Latest Reviews for Kololi

Out and about in the Kololi area, lots changes from year to year,the amount of development is high and I for one think that the area is suffering from this. The Urban sprawl spreading along all the roads so that there are few distinct areas anymore,trees too are becoming less. The beach at Kololi remains its best feature, miles of sand and fairly quiet if you know where to go,unfortunatly one of the best places, 'natural mans' place has been ripped down and burnt by the authorities, probably because of the forthcoming development of yet another hotel. We were here in low season so a few of the bars were shut but those that were still open were ok. especialy ali baba's and african queen. Hassling is still a major feature of the area despite attempts by the authoritys to reduce it,and is probably the most offputing thing about Kololi.Still its not all bad here we have very good friends here that we met 16yrs ago and there are still some wonderfully unspoilt parts of the country to visit,check out Gungar and Kartung to the south or head inland as far as you dare,you wont be dissappointed.

We have been holidaying in The Gambia since 1992. this was our 20th trip so there must be something about the place we like! We have known Sarges Hotel for a few years now having first stayed there in 1998 when it was called Tafbel.The hotel has seen better days and is in need of some good maintainance. The staff here are friendly and polite with the exception of one of the duty managers who is quite surly at times. The rooms are basic but generally clean and there is normally no problems with either water or electricity supplies. The breakfasts are totally forgetable and you are better off going out one of the bar / restraunts for a 'full english' This hotel being in the centre of the'strip' can get noisy at night due to the proximity of other venues. This hotel always seems to have far more flys than the others, probably from all the rubbish dumped next door in the tourist taxi car park. This is a good hotel if you plan to go out a lot, birdwatching or traveling to other areas, probably not so good if you are looking for a poolside relaxing holiday.

We've been to this hotel 3 times now - the staff are always excellent and are brilliant with kids. Mine are teenagers now and still enjoy going to see everyone again. We are going back again at Christmas and spending New Year there as well. The New Year party is fantastic, though I hear that the one in the Ali Baba restaurant is just as good just up the main street. Visit Tilly's Tours if you go - the excursions are a lot cheaper and Jackie, the owner, is amazing. She will tailor to your needs - we went to a Gambia v Mauritania football match with some of her staff; it was amazing and definitely not in the brochure.

Hotel certainly the best in Gambia with pleasent friendly staff. The hotel was clean and well arranged. I felt the evening meals at the hotel were not as good quality as outside in the local restaurants and over priced. Lunch by the pool however was good quality and value for money

OUTSIDE THE HOTEL.

The resort and country is extremely poor which can be an eye opener for some. The local people are really friendly.

EATING OUT

The variety of restaurants is wide. My personal favourites were "The Clay Oven" an Indian Restaurant which is a taxi ride out of the resort but is certainly worth it. The food was of an excellent standard and was great value for money.

SCALA - A fantastic homely restaurant with a brilliant menu. The Owner makes everyone welcome and is a favourite of the air/cabin crew which are on lay overs in Gambia. The restaurant proves great value for money and is a must try!!

OUT AND ABOUT

For lively bars there were 2 I tried

Aquarious - which had a happy hour between 9pm and 10pm. The music was varied and had a great atmosphere

Paparazzi - A great place with a friendly and fun atmosphere The music was varied and its a great place to be until the early hours!

hope this helps.... enjoy Gambia.... I did and will certainly go back!

We we very prepared for our 2 week trip to the gambia, thanks to this site and the virtual tourist website. I went as a single Mum with my 12 year old son.

We were very lucky it seems at the airport because there wasn't any hassle at all from porters trying to take our case, although I heard that passengers following us did get bombarded!

Because of what I'd heard about the poverty in the gambia I was waiting to be 'shocked' as so many have put it. I have to say in all honesty, I was not shocked at all. You know you're going to a third world country and to be honest I found the whole experience exciting. It was like being on an adventure. I think what came as a shock most of all was other people's opinions. I heard some tourists saying how depressing they found the trips because you see a lot of poor children. I saw the same children and I can tell you not one of them was depressing. Despite their obvious poverty, they are bright and happy. They don't know any different. This is not to say I didn't care about what I saw. In fact, we took loads of stationary and gave it to a local school including solar powered calculators and dictionaries.

The hotel Senegambia is very welcoming. We arrived around 6pm and already it was very dark. My son was very nervous as we got off the coach. I think the atmosphere (the loud sounds of crickets and the humidity) was a big shock to him. This wasn;t helped by the fact that a family of frogs had made their way into our room! It scared us both cos we thought all sorts of insects and animal would be coming into our room. This was not the case thankfully. It seems they just happened to have gotten in earlier when our room was being prepared. I did not see one insect in our room for the whole 2 weeks.

We had a room attached to the main building. It was right opposite the pool. I have read that some people prefered the garden room. However, I was glad to be close to the main hotel because the walk from the gardens to the hotel was almost pitch black! Also, my son didn't have far to go to the pool. We weren't disturbed by the entertainment at night because the air con is quite loud and this drowned a lot of noise out! The air con by the way works great, in fact we got too cold if we left it on long! The room itself is basic but very clean. You have to pay £25 for a safe but one lady I spoke to just locked her valuables in her suitcase.

We stayed half board. This worked out well for us as my son was a bit apprehensive of going out at night. The food is tasty but a bit samey sometimes. the breakfasts are great, you get the works! Chat to the chefs and waiters, they really appreciate it. Both me and my son had no problems with our stomachs, apart from a couple runny ones around day 5 which is to be expected! (Sorry if that was too much info!)

On our first day we ventured out onto the beach. As expected we were bugged by the sellers/bumsters, one being a woman trying to get me to braid my hair and a man selling necklaces. My son bought a few necklaces for him and his friends back home and the man left us alone for the rest of the holiday after that, apart from a friendly chat. There tends to be the same sellers on the beach, like they have their own patch. The woman though wouldn't let me go onto the beach without calling to me to get my hair done which was a pest! You feel bad just blanking them but you have to! They are used to it I guess. I think I would have felt more confident being with a crowd of people. Nevertheless, we handled it fine after some practice and the sellers are never aggressive. I will add here that there are sometimes 1 or 2 dogs on the beach and I was concerned cos I'm scared of dogs! But they are not like the dogs here, they don't even give you a second look, they just trot along minding their own business!

Later, we ventured out the front of the hotel. OK, now this part was awful! We knew what to expect, but nothing prepares you for it. We are not used to people not taking no for an answer and not used to being rude to people, so it was very hard. They all knew we were newbies and pounced on us as soon as we left the front gate. First, the men trying to sell trips. There is a big concrete stand right outside the Senegambia where they all congregate. The trips are expensive. It was very hard to get away. Next came men wanting to show us around. They literally follow you up the road. What really made me angry though was when they started asking my son if he had money. Then I turned round and said, 'excuse me, he is a child, don't ask him those things. We are trying to go for a peaceful walk alone thank you!' The man acted like he was hurt and told me 'It's nice to be nice' and we just laughed and carried on. One thing to add here, the Gambians don't get irony or dry humour!

We hired a green taxi (like a jeep) to take us on all our excursions. It was great because when we'd had enough, we could just tell our taxi driver and go to where we wanted to next. It also allows you to feel like a Gambian yourself and experience things from their perspective, rather than sitting on a tourist bus looking out like you're at a drive-through zoo! He even took us to his family home. My son picked a fresh coconut from his compound and the mother of the family served us food and green tea. Both of which were delicious! He also took us along to a football game that he was playing in, which was fun and made us feel like one of the gang. We visited the palm tapper who climbed the tree for us and served us palm wine. It does make you feel a teeny bit woosey! Using a taxi was the cheapest option. We used the same driver every time (Buba Sonko) and because of this, he was able to say at the police check points that we were his friends and we didn't have to pay! My son loved sitting in the back of the open top jeep. We went to paradise beach a few times. It's deserted apart from a lovely eatery. My son had lobster for £10. It was fresh and delicious and it was a lovely treat. We went to the monkey park which was nice. We went to see Charlie the crocodile. I touched him but my son was dubious..apparently they are fed on fish only from birth which is why they won't eat anything else, including you! I have to say that even with our guide/taxi driver, we were still pestered by sellers/children. He did tell them where to go, but of course they don't have to do what he says! It was a lot better than if we'd been on our on though. I told my son to ignore them but he found it difficult at first.

I can't really comment on the nightlife, being with my son. But I will say make sure you do use your mosquito repellent at all times when you go out at night. It really does work. I forgot one night and got bitten twice. So we stayed in the hotel most evenings. The entertainment is good although after 2 weeks it gets repetitive. It consists of mostly native music and dancing. My son enjoyed it though, especially the fire eater and the limbo dancing. Children are encouraged to go up on the stage and join in. Luckily, my son met other boys around his age from the UK and played with them most of the time. He took his portable games console (nintendo) and this was a definite must. He played it on the plane, in our room at night, etc.

During the day when we were not going out, I learnt to play tennis. There is a coach who is on hand to have a game with you or give you some tips as he did me. My son played in the pool (loved the volley ball games in the afternoon), and played table tennis. It is good because there is always a member of staff to play with the older children (especially good is Kebba). The grounds are very nice because there are monkeys (including babies!), lizards and birds. We sometimes ate at the hotel when my son just wanted to stay in the pool (the pizza is lovely). The prices are much the same as you would pay back home. So better to go out to eat really. They serve tea and a plain cake in the afternoon also at a cost.

THINGS I WISHED I'D TAKEN:
Nice shoes! I was told to take walking shoes/trainers, sandals etc. Not very glamorous. Yes, you need them, but do take a nice pair of going out shoes for the evening. I got the impression they would get messed up, but if you're just going to a bar/club, its absolutely fine. Some people got really dressed up in the evening and there was me still in my flip flops!

An iron! In fact I did take one but it was old and went wrong. This did make me realise there are no iron facilities in the hotel. I asked at the laundry service but was told no. Maybe if you pay them to do your washing they will iron it but I don't know.

Blow up ball for pool if you've got children. The inflatables they had at the poolside were very expensive! Double what you would pay at home.

To conclude, we loved our holiday to the Gambia and would definitely stay in the Senegambia again. In December, weather is hot, the air fresh. A lovely place to go either for winter sun or to experience another way of life

My sister and I went to the Gambia for one week at the beginning of March 2007 and loved it! We stayed at the Holiday Beach Hotel in Koloi and it was brilliant!!

We were a bit worried after reading some of the reviews on here but we found the Holiday Beach basic, but very clean and safe, Fatima, our cleaner, must have spent about an hour each day cleaning our room and made the bed for us every day and folded our PJs! Bed clothes and towels were changed every other day i think! We stayed BandB... Breakfast was lovely but basic and the same every day -fruit, french bread, cheese and ham... juice and cereal.

The Gambia is full of ";friendly"; locals who want to know who you are, where you are from and tell you their life story - personally we enjoyed talking to the locals, fair enough they did usually want to sell you something but that is just their culture in the Gambia and how they make money! Overall the accomodation was brilliant, they have an entertainments coordinator - alexander - who organises snail racing!! pool volleyball, ping pong etc. Watch out for the monkeys! They run wild round your hotel - we were feeding them on our balcony!!!

The Airport in the Gambia was a bit of a nightmare... keep tight a hold of your bags and give them a firm no and you'll be fine... although I didn't have a choice on the way back as one of the luggage carriers took my case and ran off before I'd got off the bus!! But I just told him no and it was fine. Manual check ins in the airport so expect a long delay!

The resort was fantastic - I would recommend walking along the beach near to the Kombo Beach Hotel, here you can hire body boards which are amazing on the waves!!! I would also recommend horse riding - good fun! The fresh fruit drinks are beautiful!!! All the locals along the beach are wanting to sell you something... just give them a firm no and carry on walking - they don't usually want very much money for the things they sell - your money will go a long way in the Gambia - local beer is nice (jewelbrew) at just 30p per bottle!!!

A lot of people didn't leave the complex but we would recommend braving the 'locals' and heading into town just a two minute walk, the restaurants and bars are brilliant!! The Holiday Beach security guards walked us to our room every night even though we didnt tip them until the very last day!!! Most gambians are genuine and want to help you they love the english! Would definately recommend the holiday reps bar crawl and the makasutu forest trip - although wear LOTS of mosquito repelant!!! Truck safari is good too - the schools are a little sad - take lots of pens, stationery and unwanted clothes out with you - I have never seen anyway so happy to receive a pen! They also like empty water bottles to fill up at the well... lots of beggers on truck safari... and try the fire water!!!

Overall the best place I have ever been, a totally different holiday experience!!

Arriving at banjul airport was an experience I will not forget.We were unindated with people offering to take our bags for a fee of course.The same thing again when we got to our hotel. This we had been prepared for after speaking to some one who had been before. But the biggest dissapoint was the hotel, ok we knew it was 2* and fairly basic but you do expect to have what is described in the brochure.There was no phone a tv that did not work, broken furniture. And has for the cleaning, there was the plastic covering from some ones swimwear stuck on the wall above the bed.Numerous squashed insects on the walls and resident spider with its own home from home web in the bath room.We left it there to see how good the cleaner was. I EXPECT ITS STILL LIVING THERE

The resort its self was average not much to do and the ever present bumsters pestering and basicaly telling you anythig to part you from your money. All in all the best thing in Gambia is a Irish bar and a Pakistani shop.
The best thing I can say is if you want to go to Gambia would not recommend the Mansea beach, and dont be fooled in to handing over any money no matter how sad the story.

we booked a flight only then booked the mansea over the Internet very easy to do.we arrived 25th dec 2006 and stayed for 3wk the staff are very helpful and friendly the food is better than some of the other hotels we have stayed in whilst we have been in gambia,we had a problem with loud music from the night club but we asked could we be moved to the other side of the hotel and this was done without any hassle.its about a 5/10 min walk back to the hotel from the main strip in kololi but this is not a problem and if the moon isn't bright it can be dark but we got more help than hassle from the locals and i don't think you need a taxi even if your told its best.the food in kololi is great we went to the jade a chinese near the holiday beach hotel and the buffet at the Indian is very good,we did find one little bar that did very good food called Munchies next to a bar called st Georges near the top just before you get to the craft market.

in all Gambia is a great place to go for a good holiday the weather is brilliant and we spent a lot of time walking up the beach and stopping at the local fruit bars for a plate of fresh fruit for dinner very good and would recommend it,we would like to go back again this dec and we would stay at the mansea its a very good hotel.
x x x

This was our third year going to gambia and have booked again for next year already, the place seems to capture you.
Most people who go to gambia return that is the effect.We stayed back at the Kairaba this year as the difference between there and the senegambia where we tried last year seemed obvious to most people we spoke to.
We were disappointed this year on our trip to PARADISE bEACH as it seems to be looking a little tired.Mandelas restaurant(beautiful fish) which we found last year is still excellent value but them all the restaurants in the resort seem fine.
As other reviews point out there are bumsters but honmestly they are noy a problem if you refuse there advances- just be firm.
We again this year used Brian from the front of the hotel as our guide when we went anywhere,he is knowledgable,polite
good company without being pushy as that would definitely put us off.If you see him remember us to him please.
The weather and relaxation is unsurpassable.Only downside is we are not getting to see all the other places we promised ourselves we would go to but for now will stick with a safe bet.
Whilst there i used a company named PISCES FISHING for creek fishing trip and they were 3 lovely helpful ladies who came to the hotel to discuss our needs but i would definitely recommend you use them and visit their website.

this was our first time in the gambia but we will definetely be going again the hotel was fantastic and the staff were so friendly and helpful i was a bit wary of going there but it was the best place we have ever been the hotel restuarant was quite expensive but we used to eat out every night the best eating place we found was the irish bar at the end of the road staff in all bars were brilliant and the food also, the beaches were really nice yes you do have problems with the local bumsters but if you just politely say no thank you they will leave you alone if you do visit remember to take pencils and sweets for the local children at the schools

Ok first of all I will state that I know this is a 3rd world country and after having been to Goa last year I thought I knew what to expect on this holiday.

First impressions of Gambia are that it is not as run down as Goa, the airport is quite nice and there are fairly decent roads leaving to the hotel.

As for the hotel itsself, it appears on first sight to be quite reasonable, however when you look a little closer there are things in the room and outside that need attention, namely...

* - Tiles in the swimming pool which are missing, these leave some sharp edges which could easily cut somebody
* - Missing covers on electrical sockets in the room
* - (Some) rude staff at reception
* - (Some) rude staff at the hotel bars
* - Breakfast is VERY basic indeed
* - One of our party was quite ill on the trip and general conscensus was that the rep should have been far more interested

It is for these reasons that I have marked the hotel down so low, there are some saving graces in that the guys who help around the pool were good guys especially Mikey, and our cleaner was very pleasant and honest too.

As for the resort itsself, well we found the bumsters to be very offputting....I dont mind a little bit of hassle (as per Goa) but here it is a lot worse, and the path from the hotel to the main strip is pitch black.....and to be fair we didn't feel very safe. Please if you go here, make sure you take a torch with you. We also found what quite a lot of the older guests to be up to quite offputting....prostitution is very much in your face here and having 70 year old guys telling us what they had been up to (in great detail) to be somewhat in bad taste.

Overall, we still managed to have a good time but will not be returning to The Gambia until the bumsters are moved on, they are just too insistent and very much in your face. Having had a wander round some of the other hotels in the resort, I'd also reccomend paying a bit extra and going to a better hotel than this one.