In need of a holiday for two or a break for Valentine’s Day?
Visiting The Gambia during January or February is particularly rewarding due to the beautiful blue skies and temperatures hovering around 30°C – certainly a much more appealing climate than at home in the UK. This tiny West African country packs a punch when it comes to beaches, climate and interesting wildlife, but it also offers up some wonderfully romantic settings – perfect for you and your loved one. We can even offer hotels with swim-up rooms, the ideal way to spend a relaxing and private day under the Gambian sunshine, take a look at African Princess Beach Hotel or Tamala Beach Resort for these rooms.
Our favourite romantic hotels in The Gambia
An idyllic boutique hotel, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main resort areas. This hotel features in our luxury hotel collection, comprising just 5 rooms and a one-bedroom suite, this property is all about tranquillity. The hotel's restaurant offers delicious dishes in a relaxed atmosphere and the beach down below the hotel is stunning and extremely quiet.
Ngala Lodge
Seamless views of the Atlantic, second-to-none cuisine and a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere can all be expected when holidaying at Ngala Lodge. Well-kept gardens sweep across the entire grounds of this hotel, with favourite pastimes being relaxing by one of Ngala’s two pools (one of which is an infinity), reading a book in the gardens or enjoying a long lunch at the restaurant. During the evenings, if you’re partial to a top-notch gourmet dinner with a romantic setting thrown in, this is most certainly the place to be.
Tip: Why not upgrade your room to a Macondo Pool? You can enjoy your own private plunge pool on the balcony.
Coco Ocean Resort & Spa
For the luxury lovers among you, Coco Ocean offers a fabulous spa, three-tier pool, a long stretch of private beach and impeccable service. The fresh white buildings of this hotel are framed by tall coconut palms, and green gardens dotted with sun loungers lead down to the golden sand of the coast. The spa here is the best in The Gambia, and includes a thalassotherapy pool and a wide range of treatments.
Tip: Spend an afternoon relaxing in a private beach cabana for an extra touch of romanticism.
Mandina Lodges and Fathala Wildlife Reserve
If your idea of a romantic escape is less of a beach vision and more of an active or locally-inspired one, we’ve got an idea for you. Start your holiday at Mandina Lodges, a beautiful retreat tucked away in the Makasutu Forest. You can birdwatch and see troupes of baboons and even monitor lizards, relax in the refreshing pool or take a canoe trip along the River Gambia. Sunrises are extraordinary here and the stars at night are beautiful due to the lack of light pollution. Plus, to add to the uniqueness, you can stay in either a jungle lodge or a floating lodge along the river.
Following your experience at Mandina, the second part of your holiday can be spent watching African wildlife in a reserve in neighbouring Senegal. Fathala Wildlife Reserve is just inside the Senegalese border and from here you can spy on monkeys, zebra, giraffes, rhinos and more. You’ll stay in luxurious air-conditioned safari tents, and get to see some of Africa’s most alluring sites with your other half.
Tip: Spend some time relaxing by the pool, as there’s a man-made watering hole in the forest where you can watch the monkeys come to play.
If you’re now looking to explore options for a romantic holiday to The Gambia in time for Valentine’s Day, but sure to check out our Holidays for Two.
⬤
Our favourite beach pictures from The Gambia Read more
