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Voykit pocket guide · The Gambia
Serekunda
Spend a half day exploring the market and Kachikally Crocodile Pool; stay one night in a budget guesthouse.
Serekunda is The Gambia's largest city and the hub of the coastal tourism strip. Its chaotic market, nearby beaches and the Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool can be covered in a single day, while budget guesthouses let you rest before heading to the Atlantic coast or Banjul.
- Country
- The Gambia
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season)
- 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 D800–D1,200 excl. bed · Mid D1,200–D2,000 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 |
|---|---|
| Meal (local restaurant) | D300–D600 |
| Taxi (short ride) | D150–D300 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | D50–D80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BJL · Banjul International Airport
- Main international gateway, about 30 km (19 mi) north of Serekunda; taxis or minibuses available.Main international gateway, about 19 mi (30 km) north of Serekunda; taxis or minibuses available.
Typical fares
- Taxi Serekunda → Kololi Beach
- about D200–D300, 10 min (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
Walk the market area; taxis (often shared) connect to beaches and the crocodile pool; local minibuses (bush taxis) run along the coastal road.
See and do
Known for
- Largest city and market
- Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool
- Proximity to Kololi, Kotu and Bakau beaches
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kololi Beach | Taxi or minibus north along the coastal road, ~10 min | 15 min |
| Kotu Beach | Taxi north, ~12 min | 20 min |
| Bakau Beach | Taxi north, ~15 min | 25 min |
| Bijilo Forest Park | Taxi east to Kololi, then short walk | 30 min |
| Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool | Taxi or shared minibus to Bakau, then walk | 20 min |
Sleep
- Sarawally Guest House
- Single/double rooms, free Wi‑Fi, breakfast; about D750 per night.
- Mama's Restaurant and Guesthouse
- Double rooms with ensuite, balcony; about €14 (~D1,000) per night.
- YMCA Hostel & Backpackers
- Shared rooms, clean; about D400 per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Afunoa-fu-no |
| Thank you | Jerejefje-re-jeff |
| How much is it? | Naa la?na la |
| Where is the toilet? | Koto be na?ko-to be na |
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
- Market can be chaotic; keep valuables close.
- Bijilo Forest Park staff may pressure visitors to pay for a guide; entry D300 (2025).
- Crocodile pool entry D200 (2026).
Generally safe for tourists; stay aware of pickpockets in the market and negotiate any extra fees for guides.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Serekunda yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Largest city and market
- Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pool
- Proximity to Kololi, Kotu and Bakau beaches
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Serekunda: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Serekunda, revision 5265876 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5265876
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/serekunda). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.