The Gambia
Getting around Gambia: taxis, gele-geles, ferries and driving
Base on the Atlantic coast and use taxis for short hops: green tourist taxis run on posted fixed rates, yellow taxis and shared taxis are cheaper per seat. Gele-geles cover the same routes slowly. For Janjanbureh or the river, hire a car with driver (US$80–120 a day plus fuel, check) or take a guided overnight. There are no trains.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideThe Gambia
Key facts
- Best for the coast
- Green tourist taxi at posted fixed rates, or a yellow taxi for less
- Cheapest local transport
- Gele-gele minibus and shared yellow taxis on fixed routes
- Banjul–Barra ferry
- 30–60 min crossing plus waits; cheap; queues and breakdowns happen
- Upriver to Janjanburehcheck
- 5–6 h by private car with driver; US$80–120 a day plus fuel (check)
- Trains
- None in The Gambia
- Domestic flights
- None scheduled; Banjul International (BJL) is the only gateway
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic; UK licence holders need care
- Airport transfer
- BJL at Yundum is about 30 min from the coastal resorts
Modes, times and costs at a glance
The Gambia is small but slow to cross. The coastal strip from Banjul through Serrekunda to Kololi and Cape Point is short and taxi-friendly. Anything upriver is a half-day or more, so decide early whether you are paying for speed or going local.
| Mode | Typical time | Cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green tourist taxi | Coast trips | Fixed rate cards | Licensed, parked outside hotels, prices posted; dearer than yellow |
| Yellow taxi / shared taxi | Coast trips | Small fare per seat | Cheap on fixed routes (Serrekunda–Westfield–Banjul); agree a charter price first |
| Gele-gele minibus | Upriver 6–8 h | Cheap | Local transport from Serrekunda and Brikama; crowded and slow |
| Private car with driver | 5–6 h to Janjanbureh | US$80–120 a day plus fuel (check) | The easy way upriver; most coastal hotels arrange one |
| Banjul–Barra ferry | 30–60 min crossing plus waits | Cheap | Link to the north bank and Senegal; breakdowns and long queues |
| River boat | Multi-day | Tour prices | Best way to see the river; book a known operator; rainy-season trips limited |
Fares move with fuel prices; treat all figures as 2026 estimates and confirm before you set off.
How to do each one
Taxis are the default. Green tourist taxis are licensed and wait outside the main hotels; rates are posted, so read the card before you get in. Yellow taxis are cheaper and often shared along set routes. If you charter one for the day, agree the price and the stops in advance, in dalasi, and confirm whether waiting time is included.
Gele-geles are the local minibuses, leaving from Serrekunda and Brikama. They are the cheapest way to travel and the slowest: they fill up before leaving, stop often and get crowded. Keep bags on your lap and small change ready.
The Banjul–Barra ferry links the south bank to the north bank and onward to Senegal. The crossing itself is 30–60 minutes, but boarding, waiting and unloading can add hours, and breakdowns happen. Watch your pockets in the crowd and keep an eye on your bags.
For the river and upcountry, a private car with driver is the practical option: 5–6 hours to Janjanbureh, arranged through most coastal hotels. Agree the itinerary and who pays for the driver's overnight costs before you leave. Multi-day river boats are the other route, booked with a known operator; rainy-season departures are limited.
- Read the posted rate card before entering a green tourist taxi.
- Agree charter prices in dalasi, including waiting time.
- Carry small notes for gele-geles and shared taxis.
- Allow a half-day buffer around any ferry crossing.
- Book upriver transport through your hotel and confirm overnight costs.
What to watch
There is no passenger rail network in The Gambia and no scheduled domestic flights, so road, ferry and river are the only options. Banjul International (BJL) at Yundum is the single gateway, about 30 minutes from the coastal resorts.
Traffic drives on the right. Roads on the coast are paved; upriver stretches are sandy or potholed, which is part of why the drive takes so long. Driving yourself is possible but not the easy choice: police checkpoints are common, and you should carry your licence, vehicle papers and ID.
Friday afternoons slow down, and public holidays such as Tobaski and Koriteh close shops and disrupt transport. Some hotels shut from July to October, which thins out the taxi and tour supply in the rainy season.
Power cuts happen, so fuel stations and card machines can be offline; carry cash. Tipping is expected: 300–500 GMD a day for a driver or guide, or 10% in restaurants when no service charge is added.
Questions people ask
What is the best way to get around Gambia?
For the coastal strip, taxis: green tourist taxis at posted fixed rates, or cheaper yellow and shared taxis. Gele-geles are the cheapest but slowest. For Janjanbureh and the river, hire a car with driver (US$80–120 a day plus fuel, check) or join a guided overnight. There are no trains.
Do I need a car in Gambia?
No, not on the coast. Taxis and gele-geles cover Banjul, Serrekunda and the resort strip. A car with driver becomes worth it for upriver trips, where public transport is slow and you want control over stops. Self-driving is possible but checkpoints and road conditions make it harder.
Are there rail or bus passes for Gambia?
No rail network exists and there is no national bus pass. Gele-geles and shared taxis charge per seat or per trip, paid in cash. Tourist taxis use posted fixed rates rather than passes. For repeated long trips, negotiate a day rate with one driver instead.
How long is the Banjul to Barra ferry?
The crossing takes 30–60 minutes, but boarding and waiting can add hours, and breakdowns happen. It is the link to the north bank and onward to Senegal. Arrive early, keep bags close and watch your pockets in the crowd.
How do I get to Janjanbureh from the coast?
A private car with driver takes 5–6 hours and costs US$80–120 a day plus fuel (check). Gele-geles take 6–8 hours from Serrekunda or Brikama and are far cheaper but crowded. Multi-day river boats are the alternative; rainy-season departures are limited.
Is it safe to drive in Gambia?
Traffic drives on the right and coastal roads are paved, but upriver roads are sandy or potholed and police checkpoints are common. Carry your licence, vehicle papers and ID. Many travellers prefer a car with driver, especially outside the coastal strip.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit The Gambia (official tourism board)
- officialGambia Ports Authority (ferry services)
- secondaryWikivoyage – The Gambia
- secondaryOpenStreetMap – The Gambia