The Gambia and Kombo Beach Hotel (Gambia)

Member Name: Marieb

Product:	Gambia
Date:	18/11/02 (709 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Climate, Friendly locals, Experince of being in Africa

Disadvantages: Illness

My partner and I have just returned from a wonderful week in The Gambia. We not only wanted a winter break in the sun, but also wanted to go somewhere completely different and Gambia fulfilled all our needs.

We stayed at The Kombo Beach Hotel, on first impressions, we were a little disappointed by the hotel room which was a lot more basic than the brochure suggested and we found a few things were not working (balcony light, radio, telephone etc) however these were promptly fixed. The rooms were clean and the bed comfortable and we had a nice balcony looking out onto the gardens, the Kombo also has the advantage of having air con in rooms (an advantage in the warm climate even if it is 'Gambian-style' air con!). The layout of the hotel was very good, spread out over a large area offering privacy and also many daytime activities should you want to join in (water polo, table tennis, aqua-gym) all staff were helpful and friendly. We were on bed and breakfast basis and were not too keen on the food - breakfast is buffet style with breads, fruit and fry-ups available, I think the quality of the food could have been better. Having said that, restaurants in other areas were very good, we ate out at the resort of Koloi a few times - this is a short taxi ride away and your driver will wait 2 hours for you at a small cost. Sea food is of-course excellent and a wide range of foods are available (Italian, Lebanese, European, Indian).

The Kombo Beach Hotel is located on the best strip of beach in the Gambia, the sea is very warm and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean provide an entertaining swim! Beach sellers are now restricted from hassling you whilst you sun-bathe and police patrol the beach.

We did a couple of excursions whilst there - one with our tour company (First Choice) which was a very nice cruise down the oyster creeks, but for other trips to bird watch etc I'd definitely recommend organising this yourself. Outside hotels are offic
al tourist guides employed by the Government. They will take you to various tourist spots by taxi (which will wait for you) and provide local knowledge all for a fraction of the tour operators price (we spend half a day birdwatching from a dug out canoe which was fantasic, it cost £15, with First Choice it would have cost £60!). The tour guides do not charge a set fee and rely on tips. Taxi's are all fixed prices.

The Gambians are very hospitable friendly people. You will get stopped everywehre you go, locals are either genuinely interested in where you are from, how long you are here etc, or they want to sell you something!

Take travellers cheques in sterling and beware of the mosquitoes - they are very small and hard to spot but definitely bite!

Despite being very ill on the second day of our holiday (I think most people suffer some sort of stomach cramps and diorreah - you are in Africa after all), we had a fantasic time and I would recommend this country to anyone looking for winter sun and a totally different experience.

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