Things to do in The Gambia

We get asked two questions more than any other. Is Gambia a safe country for tourists? And what can I do while I’m there?

Is The Gambia a safe country?

The answer to this is a resounding YES! Gambia is a very safe and welcoming destination for tourists. It has a low crime rate and the local people are renowned for their hospitality.

What is there to do in the Gambia?

For guests that just want to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of our beautiful lodge, we offer an exciting and varied range of in-house activities, from local cooking lessons to making your very own African dress or traditional jewellery.

For those who want to explore the local area, we have wide open sandy beaches, nature trails and the thriving local village of Gunjur, all within a short walk.

For those who like to get out and about will enjoy one or more of our day trips to visit some of The Gambia’s most famous and interesting sites, such as the UNESCO-recognised Kunta Kinteh Island. We also cater for specialist interests such as Bird Watching, Fishing, Yoga and Photography.

Whether you’re a nature lover, or a history enthusiast simply looking forward to a peaceful getaway, The Gambia has something to offer everyone and all benefit the local community as much as possible!

Specialist Activities

Guided or not?

Most activities going out include a guide. We advise you to take a guide with you so you can get the most out of your trip. There are tours you can do without a guide and when in doubt we will gladly advise you.

Like a local?

Most activities going out include a private taxi, although some trips can be done by bush taxi. Depending on the route you can use this local means of transport. If available, the price mentioned includes the bush taxi instead of a private taxi.

Prepay?

All activities can be pre-paid online when you book or when you’re at our lodge.

Workshops & things to do at the lodge

Cooking with Mary

things to do in the gambia - cook like a local

Every day you can see Mary preparing a traditional Gambian dish for our team, but if you really like cooking, you might want to join in and get your hands dirty.

Well, you can! Mary is happy to teach you how to make the delicious Benachin, Yassa or Domoda yourself and you get to eat it too!

£10 per person

Ps. See some of our Gambian food recipes here 

Woodcarving

Woodcarving workshops in Gambia

Malang, our resident woodcarver, will help you create your own art. How about a local-style chair to take home with you? You can have any design you want on there and it packs flat. Watch Malang’s work, buy one of his gorgeous creations or collaborate with him to create your own unique wood carving every day.

You can read more about Malang in our featured spotlight blog series.

Prices by arrangement with Mallang.

Silversmithing

gambia tourist attractions - silversmithing

Crafted while you watch, in a time-honoured tradition using only fire, goatskin bellows, hammer on an anvil and of course a piece of silver.

Bai Serin has over 35 years of experience in making silver jewellery. See him every Saturday.

You can read more about Bai in our featured spotlight blog series.

Prices by arrangement with Bai.

Weaving workshop

tourist attraction in gambia - cotton weaving

Spend an hour or two with Ousman and actually make your own cotton product ( or some of it, it takes him an average of 7 hours to make one scarf ) You can read more about Ousman in our featured spotlight blog series.

£5 per person 2 hours

Onsite tailor

Onsite tailor at Footsteps Eco-lodge

Many people are impressed by the colourful and flattering clothes the Gambians wear and now you won’t have to leave Footsteps to have them custom-made for you. Of course, our tailor can make you other things as well.

The girls would be happy to take you shopping for the fabrics you like, or you let Anta create some tie & dye fabric for you.

Prices depend on the fabric and your wishes.

Kora workshop

Kora workshops at Footsteps Eco-lodge

 

How about mastering the 21 strings of the kora? We know some very skilled people who would be happy to teach you.

£10 per person for 2 hours

Djembe workshop

Gambian drumming workshops

Learn how to play the Gambian Djembe drum with Mani.

Price £10 for 2 hours

Dance workshop

Music & dance in Gambia

One of the best things to do in Gambia is dance!

Let Anceli, Fatou and Awa show you those Gambian moves.

£10

Massage & pamper

Massage at Footsteps Eco-lodge

When you're on holiday, you want to relax, right? Seeing new sights, going on adventures and chilling on the beach or by the pool...

At Footsteps, we take relaxing seriously. Not only do we offer you a lounge area where you can recharge your camera and your own battery, but you can also get massages and beauty treatments at the lodge.

In our gardens, you'll find a secluded, cool and peaceful house for these treatments.

You're on holiday so go ahead and let yourself be pampered!

Price  for massage - 1 hr £15

Manicure & pedicure also available at £10 each

Things to do outside the lodge

Gambia tourism attractions

Things to do in Gambia | Map of Footsteps location
  1. Abuko nature reserve
  2. Brufut Woods
  3. Kayaking
  4. Tanji Museum
  5. Tungbung art village
  1. Rainbow Beach Bar: 
  2. Gunjur fishing centre
  3. Lemonfish art gallery 
  4. Bird observatory/snake farm
  5. Airport 28 km from Footsteps

These 2 activities support The Gunjur Dog Patrol Charity

Help local dogs in Gunjur

Gunjur Dog Patrol

Spend a morning with our mobile dog rangers helping local dogs stay healthy and happy. This day is one to remember for a multitude of reasons. Join our rangers on pushbike and set off for Gunjur village where you will assist with the daily tasks involved in educating and raising standards for dog care in Gambia. Its a fantastic way to see real village life and meet the locals too!

3-4 hrs cost £25 and includes your bike too!

All monies go directly to Gunjur Dog Patrol

Lazy Day Cruise

Lazy Day Cruise

This cruise is run by Susan Stage, an animal advocate and one of the kindest individuals you could ever meet. Susan runs her 'Lazy day Cruise" for the sole purpose of supporting animal charities like The Gunjur Dog Patrol.

An early start from Footsteps ( or wherever you may be staying ) sees you at Denton Bridge Banjul by 9 am and in time to get onboard a traditional Gambian Pirogue for a slap up breakfast on the river.

Enjoy a day of great food ( breakfast and lunch, teas, coffees included in price ), company, swimming and even a spot of fishing if thats your thing.

Price is £25 pp, transport there and back is extra and is £30 split between the number of people going ( Ie. £10 each if 3 persons )

Proceeds go to The Gunjur Dog patrol

Kayaking in Tanji

Activities in Gambia - Kayaking

Half-day kayaking through the bolong at Tanji. Go either at sunrise or sunset and see numerous birds.

Price per person is £30 and includes breakfast coffee & tea.

Take a peek at their Facebook page

 

Abuko & Tanji

safari in gambia

Abuko Forest Reserve is one of the oldest nature reserves and tourist attractions in Gambia. The nature reserve covers around 107 hectares, much of which is dense forest and bushes, with plenty of room for the three primate species found here: vervet, red colobus, and patas monkeys.

As many as 270 bird species were recorded in this forest area as well as numerous butterflies and reptiles too.

After lunch, it’s on to Tanji Village Museum, The Gambia’s first private museum, and a great place for learning about Gambian flora and fauna, history and crafts, as well as hearing local musicians.

After visiting the museum, you can continue to see Tanji’s bustling fish market.

Transport, guide, lunch, and admission fees inc. approx £36 each

Culture day

Is gambia safe for tourists

Spend a day in Banjul and see the nation's capital. Feel the hustle and bustle and experience Albert Market and all it has to offer, everything from spices to fine materials.

Visit its museum and history from when The Gambia was ruled as a British colony

Price £30 per person.

My farm

Daytrips in Gambia to My Farm

Spend a day at ‘My Farm’, a charitable foundation based in Norway.

Their mission is to improve livelihoods in The Gambia through education in agricultural innovation, environmental protection and entrepreneurship.

Learn how they make handmade soaps, real Mango fruit jams, and Bamboo butter body creams and try their rejuvenating Moringa teas.

Have lunch cooked using solar cookers and buy their unique products as gifts for your loved ones back home.

Transport, guide, lunch and admission fees inc.£30 per person

Fishing village & school

Fishing village and school visit - Gambia

Visit a nearby fishing village and capture the colourful boats returning with their catch and the fishermen mending the nets.

Then to a local school to meet the children and teachers of The Gunjur Upper Basic School.

Our itinerary is designed to put you where the pictures are, this holiday will provide you with stunning photographs and timeless memories.

Transport, guide, lunch inc – approx £25

Snakes & reptiles

Snake farm daytrip - Gambia

Inside a well-preserved forest near Kartong, you will find a collection of Gambian reptiles. Snakes, chameleons, turtles, lizards and other animals.

Some are extremely dangerous and others like The Python are not dangerous and have been tamed. These can be handled if you wish.

All the reptiles are presented by an experienced herpetologist during a one-hour tour who will answer any questions you ask.

Transport, lunch & admission fees inc – £22

Sunrise/Sunset trip

Things to do in The Gambia

See the Gambia sunset by riverboat – one of the many things to do in the Gambia and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful and relaxing. You leave from the fishing village of Kartong and spend the morning/afternoon in a dugout on the Alahein River, having breakfast/lunch in a Senegalese river camp.

It’s a lovely way to spend a morning/afternoon and a big favourite with our guests—Meander down a small river estuary and cross to Senegal. On the way, you’ll see some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and birds galore.

Transportation & Guide inc – £30

Lamin’s walk n talk

Lamin walk n talk - Gambia

Lamin will describe and talk about just about anything and everything you may see or hear along the way. This could be a bird, a monkey, a deer or even a snake, and will most certainly include trees and shrubs, many of which have religious or medicinal uses.

The walk and talk safari in Gambia is a fascinating experience and a great opportunity to learn more about the local people and their culture and traditions as well as gather information about the area around Gunjur Village in general.

You can read more about Lamin in our featured spotlight blog series.

Your expert guide inc – £15

Ninki Nanka

Activities - Ninki Nanka

is a small, new Gambian charity, supported by a UK community interest company (CIC), working towards the responsible development of the Ninki Nanka Trail as a community-based tourist destination.

We work on projects with communities, tourism businesses and local government to develop experiences, products and community-based tourism designed to create inspiring, cultural interaction between tourists and local people, and use tourism to create livelihood opportunities for host communities along The River Gambia.

Our activities also include responsible tourism education, preserving Ninki Nanka stories and intangible heritage, conservation and experiential and cultural immersion tours for small educational and special interest groups.

Contact Adama Bah for more info

Pottery workshops

Glazed and painted Gambian pottery

Spend a morning or afternoon creating a lifelong memory from clay with Abdoulie Saine.

The price is 1000 Dalasi ( £14 ) for 4 hours, and you will make 2 items of pottery which are yours to keep.

Add 500 Dalasi ( £7 ) and enjoy lunch with Abdoulie and his family 😉

 

Beach clean-up day

Beach clean-up day - Things to do in Gambia

Join us on the beach to clean it and have some fun too playing volleyball and enjoy some drinks!

Beach cleaning is not only a responsible act that helps protect our oceans and marine life, but it can also be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Armed with gloves and trash bags, you embark on a mission to rid the beach of litter. As you bend down to pick up debris, you may encounter interesting and unexpected treasures like seashells or driftwood. Working alongside like-minded individuals, you can bond, share stories, and create lasting memories. With each piece of trash you collect, you positively impact the environment, making beach cleaning a rewarding and fulfilling activity that brings joy and satisfaction to all involved.

The Roots Trip

Unesco- St James Island

For this full-day trip, we use one of our preferred tour operator partners, contact us for more information

Start your day early by heading to Banjul harbour at 8:00 am. Hop on a boat for a 25km trip upriver to Albreda, Juffureh, and Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly Fort James Island). This tour will take you back in time to learn about the transatlantic slave trade, meet the descendants of Kunta Kinteh from the famous book and film "ROOTS," and explore a museum dedicated to the memory of the slaves who were held on the island. After a break for an all-inclusive lunch, we'll visit Fort James on Kunta Kinteh Island before heading back.

A full 12 hours trip

Lunch included

£80 per person

 

These are just some of the things to do in Gambia. If you have special requests or would like to create a tailor-made trip, we can help with that too!

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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