Other Services and Amenities
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Millionaire Casino (Senegambia)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Kairaba Avenue) and GPO (General Post Office)
- Tech Repair Services
- Westfield Junction area - numerous independent phone and laptop repair stalls
- Table Tennis Spots
- Fajara Club (Members/Guests only)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (Kanifing) for French; private tutors for Wolof/Mandinka
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Gambia National Library (Banjul branch is best)
- Community Centers
- Alliance Française - hub for film screenings and concerts
- Gaming Lounges
- Several small local PS5 dens in the Westfield area
Essentials
- City
- Serrekunda, Kanifing District, The Gambia
- Population
- Approx. 350,000 (Greater Serrekunda area exceeds 500,000)
- Internet Speed
- Average 5-15 Mbps on fiber/4G; localized high-speed up to 50 Mbps in tech hubs
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 68 GMD (Gambian Dalasi), 1 EUR ≈ 74 GMD
- Tap Water
- Not safe for drinking; bottled water like Aquacool (35 GMD per 1.5L) is recommended
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style) sockets; frequent power outages common
- SIM Card
- Africell or QCell; approx. 500 GMD for 5GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Ecobank, Standard Chartered, and GTBank; GTBank is best for international card compatibility
- Accommodation
- Mix of guest houses and luxury compounds; monthly rentals range $400 - $1,200 USD
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly cash-based; cards only accepted in major hotels and supermarkets like Kairaba
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; typical prices $25 - $70 USD per night
- Budget Accommodation
- Kasumai Beach Resort or local guesthouses in Bakau (approx. 1,200 GMD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Senegambia Strip (Kololi) for nightlife and beaches
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Fajara or Kotu; quieter residential areas with better infrastructure and cafes
Transportation
- Best Beach Nearby
- Kotu Beach - clean sand, less crowded than Senegambia
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Senegal (Connects to Dakar and Freetown)
- Top International Airline
- Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, or Royal Air Maroc
- Highway Access
- Banjul-Serekunda Highway and Bertil Harding Highway are the main arteries
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Serrekunda Market Bush Taxi Park is the primary transit hub
- Public Transport Passes
- None; pay per trip in Gelli-Gellis (minibuses) - approx. 15-25 GMD
- Regional Travel
- Bush Taxis to Tanji or cross-border to Karang (Senegal border)
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No major apps (Uber/Bolt); use 'Yellow Taxis' for shared rides or 'Green Taxis' for private hire
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- West African Tours (Kotou); approx. 500-800 GMD per day
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Medicare Clinic (Fajara) - private facility, best for expats and diagnostics
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Kairaba Beach Hotel Wellness Centre; yoga classes approx. 400 GMD
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- D-Namic Fitness Center (Bakau); approx. 2,500 GMD per month
- Laundry Services
- Speedy Wash Laundry (Kotou); approx. 300 GMD per 5kg load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Bring It (Local delivery service via WhatsApp or website)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Domoda (Peanut stew with rice) - approx. 150 GMD at local cookshops
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Calypso Bar & Restaurant (Bakau) - offers diverse plant-based options
- Best Dessert Spots
- The Butcher's Shop (Fajara) - excellent French pastries and cakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Serrekunda Market for fresh produce; Kairaba Supermarket for imports
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia (Limited) or local Facebook Marketplace groups
- Grocery Delivery
- Terrou-Bi Grocery Delivery - specializes in high-end and imported goods
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Senegambia Strip (Kololi); features Wow Nightclub and Duplex
- Local Brewery
- JulBrew (Banjul Breweries); standard lager found everywhere for 60-80 GMD
- Wine Bars
- Cork's (Fajara) - upscale selection of South African and French wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Afra (Grilled meat) stalls found at night near Westfield Junction (150-300 GMD)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Luigi's Italian (Kotu) - very popular for pizza and pasta ($10-$15 USD)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Arch 22 (in nearby Banjul) and the Serrekunda Market
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tanje Village Museum (15 mins away) - local history and crafts
- Historical Sites
- Katchikally Crocodile Pool (Bakau) - sacred site for fertility and history
- Religious Sites
- Pipeline Mosque - iconic architecture on Kairaba Avenue
- Annual Events
- International Roots Festival (Biennial); Kartong Festival (January)
- Cultural Districts
- Bakau Craft Market district
- Theater Venues
- Ebunjang Theatre Complex (Kanifing)
- Local Markets
- Serrekunda Market - the largest and most chaotic/vibrant in the country
- Music Scene
- Live Mbalax and Reggae at Jakarlo Centre
- Street Art
- Wide Open Walls (Project murals scattered in nearby villages like Galloya)
- Cooking Classes
- Ida's Home Cooking - traditional Gambian culinary experience in her home
- Art Galleries
- Lemonfish Art Gallery (located on the way to Kartong)
- Historic Buildings
- Atlantic Hotel (Banjul) - colonial-era architecture
- Local Heritage
- The Griot tradition (storytelling and kora music)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bijilo Forest Park (Monkey Park) - nature walk with monkeys
- National Parks Nearby
- Kiang West National Park (2.5 hours away) or Abuko Nature Reserve
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Beachfront trails from Kololi to Bijilo
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Cape Point (Bakau) for ocean vistas
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kotou Stream - world-famous spot for bird enthusiasts
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Sanyang Beach (Paradise Beach) - popular for weekend fires and BBQ
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $45,000 USD for modern build (e.g., Brufut Gardens area)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $25,000 USD (e.g., Sukuta residential projects)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $65,000 USD (e.g., Fajara waterfront/near Kairaba)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $40,000 USD
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $95,000 USD
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $60,000 USD
- Corporate Tax
- 31% (or 1% of turnover, whichever is higher)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Source-based for non-residents; residency-based for locals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% (on income over 50,000 GMD)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC legislation in place
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual rates paid to Kanifing Municipal Council
- Property Transaction Tax
- Capital Gains Tax (5% for individuals/10% for companies) and Stamp Duty
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific Digital Nomad Visa; most foreigners stay on tourist visas/extensions
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Innova (Fajara) - approx. 6,000 GMD per month; reliable backup power/fiber
- Best Cafe for Work
- Gaya Art Cafe (Kotu) or Solomon's Beach Bar (with MiFi); good vibes and seating
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Banjul (usually hosted in Serrekunda/Kanifing); check Eventbrite
- Social Events for Expats
- The Gambia Expats Facebook Group; Friday nights at Senegambia Beach Hotel