The Kairaba is one of our most popular hotels, an old favourite with endless charm for its many returning customers. Offering a quiet and tranquil haven located close to Kololi’s vibrant heart, you’re sure to achieve total relaxation when holidaying here.
Our Expert Opinion
"Beautiful, peaceful grounds yet in the heart of Kololi; it really is the perfect location to experience some of the local restaurants. The beach is very inviting after its recent makeover."
- Becky, Sales
What we love
- The tranquil, manicured gardens really make this property stand out from the crowd; watch out for the resident peacocks!
- Afternoon tea – a perfect opportunity to catch up with friends with a slice of cake.
Good to know
- With a host of restaurants just outside, along with the hotel’s own dining outlets, cuisine options for Kairaba guests are endless.
- The beach replenishment project at Kololi was completed in January 2018; a wide sand platform now offers sun worshippers a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze, with steps leading to the water at low tide.
The hotel’s prime location
A long-established favourite, The Kairaba enjoys not only a superb position alongside Kololi Beach, but is also just a stone’s throw from the many bars and restaurants of Kololi, The Gambia’s largest and liveliest resort. However, you needn’t worry about getting that much-needed dose of relaxation at this property - with well-kept, beautiful gardens covering much of the hotel’s grounds and a large feature pool, it’s not hard to find a quiet spot in which to sunbathe, get lost in a good book or witness some of the incredible wildlife.
Recommended room types
The Kairaba deluxe rooms that we use primarily are situated in two-storey buildings within the bougainvillea-filled gardens; from your balcony or terrace you can enjoy the gentle sea breeze and views across the attractive lawns. Following client feedback over the years, we recommend the Deluxe rooms with other popular upgrade options available – these are situated in Portuguese-style buildings overlooking the gardens and are superior in size, quality and location to the standard rooms.
Achieve ultimate relaxation
This property is all about peace and relaxation, which is only interrupted by the vervet monkeys and birdlife visiting from the nearby forest. There are no pool games or loud music during the day to disturb guests, croquet is more in keeping with the tranquil tone of the hotel, although there is the occasional local band or entertainment in the evening. Due to the quality and range of facilities within the hotel, The Kairaba is very popular with conferences, groups and private or evening functions for Gambian dignitaries and foreign Ministers of State.
Spoilt for choice when dining
When it comes to dining, you have everything from à la carte to an extensive buffet on offer during winter, along with a wide range of restaurants within walking distance. Breakfast is served in the elevated Kingfisher restaurant, allowing you to start your day feasting on views over the gardens as well as on freshly cooked delights.
The Malimbe poolside snack bar provides excellent lunches with the occasional themed evening buffet, whilst there is a more informal atmosphere in the Casa Fernando bistro, often with accompanying music; half board may be served in any of the hotel restaurants and from April to October it is generally in Casa Fernando.
Official local hotel rating: 5 star
