Below are ten of The Gambia’s leading tour operators—each locally based and offering a blend of wildlife, cultural, and coastal experiences. Descriptions highlight their specialties, service offerings, and distinctive approaches.
Gambia Tours & Travel Ltd
Gambia Tours & Travel Ltd is one of the country’s longest‑established Destination Management Companies, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Bijilo, Banjul. As a full‑service operator, they arrange everything from airport transfers and hotel reservations to guided excursions and multi‑day overland trips into Senegal. Their hallmark “Roots Tour” follows the path of historic slave‑trade sites along the Gambia River, combining boat cruises through mangrove creeks with visits to James Island and Kunta Kinteh Island. Beyond heritage journeys, Gambia Tours offers wildlife safaris in Abuko Nature Reserve, bird‑watching in Tanji Wetlands, and cultural forest hikes in Makasutu. Small‑group and private‑tour options ensure personalized pacing, while partnerships with local communities guarantee that a portion of proceeds supports village schools and conservation levies. Their locally owned fleet of air‑conditioned 4×4 vehicles and fluent English‑speaking guides make logistics seamless, whether you’re on a half‑day city tour or an extended eco‑adventure.
Website: https://www.gambiatours.gm/
Tour Gambia
Tour Gambia, based in Serrekunda and founded in 2016 by birding enthusiast Modou Barry, specializes in multi‑destination excursions throughout The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea‑Bissau. Whether you seek a half‑day “Lazy Day” river cruise spotting hippos and dolphins, a full‑day birding trek in Kiang West National Park, or a cultural immersion at the Gishora Drum Sanctuary, Tour Gambia crafts itineraries around your interests. Their small‑group outings (maximum eight guests) use sturdy minibuses and experienced local drivers, while professional guides provide local folklore alongside bird and wildlife identification. Custom family packages include beach‑and‑bush combos—morning game drives followed by afternoons on Kololi Beach—and photography safaris timed for golden‑hour light. Tour Gambia’s online booking portal offers real‑time availability for park permits and boat trips, and their responsive customer‑service team handles all permit fees, transfers, and multi‑leg logistics.
Website: https://www.tourgambia.com/
Omi Tours
Omi Tours, headquartered in Bakau with offices in Banjul, delivers a broad spectrum of safari and cultural tours across The Gambia and neighboring West African countries. They offer day trips to the Abuko Rainforest Reserve and Bijilo Forest Park, multi‑day river safaris on the Gambia River, and cross‑border journeys to Senegal’s Casamance region. Omi Tours is known for its “Birding Bonanza” itineraries, which target key habitats—mangroves, savannahs, and wetlands—to see species like the pygmy kingfisher and violet turaco. Their professional guides hold advanced bird‑watching certifications and wilderness first‑aid training, ensuring both insightful interpretation and guest safety. Accommodation ranges from comfortable ecolodges in the hinterland to upscale beach resorts along the Atlantic, with all transport provided in modern, air‑conditioned coaches. Special interest tours—such as cultural drumming workshops and mangrove canoe trips—can be seamlessly combined into tailor‑made packages.
Website: https://www.omitours.com/tours/
Arch Tours
Arch Tours is a local boutique operator focusing on thematic small‑group experiences: culture, wildlife, heritage, fishing, and boating. Their culture tours delve into Gambian music and dance through live performances at the Edujan Theatre, village visits, and interactive drumming sessions with master artisans. Wildlife tours include boat safaris through the tidal creeks to see crocodile pools and hippo pods, as well as guided forest walks in Abuko and Tanji. History & heritage excursions take you to landmark sites like the Arch 22 monument and Kunta Kinteh Island, with interpretive storytelling about colonial and pre‑colonial eras. Their fishing tours offer deep‑sea charters from Tanji village, while boat tours include sunset cruises on the mangrove waterways. Arch Tours’ fleet of custom‑fitted vessels and knowledgeable guides ensure immersive, off‑beat exploration, and their emphasis on local partnerships means a share of revenue supports craft cooperatives and conservation projects.
Website: https://arch-tours.com/
Black & White Safari
Black & White Safari, run by Gambian guide Amadou Jobarteh since 2001, specializes in full‑day and multi‑day wildlife and cultural safaris using open‑land‑rover vehicles. Their “Lion Walk” extension to Senegal’s Fathala Wildlife Park traverses borderless ecosystems for up‑close big‑cat viewing, while in‑country offerings include crocodile‑pool visits, chimpanzee tracking in local sanctuaries, and bird‑watching tours highlighting over 576 species. Fully licensed and insured, Black & White Safari employs only Gambian guides and supports a local school with 5 % of trip revenues. They offer airport transfers, lodge stays at eco‑camps, and high‑end photographic hide rentals for both professional and amateur wildlife photographers. With regular departures from Serrekunda and flexible private bookings, Black & White Safari ensures authentic, community‑driven experiences in The Gambia’s wild places.
Website: https://www.blackandwhitesafari.com/
Alkamba Tours & Travel International
Alkamba Tours & Travel International, founded in 1996 by Saikouba Sisay, is headquartered in Banjul and recognized as one of The Gambia’s foremost travel agents. They provide a full suite of services—electronic ticketing, hotel and car bookings, holiday packages, and excursions. Their signature excursions include Makasutu Cultural Forest boat rides and forest lodge visits, Safari Game Park drives to view waterbuck and buffalo, and comprehensive Banjul city tours that cover Albert Market, Arch 22, and coastal highlights. Alkamba also arranges airport fast‑track services, private charters, and bespoke packages for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) clients. Their online reservation system and multilingual staff (English, French) streamline trip planning, making Alkamba a go‑to for both inbound agencies and independent travelers seeking reliable local expertise.
Website: https://alkamba.com/
African Adventure Tours
African Adventure Tours, based in Fajara, leverages over 20 years of experience to craft seamless safari, beach, and cultural packages. Their core offerings cover everything from Banjul airport transfers and lodge bookings in Bakau and Kololi to guided excursions in Abuko Reserve, river cruises spotting hippos, and village visits to learn about traditional crafts and agriculture. As official partners of international operators like Corendon, they maintain high service standards while fostering responsible tourism—employing local guides, supporting community schools, and minimizing environmental impact. They cater to solo travelers, families, and corporate groups, with options for self‑drive 4×4 safaris, luxury lodge stays, and budget‑friendly camping tours. With strong local networks and in‑house logistics, African Adventure Tours delivers authentic Gambian experiences tailored to every budget and interest.
Website: https://www.adventuregambia.com/
Banjul Tours
Banjul Tours is a specialist DMC offering curated “Highlights of The Gambia” circuits that begin and end in the capital. Their half‑day city tours cover historic landmarks—Arch 22, National Museum, and lively fish markets—while full‑day excursions combine coastal stops at Paradise Beach with wildlife viewing at Abuko and the crocodile sanctuaries. Banjul Tours operates a fleet of modern minibuses and offers optional sunrise river cruises for bird‑watching enthusiasts. They also coordinate multi‑day overland trips into Senegal and Guinea‑Bissau, providing all cross‑border documentation and logistics. Emphasizing small groups (max 12), they guarantee personalized commentary from anthropologically trained guides who bring Gambian history, music, and culinary traditions to life at every stop.
Website: https://www.banjultours.com/guided-tours
Sam’s Tours Gambia
Sam’s Tours Gambia, headquartered in Serrekunda, specializes in both Senegal loop safaris and The Gambia highlights. Their portfolio includes “Roots Tours” exploring Kunta Kinteh Island, eco‑adventure packages in Makasutu Cultural Forest, and South‑Gambia beach and fishing‑village trips along the coast. Sam’s Tours also provides airport meet‑and‑assist, VIP transfers, and day‑trip charters to wildlife parks with crocodiles and bird hides. They maintain a multilingual driver‑guide team, modern air‑conditioned vehicles, and strong local partnerships for lodge bookings in Bakau and Kololi. Their focus on flexible departure times and custom private tours makes Sam’s a popular choice for travelers wanting both structure and spontaneity in The Gambia.
Website: https://samstoursgambia.com/
Bushwhacker Tours
Bushwhacker Tours offers a menu of tailor‑made, day‑trip excursions crafted by guide Alieu Bayo, who has curated Gambian cultural and nature tours for over 20 years. Their offerings include bird‑watching tours through Abuko and Bijilo, Banjul city explorations, the classic “Lazy Day” river cruise, Roots tours visiting historical slave‑trade sites, and multi‑day upriver adventures to Janjanbureh (MacCarthy Island) with chimpanzee and hippo tracking. Bushwhacker’s small‑group ethos (max six guests) ensures genuine interaction, while their custom itineraries allow travelers to adjust pace, add fishing excursions, or combine forest walks with boat safaris. With transparent pricing and a focus on local storytelling, Bushwhacker Tours delivers an intimate, off‑beat perspective on Gambian culture and wildlife.
Website: https://bushwhackertours.com/
