Transportation
- Regional Travel
- Bush taxis from Serrekunda to Casamance (Senegal) or Barra ferry to North Bank
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No major apps; use 'Yellow Taxis' for shared trips or 'Green Taxis' for private hiring
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- West African Cycling Tours (approx. 600 GMD per day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Fajara Beach (Kotu Strand); clean sand and less crowded than Senegambia
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Peace or ASKY Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Brussels Airlines or Royal Air Maroc
- Highway Access
- Bertil Harding Highway connects Fajara to Banjul and the Airport
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Westfield Junction is the main 'bush taxi' and van (Gelli-Gelli) hub
- Public Transport Passes
- None; pay-per-trip cash system (approx. 15-25 GMD for shared vans)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Medicare Clinic (Bertil Harding Hwy); private facility popular with expats
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Kairaba Hotel Wellness Center (Yoga sessions approx. 700 GMD)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- D'Elite Fitness Center (Fajara); monthly membership approx. 3,500 GMD
- Laundry Services
- Fajara Laundry & Dry Cleaning (approx. 100 GMD per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Food-at-Door (FAD) or Jollof Delivery
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Domoda (peanut stew) or Benachin (one-pot rice); try at Butcher’s Shop
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Gaya Art Cafe; offers Mediterranean-Gambian fusion with plant-based options
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maroun’s Supermarket Bakery or Reo’s Ice Cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Bakau Fish Market and Serrekunda Market for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Terangas.com (for local delivery of groceries and tech)
- Grocery Delivery
- Kairaba Shopping Center online portal
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Senegambia Strip (5 mins drive from Fajara)
- Local Brewery
- JulBrew (Banjul Breweries); standard lager found everywhere for 75 GMD
- Wine Bars
- The Clay Oven (Indian restaurant with an extensive wine list)
- Street Food Stalls
- Fajara M Section roadside grills (Try 'Afra' grilled meat, approx. 250 GMD per portion)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Luigi's Italian (Fajara Waterfront) for authentic pasta and pizza
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Arch 22 (Banjul) and the Fajara Cliffs
- Museums & Art Venues
- The Gambia National Museum (Banjul) and Tanje Village Museum
- Historical Sites
- Kunta Kinteh Island (Juffureh) - accessible via day boat trip
- Religious Sites
- King Fahad Mosque (Banjul) and various neighborhood mosques
- Annual Events
- Kartong Festival (January) and Independence Day (February 18th)
- Cultural Districts
- Bakau (neighboring district) known for botanical gardens and craft markets
- Theater Venues
- Ebunjang Theatre (Kanifing)
- Local Markets
- Bakau Craft Market for wood carvings and batiks
- Music Scene
- Live Kora music at Ngala Lodge on select evenings
- Street Art
- Wide Open Walls project (various murals in outskirts/villages)
- Cooking Classes
- Ida's Home Cooking Experience (Sukuta); approx. $50 for full-day market and cook session
- Art Galleries
- Lemonfish Art Gallery (located in Kartong, day trip from Fajara)
- Historic Buildings
- Government House in Banjul (Colonial architecture)
- Local Heritage
- Griot culture; passing down history through music and oral storytelling
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bijilo Forest Park (Monkey Park); entry 200 GMD
- National Parks Nearby
- Abuko Nature Reserve (first wildlife reserve in The Gambia)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Cape Point beach walk through to Fajara Cliffs
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The cliffs at Fajara Waterfront overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kotukreek; world-renowned site for kingfishers and herons
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Various beach bars between Fajara and Kotu (with permission)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Gambia (Kairaba Avenue)
- Tech Repair Services
- InSIST Global (Software/General) or various stalls at Serrekunda market for hardware
- Table Tennis Spots
- Fajara Club (Members/Guests only)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française Banjul (French and local Wolof/Mandinka lessons)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Gambia National Library (Banjul) or American Corner (Comium Building)
- Community Centers
- Alliance Française cultural center
- Gaming Lounges
- Very limited; some local stalls in Serrekunda for PES/FIFA
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Kololi Casino (near Senegambia)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 45,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,800,000 GMD / $26,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 30,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,200,000 GMD / $17,600)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 40,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 2,400,000 GMD / $35,300)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 25,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,500,000 GMD / $22,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 38,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3,040,000 GMD / $44,700)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 22,000 GMD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,760,000 GMD / $25,800)
- Corporate Tax
- 27% of net profit or 1% of turnover (whichever is higher)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Territorial and Residency-based; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% (on income exceeding 50,000 GMD per annum)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC legislation in place
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on rateable value assessed by Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty is typically 5% for the buyer; 10-25% Capital Gains for seller
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No dedicated Digital Nomad Visa; most work on tourist visas (limited enforcement)
Essentials
- City
- Fajara, Kanifing District, The Gambia
- Population
- Approximately 15,000 (part of the larger Kanifing Municipality of 450,000)
- Internet Speed
- Average 10-20 Mbps (Fiber available via Gamtel/QCell reaching 50 Mbps)
- Currency & Banking
- Gambian Dalasi (GMD); 1 USD ≈ 68 GMD, 1 EUR ≈ 74 GMD
- Tap Water
- Not safe for drinking; bottled brands like Aquaviva are recommended (35 GMD / 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets; frequent surges, stabilizers recommended
- SIM Card
- QCell or Africell; approx. 500 GMD ($7.50) for 10GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Ecobank, Standard Chartered, and Bloom Bank; local cards preferred, Visa most accepted at ATMs
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses and serviced villas; use local agents for long-term (Dalaba Estate)
- Cashless Friendly
- Limited; cash is king. POS available only in high-end hotels and restaurants like Ngala Lodge
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; prices range from $40 - $120 per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Fajara Guest House (approx. 1,800 GMD per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Fajara Waterfront/Kairaba Avenue for beach access and dining
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Fajara M Section; quiet, residential, and statistically better power grid stability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- InSIST Global Hub (near Fajara); day pass approx. 500 GMD
- Best Cafe for Work
- Solomon's Beach Bar & Cafe (good Wi-Fi and ocean views) or Gaya Art Cafe
- Networking Events
- Gambia Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) networking mixers in nearby Bijilo
- Social Events for Expats
- Fajara Club; exclusive social club with golf, tennis, and weekly mixers