Kotu Holidays

Quieter than its neighbour Kololi, Kotu is another of the major players on The Gambia’s Atlantic-washed coastline. The village’s sliced in half by Kotu Creek, where you can watch local fishermen cast their nets, or visit the Birdwatchers Association to book walking and boat tours of the area. Other than that, sunbathing’s the order of the day here. Plus, there are a few laidback bars and a craft market.

Kotu Beach is chill-out territory – where the palm trees outnumber the people. The only thing interrupting your sunbathing will be the local vendors offering you some fresh fruit or just-squeezed juices. Here, it’s all about watching the locals carry out their daily tasks, or watching for birds where the Kotu Creek meets the Atlantic Ocean.

There are a couple of bars on the beach, but it’s nothing like what you’ll find next door in Kololi. When you’re up for a bit more action, you can walk along the sands for half an hour, or make the five-minute taxi ride. You’ll be greeted by a strip of bars and restaurants, a pint-sized shopping centre and a busy craft market, where you can snap up African handicrafts.