chopped )
  • 1 kg fresh tomatoes ( Tinned works too )
  • 1 tablespoon of pureed tomato
  • 2 large garlic cloves
  • Half a medium white cabbage
  • 1 medium butternut squash cubes into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 lemon and 1 lime juiced
  • 2 Maggi cubes
  • A quarter cup of oil
  • Enough water to cover and simmer

Now make it

  1. In a large pan, heat the oil and brown the meat and onions.
  2. Once brown add the pureed tomato and cook for 3 mins.
  3. Add vegetables, chillies, garlic and Maggi.
  4. cover with water and bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat and add some water to the peanut butter until the paste thins.
  6. Add the paste to the cooking pot and stir.
  7. Simmer for an hour.
  8. If the sauce gets too thick just add some more water.
  9. Serve with rice.

Tapalapa Ingredients

  • Wheat flour 800 g
  • Corn flour 100g
  • Millet flour 50g
  • Baking yeast 1 teaspoon
  • Baking powder 1 teaspoon
  • Salt 2 teaspoons
  • Sugar 1 tablespoon
  • Coldwater 0.6 litre
  • A small cup of water

Now make it

  1. Mix all flour, yeast and baking powder
  2. Add salt to the cold water and dissolve
  3. Slowly add the salted water to the flour mix, kneading constantly.
  4. Kneading is finished when an elastic dough is formed.
  5. Leave the covered dough in a dark place for 1 hour.
  6. Separate dough into equal pieces ( approx 250 g each )
  7. Roll into baguettes.
  8. Cover and leave to rest for 1 hour in a dark place.
  9. Score each baguette with 3 lines.
  10. Dissolve sugar in your water and paint each baguette.
  11. Add bread to a hot oven ( 200 degrees C )
  12. Bake for 35 minutes remove and allow to cool before eating.
Martin 14
3 March 2024
Verified
Home from Home We have visited the Gambia many times and this was our 4th visit to Footsteps. Every time we walk through the gates the place feels like a home from home. David, Linda and their staff keep the lodges and grounds clean and tidy. The food produced by the chefs is always to a high standard and the barbeques with entertainment from the local drummers is always a great evening. Every time we come we make new friends and discover new places to visit. We will be back very soon.
Liz K
2 March 2024
Verified
A Gambian Haven! Can’t stop returning to this Gambian Haven. It was wonderful to return for our 5th visit this year and to be greeted again so warmly by David and his staff. The food as always was delicious, accommodation spotless and every time we come we experience more and varied things about this delightful country and its people, all arranged through Footsteps. We will certainly be back again
Angele V
19 February 2024
Verified
A Warm and wonderful stay in the most beautiful environment Footsteps is a fantastic natural place where David and Linda and their staff welcome you with warmth and care. All praise! Sitting in front of your roundhouse you will see many birds, but you can also take bird walks and walk towards the beach and wetlands from the lodge. The food is delicious and fresh. For us, the shared dinner was an addition. Lots of beautiful stories and encounters. We will definitely come back! recommended!
Dave H
18 February 2024
Verified
Bliss What an amazing experience. Set in beautiful and peaceful surroundings, with wildlife on your doorstep. The staff could not have been more friendly and accommodating, and such lovely food. Would very happily visit again. Thank you all..
paula G
18 February 2024
Verified
Great place to feel cared for and retreat from busy lives We spent 3 nights in one of the roundhouses and had a really good break. The accommodation is quiet, clean and comfortable. The food and service is excellent. Meals are served 'en famille' style which was a lovely sociable experience and we met lots of interesting people. The beach is a 30-40 minute walk away. We only went once because there was plenty to see and do on site. The grounds are quite extensive and are divided into beautiful garden, growing, service and relaxation areas. We pre-booked yoga and a massage on site - both of which were great. We also enjoyed a kayaking trip. We were there for the kayaking and scenery, rather than the bird watching, but got the full birding guide too. The transport is not included in the trips off site. If you need to book this, make sure you have the driver's number and arrange a time for collection well in advance of your expected finish time. There are very talented craftspeople working within the Footsteps grounds. This was a bonus for me because I teach and practise various craftwork in the UK. Will definitely be going back if I get the chance.
John
17 February 2024
Verified
Footsteps een parel in Gambia. Ik heb een uitstekend verblijf gehad in een roundhouse van Footsteps. David en Linda en hun staf zorgen voor een zeer goede sfeer. Door de vele vogels op het terrein kun je van kortbij genieten van de geweldige natuur. Het eten is voortreffelijk. Zeker in dit deel van Gambia zijn de mensen zeer vriendelijk en behulpzaam. Op 20 minuten lopen ligt een flink strand met wat ligbedjes met parasols en juicebars. Doordat er weinig toeristen zijn heb je altijd plek. Onderweg naar het strand kom langs de zgn. Wetlands. Hier wemelt het van de vogels. Ter plaatse zijn allerlei leuke natuurtrips te boeken. Ook behoort vissen tot de mogelijkheden. Wij komen zeker terug.
Lynne S
16 February 2024
Verified
A fabulous week at Footsteps We loved our time at Footsteps. Sunbird House worked well for us. It was spacious and comfortable. One tip we’d like to recommend is for there to be some written guidance in the house re do’s, don’ts and what’s available. The staff were really welcoming and helpful and we loved engaging with (and spending money!) with the craftsmen and women. We can recommend the Black & White drumming team. They created a great last night for us with our many Gambian friends. I’m sure we’ll be back 🙂
Clarareist
12 February 2024
Verified
Gambias schönste Küste Ein traumhafter Ort, mitten in der Natur, der Strand ist fußläufig zu erreichen und einer der wenigen sauberen Strände Gambias. Sehr nettes Personal! Das Rundhaus gemütlich und sauber. Essen vor Ort top! Haben nette Menschen kennengelernt. Wir kommen wieder!
Kathryn J
10 February 2024
Verified
A truly special place Footsteps is a truly special place. We had the most incredible stay. Everything was wonderful. The staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly, the accommodation was beautiful, comfortable and clean, the food was fantastic and the grounds were really peaceful and well cared for. The bird song all around was spectacular each day and the walk to the beach was lovely. We had an unforgettable time there. It was wonderful to meet the local craftsman working on site and be able to support their work. I’ve never met such friendly and open people ! Footsteps really has everything you need for a great holiday in The Gambia. We arranged bird watching trips with an extremely knowledgeable guide, as well as having Djembe lessons locally and a really good massage on site. We left feeling really grateful for such a special time. I celebrated my birthday whilst there and it was the best birthday ever!! Thank you David and all the team at Footsteps. We’ll be back !!!

A/ We won’t be beaten on price.

B/ If you find a better deal, we’ll price match & discount it by 5%.

C/ Book your next Gambia vacation today with no deposit, nothing to pay until one month before travel & a full refund guarantee up to 2 weeks before travel.

"Simple as ABC", start planning your holiday today with Footsteps Eco-lodge!

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