Cape Point, one of Gambia's most well-known destinations, has a variety of lodging options, as well as a beach lined with sun loungers and parasols. Cape Point, perched on a bluff above Bakau, looks out over two beaches with quite contrasting characters. A busy fishing beach with colorfully painted pirogues (long, narrow fishing boats) and a lively market where the day's catch is sold lies beneath the reddish cliffs of Bakau to the southwest. The vast beige beach is great for people who want to avoid the crowds. The sheer vastness of this beach ensures that everyone has their own space, and the developed parts are ideal for those looking for a little extra luxury.

The golden beaches of Cape Point, to the southeast, provide a nice contrast to the busy resorts to the south. A broad stretch of sand with a more local flavor, as well as several intriguing low-key motels, may be found here. On Sundays, you can find Gambian families picnicking and playing football (soccer). It's worth viewing the sunset from one of the area's restaurants after a day at the beach. There are also wonderful restaurants and beach bars that serve a wide variety of dishes and beverages. Crocodiles can be seen if you stay close to the water. In the woods near tourist destinations, there are many colorful birds. Calypso is an enchanting spot for afternoon drinks and a memorable seafood meal.

Location: Cape Point, Gambia

This is a working beach with colorful pirogues, local fishing boats bringing in catfish, lady fish, and mackerel, and a lively fish market. The sights, sounds, and smells of fish being cooked and smoked will attack your senses during a visit to this Gambia beach, giving you a great insight into local life. Because Bakau beach is in a fishing community, you'll be able to see colorful fishermen boats lining up on the beach. You can always go to the market and buy local catfish or mackerel to prepare. If you don't want to cook, you can go to one of the local restaurants and order fish.

Bakau, on the other hand, is not a good area to go swimming or sunbathing, despite the fact that the African Village Hotel has a man-made sunbathing deck. Nearby, there are lengths of rocky bays that are ideal for beach fishing; Ngala Lodge overlooks one of these coves and has a lovely, high open-air terrace and café where you may enjoy a light lunch while observing the beach. If you don't want to go to a man-made beach, you may always rent a boat and go to the rocky coves, which are ideal for beach fishing.

Location: Bakau, Gambia

This vast resort beach, backed by palm trees and bordered by lagoons, hits all the right notes. It's a great place to take leisurely strolls down the golden shoreline or relax in a sun lounger at one of the beach bars while watching the waves and people go by.

In Kotu Beach, you'll find a diverse choice of housing alternatives, including perennial favorites like the Kombo Beach Hotel, which features a large pool, a waterfront bar, and a plethora of amenities. The Kotu Stream, a mangrove-lined canal that attracts birdwatchers, cuts the 2 km-long beach in half; the Kotu Bridge, located roughly 400 m upriver from the beach, is an excellent starting point for seeing avian species. Kick off your shoes and stroll in the water if any busters (harmless young males seeking to make friends and sell you anything) bother you. They won't follow you because they don't want their sneakers to get wet!

Because of the moderate waves and flat shore, Kotu Beach is your best pick if you're taking your family. It's known for sunset strolls along the beach, and you may sunbathe on the beach until the stars come out.

Location: Serekunda, Gambia

Kololi, a bustling zone of resort hotels, open-air restaurants, and music-filled pubs – as well as craft markets, nightclubs, and adventure trip operators – is one of West Africa's liveliest beach destinations. Since the 1980s, the old fishing village has been a popular tourist destination, attracting a diverse range of people who come to relax on the beach, eat well, and partake in some nightlife.

Because of its proximity to the city, this beach can get quite crowded during the day. However, due to the milder surf and agreeable water temperature, it is still an excellent place to walk and swim. There are also bars and restaurants where you can spend the evening. Stay for a bit to watch the sunset and dine at one of their pubs to soak up the atmosphere.

The Senegambia Strip, a bustling restaurant-lined boulevard between the seashore and the Bertil Harding Highway, is the epicenter of the action. Aside from the sun-drenched shoreline, the Bijilo Forest Park, also known as Monkey Park because of the colobus and red velvet monkeys that inhabit the woodland reserve, is another major attraction.

Location: Kololi, Gambia

Bijilo, a tourist resort in Kololi, is located on Gambia's southern border and can be accessed on foot after a 45-minute walk. Continue on to uncover even more remote areas and little motels to stay in. The beaches become more pure and gorgeous as you travel further out.

Except for the parts facing the hotels, the beaches in the vicinity are still rather calm. There are a few taverns and eateries in between the various hotels. The beaches are golden, wide, and clean, making them ideal for sunbathing and swimming when the sea is calmer. Velvet monkeys are also widespread in the neighborhood, and they occasionally visit bars for tidbits of food. Serer fisherman occasionally use their pirogues to land their catches on the beach. The section along the major Kombo Coastal Road, which runs parallel to the Atlantic strip, is brightly illuminated, and there is decent foot access to the beach.

There are a few local fruit vendors and a beach bar, but there isn't much else. As a result, it caters mainly to those wishing to get away from the city's hustle and bustle. In Bijilo Beach, grab a coconut and relax; no one will bother you!

Location: Kotu, Gambia

The Brufut resort and village (also known as Burfut or Burufut) is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the coastal forest in the Kombo South District of The Gambia's West Coast Region, and is 23 kilometers south of Banjul and 7 kilometers south of Kololi. The original settlement is located about 1.5 kilometers east of the Kombo Coastal Road and has expanded westward to encompass the Brufut Heights holiday resort and the Brufut Gardens residential neighborhood. Ghana Town, which was created by Ghanaian fishermen many years ago, is another adjacent area.

The Brufut beach area is quite large and has lovely golden sands. To get to the beach, you'll have to descend the rust-colored cliffs, which are scattered with trees and vegetation, on very steep trails. African pirogues parked on the sand, waiting for the tide to shift, women separating fish, and fisherman repairing their nets can all be seen along the palm-fringed shoreline. Away from these spots, the beaches are nearly desolate, save for a few youngsters playing or the occasional villager looking for a quick getaway. These areas of the strand are ideal for water sports, cycling, and sunbathing.

Location: Kombo South District, Gambia

In Tanji, there are essentially two types of beaches. The first is a fish landing location just in front of the fishing hamlet, therefore it is not appropriate for swimming or sunbathing. You'll discover old, shredded gillnets, sea snail shells, rotting fish, plastic bags and bottles, and other flotsam and jetsam floating in the ocean or sitting on the coast because it's a highly active, working beach. The smell of smoked fish fills the air; an unbelievable amount of flies swarm over fresh or abandoned seafood; birds hover above hunting for scraps; fisherman land their afternoon catch from long African pirogues, throwing buckets of catch onto the heads of local women; who then ferry it to the shore. Activity is frenzied and messy, but surprisingly efficient.

The Karinti Bird Reserve is located north of Tanji fishing community, after the bridge, where the shoreline has a few sandbars and lagoons, where the beach is significantly cleaner and generally deserted, however access is often hampered by dense scrub woods. The bay's strand, about 1 km south of the fishing settlement, is more typical of a holiday destination: pristine, white sands backed by a strip of palms and shoreline scrub. You might glimpse a passing car or a herd of cows strolling by. This beach is a beautiful sight to see, and you’ll definitely want to soak in the local culture here.

Location: Tanji, Gambia

Just south of the bustling village of Tanji is one of The Gambia's most beautiful beaches. This wide, palm-lined expanse of white sand is ideal for a beach getaway. Come to Batukuku to disconnect and enjoy long walks down the beach, unforgettable sunsets, and lazy days soaking up the sunshine.

The biologically rich Tanji Bird Reserve, which is nestled between lagoons, forest, and dunes, is one of the nearby attractions. Fishermen in brightly painted pirogues unload baskets of fish onto the beaches at the bustling Tanji Fish Market, where traders negotiate over the day's catch. The back of the beach is lined with stands of dried and smoked fish. The Batukunku neighborhood has minimal development (part of the charm), so you'll probably come here for a day trip or stay in one of the area's few guesthouses, such as the charming White Horse Residence.

Location: Batukuku, Gambia

This lovely beach, located 30 kilometers south of Banjul, Gambia's capital, and 5 kilometers west of the little settlement of Sanyang, is a great alternative for visitors seeking a peaceful stretch of coastline. Sanyang Beach is sometimes referred to as Paradise Beach, which is not an insult. The best of both worlds can be found at this beach. In one section, you may relax on the beach, while in another, you can visit a fish market. Because of its proximity to the city, this beach is popular for day visits. Restaurants, deckchairs, and hammocks abound to pamper you.

In the region, there are a few beach bars and basic eco-lodges. The open-sided Rainbow Lodge, where you may enjoy cold beers (and South African wine) while taking in the beauty of the wave-kissed seashore, is a perennial traveler favorite. On Sunday afternoons, live music and dancing are frequently available (from about 4pm). The garden-fringed Bees Mouth Gambia is a great site to stay overnight and plan boating trips. Come early in the morning to see the sunrise, then stay until the afternoon to eat locally caught seafood right on the beach. It's worth noting that this is also a popular destination for local tourists, so arrive early.

Location: Sanyang, Gambia

Kartong, located on The Gambia's southern coast just a few kilometers from the Senegal border, is one of the country's oldest villages, with roots dating back over 400 years. Mandinka, Jola, and a few smaller ethnic groups such as the Balanta and Karoninka live in the multi-ethnic village of 5000 or so individuals.

The beaches to the west and north of the hamlet have a wild and secluded air to them, with beautiful bays set against a magnificent tropical backdrop of palm trees and low dunes. The Sandele Eco Retreat, for example, is a low-impact resort that serves as a wonderful base for exploring the region. With approximately 350 bird species in the vicinity, Kartong is a birdwatcher's dream. You can arrange guided birdwatching tours at the Kartong Bird Observatory on the western outskirts of town next to the wetlands.

While in the area, don’t miss a visit to Falonko, one of three sacred shrines with crocodile pools in The Gambia. Set amid a gallery forest near the centre of town, Falonko is an important pilgrimage site, particularly for infertile couples hoping to have children. A few kilometres south of Kartong is the mangrove-lined Allahein River, another fine destination for bird watching. You can arrange trips, or have a meal at Dodou’s Place on the waterfront.

Location: Kombo South District, Gambia