Car Rental Companies:
 There
are now quite a handful of car rental firms operating
in Gambia as compared to only a few back in the late
1990s. AB Gambia Car Rental
can be found located at the front of the Senegambia
Hotel. The others are AVIS at the Kairaba Hotel and
Hertz at Banjul Airport and Afriq Cars Ltd in the Kololi
Village Complex on the main highway near Senegambia.
Your hotels' receptionist can best advise you where
to look for the most convenient car
hire firm.
The car rentals sector is not very well developed. You
can pick up a vehicle at Banjul International Airport's
front booths or in the coastal resorts, but elsewhere
in the country the possibilities of getting one are
basically slim to none. Daily rates including insurance
and mileage can be pretty steep, and for a 4WD can go
through the roof.
 There
are a few important points to remember. First, rented
vehicles cannot, as a rule, be driven out of The Gambia
into neighbouring Senegal. A few firms are adamant on
you taking only a four-wheel-drive if you're planning
on going off the main roads,
even in the dry season. It's not unusual to be appointed
a driver, and it's essential to be clear before hand
about your driver's daily pay, accommodation and food.
If you're using a self-drive car, you have to be 23
years or over and are required to possess an international
driving licence or a UK driver's licence which can be
used for short stays.
Alternatively
you can hire a taxi on a daily basis as it simpler and
cheaper. However low the price, don't get into a vehicle
that's not roadworthy, has an impatient driver or someone
you cannot communicate easily with. Finally, ask politely
to see his or her driver's licence is up to date, the
seat belt is working properly and the lights and signals
are in good working order.
Car Driving:
Please note that driving in Gambia is on the right-side
of the road. Don't automatically presume that your auto
is roadworthy. Before departing, take a look at the
state of the engine and tyres and don't start the car
without first checking the battery, water level for
the radiator tank and ensuring you have a spare tyre
or two as well as the tools to change a flat one. You
might want to consider keeping a jerry can of fuel and
tap water in the boot just in case. You may find yourself
low on fuel in the bush or there might be a small leak
in the radiator. These two items may be able to get
you to the nearest mechanic or amenity. If you do have
a breakdown local mechanics are pretty adept at starting
your vehicle having cut their teeth on numerous old
cars still on the roads. However, aside from the major
towns, spare parts, good equipment and tools are few
and far between inland from the Kombo Coastal region,
with Brikama being an exception.
When driving, be careful of the sudden appearance of
ditches, rocks, and potholes as well as goats,
sheep, cows, chickens, dogs and people on the road.
Very often people will walk along the road due to a
lack of paving or because they don't want to get their
shoes dusty! It's normal to press your horn repeatedly
to alert cyclists and pedestrians of your approach.
Do not drive past a police / military road checkpoint
or barrier without coming to a complete stop and waiting
to be waved on, and always keep your documents in the
vehicle's glove compartment.
In The Gambia cars drive on the right, though on very
potholed roads vehicles stay on the smoothest part of
the road until they have to pass one another. Hand signals
are normally used to say "Please give way",
"Please over-take me", "Don't overtake
me", but don't presume the driver ahead of you
can see that the road is clear for you to pass, and
many drivers rarely look in their wing mirrors.
Don't assume that if a car signals to turn it's actually
going to turn, and don't assume that a car that does
not signal to turn will not actually turn! Many accidents
on the road happen due to erroneous signal assumptions.
In short don't assume anything about the intended behaviour
of other drivers.
Bicycle Rentals:
 Bicycling
is the most eco-friendly mode of transport for Gambia.
One is able to hire bicycles from cycle rental stalls
dotted around the coast, mostly close to the major tourist
class hotels. Be choosy though as quality is highly
variable. It gives you great flexibility to go
into areas that cars cannot reach for example narrow
dirt roads and people bridges. Most of the hotel resort
areas have cycles for hire on a whole day or half-day
basis for relatively small amounts of money. Before
setting off make sure the lights are working properly,
tires are fully inflated and, when riding at night,
always wear something fluorescent as most rural roads
are unlit. Even where the roads are lit street lights
will sometimes suddenly go out. You must take great
care when riding on the main roads and it is perhaps
safer to ride on the 'footpath' when you are cycling
in rural areas.
A bike allows you to travel and explore well off the
tourist beaten track. Many routes that can't be accessed
by motor cars because they are too uneven, or involve
passing through small tributaries, are often accessible
by bicycle. With a rugged bike, you can go along dirt
paths in the bush and villages. You can even ride on
the beach from Fajara down to Gunjur in Kombo South
- at low tide the sand near the water-line has a firmer,
even surface. Riding a bike also offers the best short-cut
between Fajara to Kololi's Senegambia resorts, while
avoiding the traffic along the Kombo Coastal Road. If
the tide rises, just pick up the bike and get back on
a path or road. If you get tired just hail a cab and
place the bike on a the roof rack and go on your way.
Rental bikes are not normally well-suited for long distance
cycling. For extensive touring you could bring over
your own mountain bike to The Gambia, or buy a tough
bike after your arrival. There are plenty of retail
distributors in many towns with Serrekunda having the
largest choice, as well as cycle locks, padlocks and
chains. Don't forget to take along strong battery-powered
lights - the headlight can have the alternative use
of being a torchlight and batteries are readily available.
A rear view mirror is highly recommended for riding
on the highways, but when it comes to anticipating the
intended movement of the traffic around you, don't take
anything as given.
Depending on your physical health and keenness, expect
to cycle around 40-100km each day. The landscape geography
is generally flat and gentle and, with the occasional
rests, you could move across the whole country from
west to east and back again in less than two weeks.
Quad Bikes:
 The
other increasingly popular and leisurely way of getting
around the Gambia is by quad biking, which can be used
on the roads, some paths and is great for the beach
flats. It is advisable however to avoid the major highways
when possible, especially during the rush hour and always
wear a helmet. Finally do make sure that it is covered
by your travel insurance policy.
[See 
Quad
Bike Hire]
Tourist Taxis:
 These
taxis are green coloured and are regulated by the Tourism
Authority, and as a result must be fully insured and
have to pass a yearly inspection - the closest thing
to the UK's MOT Test. These taxis offer trips at set
prices, including standing time and a return journey,
if requested. Ask for a discount if you are taking a
return journey as they might otherwise return empty.
These prices are normally displayed on special boards
at the taxi queues in the resort areas, thus reducing
the chances of you being charged exorbitant rates. The
advantage of these tourist taxis is that they are usually
given easy access close to the major hotels in Kotu
Bendula, Senegambia Strip in Kololi and Cape Point.
These areas are normally out of bounds for the standard
yellow cabs, however, they can obtain a special ticket
just outside the Senegambia Strip which allows them
to drop you off, but not pick up.
There are also a number of green 4 by 4 wheel drives
that are very popular with the more independent minded
travellers and can be found for hire outside the Senegambia
Strip in Kololi and the other busy coastal hotel resorts.
They are a good way to get great views of the scenery
while being driven deep in the bush or down south to
the secluded beaches of Kartong and Sanyang.
The major drawback of the green tourist taxis is the
cost - about three times as much for a typical short
trip. It's a good idea to get the mobile number of a
driver you get on well with and try and negotiate prices
if you call him regularly. Often they oblige because
of the repeated custom. Fling them a treat occasionally
too.
Ferry Crossings:
 There
are about 8 ferry crossing points along the Gambia River
at many small terminals as well as the main one at the
Banjul
Ferry Terminal. The cost of crossing the Gambia
River estuary from Banjul to Barra is less than the
cost of a soft canned drink. There are also vehicle
ferries connecting Janjangbureh Island to the north
and south banks of the river at Sankulay Kunda Lamin
Koto; a Bambatenda-Yelitenda ferry; and ferries at Bansang,
Basse Santa Su and Fatoto. At other points the river
can be crossed by hand paddled passenger vessels.
Boats:
 There
are river boats available for private charter, such
as the river vessels operated by Jane's
Boats who can take you for up-river fishing and
birdwatching cruises from Banjul's Denton Bridge up
to Georgetown (Janjanbureh).
Another alternative is to hire a fishing boat from one
of the many boating and fishing tour operators located
at Denton Bridge, Banjul. They are usually run as sports
fishing businesses but can double up for a tailored,
lazy cruise up-river as far as is navigable.
You can also hire an African Pirogue from a number of
local fishermen but please bear in mind such people
don't usually carry life jackets or 2 way radios on
their boats. The African pirogues (narrow canoes) are
usually powered by an outboard engine, and are a neat
way off exploring the many creeks and swamp mangroves.
You can use them as a form of enjoyable transport if
you know the precise spot you want to get off at by
the river bank.
Microlight
& Light Aircraft Flights:
This is a spectacular way to enjoy aerial scenery of
the Gambia's topography while getting from A to B. There
are a few landing strips in the country so you are able
to make stopovers. These trips are organised by Maddox
Microlights who originate from the UK.
Tel. no. +220 4462100 / 7702119
[See
Microlight
Flights]
Walking:
If you choose to do a lot of walking. then you should
consider carrying a small rucksack with plenty of cold
water, sun factor cream, mosquito repellent, wear a
hat, put on sunglasses. If you are entering the bush
by foot then you should wear boots, thick trousers to
protect you from possible stings and bites from spiders,
scorpions, mosquitoes and snakes. The bet times to go
on foot are first thing in the morning or late afternoons.
During mid-day it can get very hot even in the winter
season so do be careful about sunstroke.
Hitch Hiking:
 This
form of transport is not at all easy as most people
giving you a lift expect something in return since you
are a relatively 'well off' visitor. You may get lucky
and get a lift from a well to do local who won't normally
expect anything in return. Also remember that you would
be competing with many poor people who don't have a
car or bike and free lifts is all they can get. Anyhow,
local transport is very cheap and you get to chat with
the locals. If you have a backpack then look for transport
with a roof rack.
Rickshaws:
 Since
around the mid 2000s motorised rickshaws have begun
to spring up around the Gambia as a budget and more
leisurely alternative to the numerous taxis plying the
streets. They can be great for leaving the main roads
and venturing down dirt roads, for shopping or exploring
relatively tranquil areas around your hotel and nearby
beaches and nature spots. You can find these parked
around the major hotels around Senegambia in Kololi
and Kotu. |
