Smiling Coast

11 December 2009 - Travel Weekly - Miranda Morton

Tourism in The Gambia is moving upmarket, discovers Miranda Morton on a trip with country specialist The Gambia Experience.....

For years The Gambia has been a popular destination for UK sun-seekers looking for a good value, mid-haul package holiday with a difference.

With the family-friendly resorts on its Smiling Coast served by a good range of charter flights and package holiday operators, the tiny English-speaking West African country offers a readily accessible taste of Africa.

And in recent years, the addition of more luxury accommodation and more flights from regional airports such as Bristol and Birmingham have widened its appeal.

While cheap packages and fly-and-flop breaks still sell well, travellers can now also choose to stay at the sprawling Sheraton Gambia, which from January 2010 will offer all-inclusive deals, or the sumptuous Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, not to mention the well established Coconut Residence.

The Atlantic Coast

The resort areas, clustered along the coast south of the River Gambia, all boast wide, sandy beaches and good dining options. Even quieter areas such as Bijilo are just a taxi ride from Kololi’s lively ‘strip’ with its numerous restaurants and nightclubs.

From sleepy Cape Point it’s only a 10-minute walk to Bakau, a small bustling town with a craft market and more restaurants. Kotu has developed with new restaurants and bars on the beach and a golf course nearby. Most of the resorts have on-site activities and some have lively social scenes.

A Taste of Gambia

For those looking to get more of a taste of the country, a four-wheel drive excursion offered by the likes of West African Tours, will provide an insight into the local culture.

Travellers can visit a school, see villages in remote farming areas and stop at Tanji Fishing Village to watch the locals haul in the day’s catch. At the local market, Yabouy Home Cooking takes visitors shopping for ingredients before teaching them how to cook a traditional Gambian meal.

Then, when night falls, Makasutu is a good place to head for a fireside meal and some traditional African dancing.

Wildlife

The Gambia is home to more than 560 bird species and The Gambia Experience offers bird-watching weeks with tailor-made excursions for serious twitchers.

Visits to Abuko Nature Reserve or Makasutu Cultural Forest also offer opportunities to spy other wildlife, from monkeys to lizards and even crocodiles.

Alternatively, day trips or fishing trips up the River Gambia offer the chance to see dolphins and hippos.

Where to Stay

For couples, Ngala Lodge’s 18 ocean-facing suites provide intimate luxury and tranquillity on a beautiful cliff top, and the Atlantic Suites all boast private Jacuzzis. Under-16s aren’t allowed.
The Mandina Lodges at Makasutu Forest are an idyllic escape from the resort scene. Crafted primarily from locally-sourced materials, the eight stunning lodges are in the heart of this 1,000-acre nature reserve. Evening meals are included.

Sheraton Gambia, which opened in 2006, sits proudly over the ocean in Brufut, and has 194 stylish ocean-facing rooms. There is also a small spa, a business centre and conference facilities.
The elegant and intimate Coconut Residence, sister property to Coco Ocean, was the first luxury hotel in the Gambia and has 22 suites and four villas. Although it lacks direct beach access, transport is available to Coco Ocean across the street for guests to make use of the facilities there, including the spa.

For a cheaper alternative, Kombo Beach has 258 rooms. Although the decor is somewhat dated, its relative affordability compensates for the need of a facelift, and the flat beach, playground and paddling pool make it good for small children.

Sample product

The Gambia Experience offers seven nights’ half-board at Ngala Lodge in a suite for £1,278 per person including flights. Price is based on travel in February/March 2010. Visit www.gambia.co.uk, tel: 0845 330 4567

Hotel review: Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, The Gambia

Miranda Morton tried out Morocco-influenced luxury hotel Coco Ocean while visiting Gambia with The Gambia Experience

This luxurious property, the newest offering for people wanting a high-end Gambian experience, has 59 rooms and building is under way on a further 45 suites. The Moorish-style decor is enhanced by palms trees and the scent of bougainvillea, combining to create a tranquil, romantic setting.
  
All rooms have air-conditioning, king-size beds, satellite TV and wi-fi, although the signal is intermittent. Club Villas have large private terraces and access to the club pool. There are various dining options, including the beachfront Coco Beach lunchtime grill that offers a Thai menu in the evenings, and international-style fine dining in the Safran.

Restaurant

The spa is a Moroccan oasis and the hotel’s crowning feature. It’s beautifully designed with immaculate treatment rooms and intricately tiled spas for men and women that house the steams rooms, sauna and cold plunge pools. Treatments include a traditional Moroccan hammam exfoliating treatment, and all guests receive a complimentary foot massage.

Coco Ocean Resort and Spa is exclusive to The Gambia Experience, which offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a junior suite in February or March, from £1,350 per person, including flights from Bristol, East Midlands, Birmingham or Gatwick and transfers.