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The Gambia🇬🇲 | attractionsBakau Fish MarketSurf landings, painted pirogues, smoking sheds, fish auction | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Bakau Fish Market
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #7
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Bakau Fish Market is where you watch the Atlantic catch come ashore: wooden pirogues nose onto the sand, crews haul silver bonga and barracuda in plastic tubs, and women bargain over the heaps while gulls scream overhead. What travelers overlook is how little of it is staged. This is a working landing site, so the smoke, fish guts and wet sand are the point. It sits in Bakau, on the Atlantic coast west of Banjul in the Gambia. The beach action is worth your time. The surrounding alleys of smokehouses are rewarding too, but only with a local guide. Skip it if you gag at strong smells or hate being approached by touts. Early risers, photographers and curious eaters will love it.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 The Gambia Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #7 attraction in The GambiaWhat sets this place apart

Bakau Fish Market gives you the Gambian coast at work, not on display. Fishing is a livelihood here, and the landing beach is the one place where you see the whole chain in about an hour: boats arriving, brightly painted pirogues unloaded by hand, fish sorted by species, then carried to buyers or to the smoking racks. That is more informative than any museum label.

It also fits neatly into a Kotu and Serrekunda route. The beach is a short ride from the tourist strip, so you can add real daily life to a stay otherwise spent on resort sand. The nearby Kachikally Crocodile Pool and the Bakau botanical garden sit close enough to combine in one morning.

Finally, it is a place to eat well. Fresh catch is sold and grilled nearby, and watching it come off the boat beats any menu description.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Bakau Fish Market

  1. The landing beach: the main show. Pirogues surf in through the shallows and crews wade out with baskets, while buyers crowd the waterline to claim the best fish.
  2. Painted pirogues: long wooden boats, many in blue, red and yellow, with names and slogans on the bows. They make some of the best photos in the country.
  3. Fish auction and bargaining: women traders haggle loudly over barracuda, snapper, sole and bonga. Stand back and watch the rhythm of offers and counteroffers.
  4. Smoking sheds: low smokehouses where fish blacken over smoldering wood. The heat, smoke and fat-scented air are intense, so go with a local guide and ask before photographing people.
  5. Fish-cleaning tables: knives flash as workers gut and fillet the catch in seconds, with seabirds and cats waiting for scraps.
  6. Net menders: fishermen
… read more 👉
  1. The landing beach: the main show. Pirogues surf in through the shallows and crews wade out with baskets, while buyers crowd the waterline to claim the best fish.
  2. Painted pirogues: long wooden boats, many in blue, red and yellow, with names and slogans on the bows. They make some of the best photos in the country.
  3. Fish auction and bargaining: women traders haggle loudly over barracuda, snapper, sole and bonga. Stand back and watch the rhythm of offers and counteroffers.
  4. Smoking sheds: low smokehouses where fish blacken over smoldering wood. The heat, smoke and fat-scented air are intense, so go with a local guide and ask before photographing people.
  5. Fish-cleaning tables: knives flash as workers gut and fillet the catch in seconds, with seabirds and cats waiting for scraps.
  6. Net menders: fishermen sit on the sand repairing nets by hand, a quiet counterpoint to the shouting nearby.
  7. Bakau seafront walk: the sandy stretch beside the market gives views of the surf and the fleet, with the town’s lanes just behind.
Start at the landing beach when the boats come in, because that moment of peak activity is brief and everything else is slower afterward.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

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🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Dry Season (November to May): Bakau Fish Market is easiest from late November to February, with sunny days around 30°C to 33°C (86°F to 91°F), cool nights near 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F) and hardly any rain. Roads to the beach stay firm, and tourist numbers are highest, so guesthouse prices rise.
  • Hot Build-Up (March to May): Afternoons reach 35°C to 38°C (95°F to 100°F) inland, though the coast is a little cooler. Fish smell sharpens in the heat, so go early.
  • Rainy Season (June to October): Expect humid 28°C to 33°C (82°F to 91°F) days with heavy downpours, peaking in August. Lanes around the landing beach turn muddy, but rooms are cheaper and the market is quiet.
  • Time of Day: Canoes land the catch from mid to late afternoon, so the beach is liveliest then, with daylight lasting roughly 11 to
… read more 👉
  • Dry Season (November to May): Bakau Fish Market is easiest from late November to February, with sunny days around 30°C to 33°C (86°F to 91°F), cool nights near 18°C to 20°C (64°F to 68°F) and hardly any rain. Roads to the beach stay firm, and tourist numbers are highest, so guesthouse prices rise.
  • Hot Build-Up (March to May): Afternoons reach 35°C to 38°C (95°F to 100°F) inland, though the coast is a little cooler. Fish smell sharpens in the heat, so go early.
  • Rainy Season (June to October): Expect humid 28°C to 33°C (82°F to 91°F) days with heavy downpours, peaking in August. Lanes around the landing beach turn muddy, but rooms are cheaper and the market is quiet.
  • Time of Day: Canoes land the catch from mid to late afternoon, so the beach is liveliest then, with daylight lasting roughly 11 to 13 hours year-round.
Arrive an hour before the boats come in to watch the buying and haggling begin.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Bakau itself is the best place to sleep, with Kotu and Fajara close behind. Bakau puts you a short walk from the fish market, plus Kachikally Crocodile Pool and the Bakau Botanical Gardens. The lanes around Old Bakau and the main Atlantic Road area have small guesthouses, family-run lodgings and a few hostel-style places, with dorms and basic rooms often running US$10 to 25. It feels lived-in and local, and you can eat cheap grilled fish and rice at street stalls without taking a taxi.
Kotu and Senegambia Strip, about 15 to 20 minutes away by shared taxi, have the liveliest nightlife, more restaurants, … read more 👉
Bakau itself is the best place to sleep, with Kotu and Fajara close behind. Bakau puts you a short walk from the fish market, plus Kachikally Crocodile Pool and the Bakau Botanical Gardens. The lanes around Old Bakau and the main Atlantic Road area have small guesthouses, family-run lodgings and a few hostel-style places, with dorms and basic rooms often running US$10 to 25. It feels lived-in and local, and you can eat cheap grilled fish and rice at street stalls without taking a taxi.
Kotu and Senegambia Strip, about 15 to 20 minutes away by shared taxi, have the liveliest nightlife, more restaurants, ATMs and a wider choice of budget rooms, so they suit solo travelers who want other backpackers around. Fajara sits between the two, quieter and greener, with beach access and mid-range options.
Pick Bakau if you want early mornings at the landing beach, Kotu if you want evenings out. Walk in daylight, avoid empty beach stretches after dark, and use licensed taxis at night.
Best hostels in The Gambia


Best quality hotels in The Gambia

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Bakau Fish Market costs a backpacker roughly US$30 to 60 a day, mostly for a bed, food and local transport. Entry is free. The table below shows typical prices.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryFreeOpen beach and market with no ticket. Informal guides may offer tours and expect a tip.
Accommodation (high season)US$10 to 25Guesthouses and basic rooms in Bakau, Kotu or Fajara. Low season is often US$8 to 18.
Fresh fish to buyUS$2 to 8Prices are negotiated by size and species, and you can often have it grilled nearby for a small fee.
MealsUS$3 to 8Street rice and fish dishes or café lunches. Beach restaurants cost more.
Local transportUS$1 to 5Shared yellow taxis and minibuses (gelleh-gelleh) cover the coast cheaply. A private taxi from Serrekunda or Kotu costs more.
ExtrasUS$2 to 10Nearby Kachikally
… read more 👉
Bakau Fish Market costs a backpacker roughly US$30 to 60 a day, mostly for a bed, food and local transport. Entry is free. The table below shows typical prices.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryFreeOpen beach and market with no ticket. Informal guides may offer tours and expect a tip.
Accommodation (high season)US$10 to 25Guesthouses and basic rooms in Bakau, Kotu or Fajara. Low season is often US$8 to 18.
Fresh fish to buyUS$2 to 8Prices are negotiated by size and species, and you can often have it grilled nearby for a small fee.
MealsUS$3 to 8Street rice and fish dishes or café lunches. Beach restaurants cost more.
Local transportUS$1 to 5Shared yellow taxis and minibuses (gelleh-gelleh) cover the coast cheaply. A private taxi from Serrekunda or Kotu costs more.
ExtrasUS$2 to 10Nearby Kachikally Crocodile Pool and the Botanical Gardens charge small entry fees. Photo tips are appreciated.
Total Daily BudgetUS$30 to 60Cash in dalasi is used everywhere, and ATMs are more reliable in Kotu.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQFrequently asked questions about Bakau Fish Market

Allow one to two hours at Bakau Fish Market, ideally in the mid to late afternoon when canoes unload their catch. Add another two to three hours if you also walk to Kachikally Crocodile Pool and the Bakau Botanical Gardens, both within about 15 minutes on foot. A relaxed half-day covers all three.
Bakau Fish Market is free to enter, so the main question is whether the time is worth spending. It is: you see colorful pirogues landing, women sorting the catch and bargaining in Wolof and Mandinka, and you can buy fish for US$2 to 8. Photographers should ask first and expect to tip US$1 to 2 for portraits.
Bakau Fish Market sits on the Atlantic coast about 12 to 15 kilometers west of Banjul and roughly 25 to 30 minutes from Serrekunda by road. From Kotu or Serrekunda, take a shared taxi or minibus for US$1 to 2, or a private taxi for around US$8 to 15. From Banjul, ferries and road transfers take under an hour in normal traffic.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Bakau Fish Market

Bakau Fish Market is best in the morning, when the boats come in and the beach is at its loudest. Arrive early, wear shoes you can get sandy and wet, and bring small bills. Leave your best clothes at the hotel.

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The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in The Gambia. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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