Places · Coast · The Gambia
Bakau and Fajara
Bakau and neighbouring Fajara form the older, more residential end of the coastal strip — quieter and more local than the busy Senegambia area, but packed with small attractions. Together they make an easy, walkable half-day or a calmer base for a whole trip.
Bakau
Bakau is a lively town with a strong sense of community, a fishing beach, and a cluster of the coast's best-known small attractions within a short distance of one another.
- Kachikally Crocodile Pool. A sacred pool and small museum where crocodiles live alongside the community; a cultural site as much as a wildlife one, and one of the coast's signature visits.
- Bakau craft market. Carvings, batik, jewellery, and souvenirs — see the markets and crafts guide for bargaining tips.
- Botanic Garden. A small, shaded green space, good for a quiet wander.
- Fish landing and beach. Pirogues, the daily catch, and Cape Point at the northern tip.
Fajara
Fajara is leafier and more residential, historically home to diplomatic residences and a settled expatriate community. It has a relaxed feel, the long Fajara beach, a scattering of good restaurants, and the Fajara golf club — an unusual sand-and-scrub course. It suits travellers who want the coast without the crowds.
Why base here
- Quieter. Less hawking and nightlife than Senegambia, more everyday life.
- Central. Close to Banjul, Serrekunda, and the rest of the strip.
- Walkable. Several attractions within strolling distance.
For where to base yourself across the coast, see the where to stay guide.
What to read next
- Beaches guide — Cape Point and the wider coast.
- Banjul city guide — the capital, minutes away.
- Markets and crafts — the Bakau craft market.
- Where to stay — choosing a base.