Joined: 23 May 2008
Posts: 1
| I have visited the gambia and stayed with the locals in a village called Manjai Kunda.
If you are going with a tour operator or staying in a tourists hotel, they will advise you to stay within the resort.
I want to strongly advise against this as The Gambia is very rich in culture and full iof very friendly locals.
You will, without a doubt, meet some of the locals on the beach, as they need to earn a living and will offer you their assistance as a guide. This should cost the equivalent of a couple of pounds per day.
Pick your guide wisely and they will protect you and look out for you. They will even haggle for you in the markets (which I strongly suggest you visit) and get you much better prices than "tu-bab" (white man) prices.
I also advise that you take a trip over the river to Barra. The journey is a wicked experience in itself. There is also a Bamboo forest that is absolutely beautiful.
The best restaurant I have ever visited was near Fajara Beach in The Gambia (Mama's Restaurant). They do buffet all-you-can-eatstyle food and have different types of meat every day. Make sure you go for the sdeafood buffet which is divine (I hated seafood before I ate there).
Please please please take any spareschool equipment (pens, pads... etc) and give them to the local children, as then they can be educated.
The locals speak a wide range of languages too. English and french are the main european languages in the Gambia (people from Guinnea, the bordering country, speak French since their colonisation).
You will love the Gambia!
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