Holiday Beach Hotel
Kololi
The Gambia
Alan Thomas
January 2008


On 10th January, we flew from Gatwick to Banjul, The Gambia.
After a six hour flight we were in Gambia International Airport. NB NO ambilift, so leaving the plane, is down the steps (walking or carried, in the wheelchair).
We made our way to the coach that was taking us to our apartment/hotel, Holiday Beach in Kololi.
The Hotel is at the end of a, 100mtr, slightly sloping, drive made of Oyster Shell-which is very dusty (the drive is dimly lit, at night).
Our two bed roomed, ground floor, apartment was a very short walk, from the main reception area and even shorter walk, to the beach, (day time temperatures 28-32 degrees- HOT!!!).
There are steps into the complex, but with (steep) ramps, the paths are concrete, with a, fairly smooth surface.
There are small steps into the rooms, (my room, 317, had 3 shallow, steps), a small terrace, through (sliding) patio doors, with two double beds, dressing table, wardrobe, two single 13 amp plugs (in corner of room), NB Power cuts are the norm (you are advised NOT to use, high demand appliances), shower room with toilet and basin (all floor tiles can be slippery when damp). No view to the rear, front view of the pool area, which is cleaned daily, (has a ledge all around the edge) entered via a ladder.  Pool bar, restaurant (with a ramp over the step).
Short path (and step) to the Beach bar,(serves drinks and snacks, for those,, who, cant manage the sand) plus, steps down to beach, soft white-ish sand (the "Bumsters" (the local`s  will hassle you, but a polite NO THANK YOU, will help, as will the fruit sellers (the juice and fruit salad is wonderful).
There were plenty of places to eat on the Serragambia “strip” (once you run the gauntlet of “Bumsters” with their verbal hassling).  Every type of cuisine can be found. This short street is very busy and chaotic. (The driving is very nerve racking!!!) cattle and people all over the road. Tarmac roads are very rare, majority of roads are sand and very very rough. (Don’t forget, you are in one of the poorest parts of Africa).
During my stay I visited many tourist places as well as the local people and a school. Go with guide, for a good experience (but beware who you choose, as there are some rogues out there!!).
I was prepared to do some walking, but I ended up leaving the chair behind, and used  my walking stick, as accessibility, in Gambia, is NOT provided for. (but you WILL have plenty, of help, from passers by).
We all see pictures, on the TV (or other media) but the poor conditions, that they learn in and LIVE in, It is, a SHOCK when you see them “First Hand”.

Flights from the UK, cease from April to October, except with Gambia Experience http://www.gambia.co.uk/default.aspx .

The extra effort, put in to this holiday, made it a worthwhile experience that has very good memories.  My return will be soon.

ROOTS Festival 2008  

Hi Alan

Pleased to hear that you had a good service in the airport, and the hotel you picked was fairly wheelchair friendly, the hotel seems good and your room had a pool view, which is a bonus, I see you are planning to return to Gambia, again in May or June for the roots festival, are you staying in the same hotel?. Its a pity we will be back home then or we could have met up for a drink and a chat, I bet it was great to have a traditional African meal and meet Lamin relatives, we too like to meet the local people.

We have never been to Gambia before, we are staying at the Kombo hotel in Banjul, bed and breakfast, we will try the Sennagambia strip for meals as you suggested, which restaurants did you find best there?

We have been talking to a Gambian man for the last 6 years on the internet via email and msn, so we will be going to meet him when we get there, we will probably have few days out with him.

I, Dave don't really like to lay around on a sunbeds all day and Julie does, although saying that we both do like to get out and explore, we want to do a few trips, eg visit the schools and take some supplies of pens, pencils, coloured felt tips, do you have any ideas on what else the children or teachers need?, the paper we will get in Gambia, are there any local where we can get it there?, pleased to hear the children love your paper aeroplanes, the Abuko Nature reserve sounds amazing as we both like to see nature, and I like to photograph birds and other wildlife, don't think I'll go near a crocodile though, LOL

We've had our Yellow Fever Jabs the other day we were told that it was compulsory to have them, ah well better safe than sorry !!
Are Mozzies a problem as they usually line up at airports waiting for Julie arrive,   LOL they never seem to bother me, but love munching Julie

If you would like to add any photos you can either add them to posts or you can access your own HR album by following the members album link.

Bye For Now

Dave N Julie

Nicely Described! You might have really had fun and it might have been your wonderful experience through out your journey and thank you for sharing your views and providing the information about the place.


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