In the land... of Senegambia (page 5 of 5)

Hi Christelle,

Thanks for your travel journal—it’s such a pleasant read!

Before reading it, I was drawn to The Gambia, but now I’m not at all. I often travel solo, and I’m worried there might be misunderstandings (even though I’m not exactly a grandma…)🙂

Hi, Just because there’s a handful of grandmas who go to Gambia to find a gigolo doesn’t mean you should skip it. It’s the same for Thailand—Patpong or Pattaya are known for sex tourism, but the vast majority of travelers don’t go there for that reason.

Oh no, don’t stop there, Marie! I feel bad for giving such a distorted view of this country! To be clearer, The Gambia is roughly the size of Gironde, and you’ll only see sex tourism in Arcachon. Everywhere else, it’s very authentic because it’s not heavily visited. Travelers like us usually avoid this destination because they have the same distorted view, but I think that’s a mistake. We stayed 15 km away from the tourist area in a very calm and pleasant spot, right by the sea, and I walked alone several times there and in Bintang Bolong. Sure, you’re never alone for long (adults or kids coming to chat), but that’s the case everywhere in Africa. And I never felt any aggression or discomfort. On the contrary, it was nice sometimes to hear I was beautiful after just 2 minutes 😄. In those cases, I’d just laugh and tell the guy, "Alright, don’t bother—I’ve got my big, strong husband waiting for me at the hotel." In this case, it was true, but if it hadn’t been, he’d have been none the wiser 😜

To be clearer, The Gambia is roughly the size of Gironde, and you’ll only see sex tourism in Arcachon.

I knew those folks in Arcachon weren’t exactly on the up-and-up...

Travelers like us usually avoid this destination because we also have that distorted view, but I think it’s a mistake.

It’s true that when you search online, sex tourism keeps coming up, and in countries where that kind of tourism exists, they quickly spot solo travelers...

But like you said (and Djalma), there are places where that’s not the case.

"But like you said (and Djalma), there are places where that’s not the case."

Without exaggerating, 95% of the country is like that, and just like you, the few reports I’ve seen about this country only talked about the remaining 5% 🤦‍♂️

Bruno keeps telling everyone so I can go back 😂 (it’s been years since I last went, there are so many people there all the time as soon as the sun comes out)

For me, the question is more like this: is it worth visiting The Gambia when you're already traveling to Senegal? I just got the impression it was kind of like "Senegal, but less beautiful and appealing." I asked my in-laws (from the Sine-Saloum) and also my Casamance friends, but they’re not exactly objective: to them, The Gambia is just a country with no interest that you cross out of necessity to get to Casamance—avoiding a big detour—but where you end up getting ripped off by local cops and customs officers along the way.

Bruno, keep saying it everywhere so I can go back 😂 (it’s been years since I’ve been there, it’s always so crowded as soon as the sun comes out)

Whoa, I always knew you weren’t just trading Pokémon or Panini cards on the coast! Everyone knows Cricri & Lulu around here! Okay, I’m out

My totally personal take, Pagal: given how I fell in love with Casamance (because they speak French, the Terranga is really there, and they’re sooo cool, Raoul 😄), I wouldn’t spend 15 days in Gambia anymore. But for a short transit of a few days, I really loved the contrasts between these two countries that are so close (English on one side/French on the other, wide roads in Gambia/bumpy roads in Casamance, rather urbanized coasts on one side and super wild on the other...). I’ve got a plan to go back to Gambia one of these days to see the chimpanzees and then loop down to southern Casamance. And another one to visit Guinea-Bissau, which that amazed Irish adventurer told us about! In short, I’ve got plenty of ideas. What we’re really going to miss is world peace 🤪!! Have a great evening, everyone 😊

No chimpanzees, but a trip that lived up to your dreams and left you delighted—that’s awesome! 🙂 Thanks for the travel journal! 😍

I love your story—what talent, what humor😉! So much more exciting than the novel🤪 I’m reading. We actually have a vague plan to head that way to visit a niece. We’d combine it with Cape Verde, which I’ve just been following with Montagnard74.

Thanks, Christelle, for this travel journal—I’ll definitely be drawing inspiration from it for my February trip. I could read more and more of it! Anyway, unlike a lot of folks here, it actually made me want to cross through The Gambia. Do you have the names of the border posts you crossed?

We’ll be leaving from Dakar with the goal of heading down to Casamance by road, and returning either by plane or by boat to try out that experience...

Well, thanks a lot Michel! 😁 I hope to tell you about Cape Verde soon since we’re heading there in 10 days! 😄 Have a great evening, Christelle

Ah, I knew you’d like it, Franck! 😄 So the first official border runs from Jiboro in Gambia to Seleti in Senegal. The second, much less conventional one, is called Kartong. Now, France Diplomatie advises against the area, but locals say there hasn’t been any trouble for ages. Up to you! 😉 Christelle

To get to Casamance from Dakar, the ferry is much better. According to my niece who lives in Dakar.

To get to Casamance from Dakar, the ferry is much better. According to my niece who lives in Dakar.

I don’t doubt that, but Christelle’s experience makes me want to cross the Gambia or even visit the Saloum Delta along the way—no choice but to take the road...

Just a reminder: you have until 11:59 PM tonight to post your photos.

That would be a great idea!