GAMBIA REPORT TRAVEL.

There is a 1 hour time zone compared to Italy.

To enter Gambia for tourist reasons, up to 90 days of stay, an entry visa is not required.

Keep in mind that very few vehicles circulate on the Gambia's roads, with the exception of large cities such as Serekunda and Banjul;

In Gambia, the official language is English.

Religions: Muslim (90%), Christian (9%), animist (1%).

In Gambia, the Police are generally kind to foreigners and do not bother foreigners with requests for money.

At the Gambian Frontier Karang I ran into a bit of a problem with a bold young man who first searched my tiny backpack inch by inch, while all the other black people with huge suitcases walked by undisturbed, then he wanted me to seize the Medicines because he said that he needed a medical prescription even if in Italy it was not necessary and finally he wanted to make me pay for the visa which I did not need. Eventually, after about 1 hour, I got away with giving him a 100 D tip and getting the Gambia entry stamp on my passport.

At the Karang border post in Gambia, there is a road on the left that leads to the Bus Station where, when full, the Minibuses leave for Barra. The price is 30 D. It is paid to the attendant on board. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes.

From Barra there are ferries that depart every hour for the capital Banjul crossing the Gambia River. The journey takes about half an hour. The ticket can be purchased at the Desk and costs 25 D. Before going to the waiting room, I was thoroughly checked on my passport.

Banjul is the capital of the Gambia but not the largest city. It turns well on foot. The most beautiful attraction to visit is Arch 22. You can climb above it to admire an excellent view of the capital. At a cost of 100 D.

From Arch 22, to reach Bakau, it is necessary to take a collective taxi (six – six) to Jeswang for the price of 25 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes. From Jeswang, take a minibus (Gelli-gelli) to Bakau. It starts when full. The cost of the ride which lasts 15 minutes is 7 D. If you are headed to Bakau Lodge, tell the driver who will drop you off on the main road at 30 meters. from the Hotel.

One of the cheapest solutions for sleeping in the center of Bakau is to stay at the Hotel Bakau Lodge, with swimming pool, located in the historic area of Bakau just 200 meters from the beach. Cost for a room with double bed and private bathroom: 600 D. Wifi not present. Breakfast not included.

Bakau's most prominent attraction is the Kachikally Crocodile Pool, which is just 1 km from Bakau Lodge. To reach it you have to go into the meanders of the old city asking for directions from time to time from the locals.

The Kachikally Crocodile Pool is open from 9.00 until sunset. It allows you to see many crocodiles up close, but above all to touch one, a very quiet male used to dealing with tourists. The person in charge of maintaining the structure will guide you carefully in visiting this fantastic place. Admission is 100 D, but a tip is almost mandatory to feed the crocodiles. I gave it 200 D. There is also a very interesting annexed museum.

From the center of Bakau, to reach the beautiful and deserted beach of Cape Point, 2 km further north, it is necessary to take a tuc-tuc for the price of 25 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 5 minutes.

From the center of Bakau, to reach the splendid Fajara beach, 3 km further south - west, I took a private taxi for the price of 30 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 5 minutes.

From Fajara beach, to reach the splendid Kotu beach, 6 km further south - west, I took a private taxi for the price of 65 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

From Kotu beach, to reach the splendid Kololi beach which is the busiest seaside resort in the whole of Gambia, 4 km further south - west, I took a private taxi for the price of 60 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 7 minutes.

Please note that there are no direct public transport links between Kololi and Kartong but it is necessary to first go to Serekunda with a minibus (Gelli-gelli) which takes you on the main road of Kololi. The fare is 8 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

Keep in mind that Serekunda is the largest city in the Gambia and therefore the most chaotic. There is incredible traffic. Pleasant visit to the Market.

From the Tippa Garage, located in Bakoteh Junction, which is the ninth main transport for Bush taxis (collective taxis) and the Gelli-gelli direct inland, minibuses (Gelli-gelli) leave when they are full, for the Brikama Gare Routiere. The fare is 15 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes.

From the Gare Routiere in Brikama, located in the center, minibuses (Gelli-gelli) leave for Gunjur when full. The fare is 15 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes. If you are headed to Kartong, notify the driver who will drop you off at the crossroads where collective taxis (six – six) for Kartong pass.

From Gunjur, to reach the center of Kartong, it is necessary to take a collective taxi (six – six) for the price of 10 D. It is paid on board. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes. It starts when full.

From the center of Kartong, if you want to reach Allahein River in Kartong, located 6 km (full of checkpoints) further south, where the Gambia border post is located, you need to take one of the rare collective taxis for the price of 10 D or a private taxi for the price of 30 D. Keep in mind that from there it is possible to obtain the Gambia exit stamp, cross the river with a pirogue and thus arrive in the Casamance Region in Senegal, bearing in mind, however, that there is no it is no Senegalese border post and therefore it is not possible to obtain the entry stamp on the passport. I limited myself to taking some pictures of the Peschereggi, (arousing the suspicion of the Gambia Border Police, who stopped me and kindly searched my backpack), and then returned to Brikama.

From the Gare Routiere in Brikama, located in the center, minibuses (Gelli-gelli) leave when they are full, for the border post of Seleti for Casamance in Senegal. The fare is 50 D. You pay at the desk (where you can also change money), before boarding. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.

At the border post of Seleti, you get off the minibus (Gelli-gelli) and you quickly get the Gambia exit stamp. Here is the last possible place to change money. Then you have to get back on the minibus to tackle another 2 km scarce. Go down again to check the passport of the Gambian authorities, and then get back on the minibus for another 500 meters. where there is the Senegalese border post. Here you can easily get the entry stamp on your passport. Walk for another 300 meters until you reach the Gare Routiere di Seleti (Senegal) on the right.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

https://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/11/viaggio-in-mauritania-nouakchott.html