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Voykit pocket guide · The Gambia
Brufut
Half-day stop on the Atlantic Coast for the Sheraton beach and a quiet walk; not a base unless you want the resort. Combine with Tanji or Serekunda.
Brufut is a small coastal town 20 km west of Banjul, best known for the five-star Sheraton Gambia Resort and its quiet beach. Most travellers pass through on the way to Tanji or use the resort as a splurge night. The town itself has no major sights beyond the beach and a few local eateries.
- Country
- The Gambia
- Best months
- Nov–May
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season, humid)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GMD
- Money
- Currency is the Gambian dalasi (GMD), about 70–75 per US$ (check). Cards work in larger hotels; most other payments are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget GMD 1,500–3,000 excl. bed · Mid GMD 3,000–8,000 excl. bed · High GMD 8,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Africell, QCell and Gamcel SIMs sold at the airport and shops; passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Ambulance 116 · Fire 118
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; power cuts happen — hotels have generators.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge.; Guide day: 300–500 GMD or €5–10.; Driver day: 300–500 GMD.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels; basic elsewhere.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | GMD 30–50 |
| Local meal (rice with fish or chicken) | GMD 150–300 |
| Beer (bottle in a bar) | GMD 60–100 |
| Taxi Brufut to Tanji, one way | GMD 500–800 |
| Taxi Brufut to Banjul, one way | GMD 1,000–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BJL · Banjul International Airport
- About 30 min by taxi; check the fare before you ride.
Typical fares
- Banjul Airport → Brufut, taxi
- about GMD 1,500 (check)
- Brufut → Tanji, taxi
- about GMD 500–800 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking within the village; taxi or hired car for Tanji (5 km (3.1 mi)) or Serekunda (10 km (6.2 mi)). No public transport hub in Brufut itself.Walking within the village; taxi or hired car for Tanji (3.1 mi (5 km)) or Serekunda (6.2 mi (10 km)). No public transport hub in Brufut itself.
See and do
Known for
- Sheraton Gambia Resort
- Quiet Atlantic beach
- Proximity to Tanji fish market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tanji | Taxi, about 10 min | 15 min |
| Serekunda | Taxi, about 15 min | 20 min |
| Banjul | Taxi, about 30 min | 40 min |
| Kunta Kinteh Island | Taxi to Banjul, then ferry and boat | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Sheraton area
- The resort and a few guesthouses; beachfront, quiet, isolated from the village.
- Brufut village
- Small guesthouses and lodges; closer to local life but no nightlife.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Salaam aleikumsa-LAAM a-LEY-kum |
| Thank you | JerejefJE-re-jef |
| How much? | Ñata?NYA-ta |
| Yes / No | Haa / Hanihaa / HA-nee |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Take time over hellos; avoid: Rushing into requests
- Hands: Right hand only; avoid: Left-hand giving
- Dress: Cover up in towns; avoid: Beachwear in Banjul
- Bumsters: Firm, friendly no; avoid: Anger
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis from Banjul or the airport: agree the price before getting in (check).
- Beach vendors can be persistent; a polite 'no' works.
- The Sheraton is isolated: you'll need a taxi for any meal or errand outside the resort.
Brufut is safe; petty theft is rare but keep valuables out of sight on the beach. The main risk is unlit roads at night: avoid walking after dark outside the resort.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Brufut yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sheraton Gambia Resort
- Quiet Atlantic beach
- Proximity to Tanji fish market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Brufut, revision 3695621 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3695621
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/brufut). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.