Getting from Banjul International Airport to the coast

Where the airport is

The WFP Logistics Cluster lists Banjul International Airport at Yundum village in the West Coast Region. It puts the airport about 24 km from Banjul ¹.

The same assessment gives a drive of about 17 km from the WFP office at Cape Point in Bakau. It says the trip takes about 30 minutes, or 15 minutes on clear roads ¹. Its distance and capacity figures date from 2011, so treat drive times as a rough guide ¹.

The assessment lists the airport codes as IATA BJL and ICAO GBYD, and the elevation as 93 feet above mean sea level ¹.

Taxis and road safety

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says some local taxis are not roadworthy ². US travel advice, last updated in December 2018, says most taxis lack safety belts and many are not roadworthy. It advises caution, in particular at night ³.

This site did not find an official published tariff for taxis from the airport to the coast in any government or regulator source it opened. Agree the fare before you get in. Neither the FCDO nor the US advice lists a fare ^2,3.

• Security checkpoints are common on major routes and are not always well signposted. Expect a vehicle search if stopped ².
• Roads are severely potholed, and heavy rain from June to October can cause local flooding ².
• Side roads in the Banjul area and most roads outside it are unlit and unpaved, per the 2018 US advice ³.
• Drivers must stop at police checkpoints. The US advice says police sometimes demand on-the-spot fines and rarely issue written tickets ³.

Driving yourself

The FCDO says a UK photocard driving licence can be used for up to 3 months. After that you need a Gambian licence ².

Road and vehicle lighting is poor after dark. The FCDO notes driving can be erratic at dusk during Ramadan, when people are heading home ².

The US advice says drivers should pull over and wait when a government convoy passes. It says drunk driving can lead to large fines or prison ³.

Cash for the journey

Before leaving the terminal, arriving passengers pay a US$20 airport security fee at marked kiosks. The FCDO says it can be paid in euros, British pounds or local currency, and that Visa cards are accepted, but card machines are often out of service ⁴.

The US advice says The Gambia is a cash economy and the currency is the dalasi. It says US dollars, euros and CFA francs are widely accepted, and that money should be changed only at banks or exchange bureaus. Unofficial money changing is prohibited ³.

The same advice recommends using only ATMs at banks ³.

Going north of the river

The FCDO says the Banjul to Barra ferry runs but is often overcrowded and overloaded, and that it lacks life-saving equipment. It suggests the Senegambia Bridge near Farafenni as an alternative crossing ².

The FCDO says pirogues are not recommended for long journeys ². It warns that young men known as bumsters may offer trips into Senegal that skip proper immigration procedures, which could lead to detention ².