Bakau Guest House for Breakfast, Fishing, Views and West African Art

On our last trip to the Gambia we were a group which held three generations of the family and therefore there were times when the trip of the day did not suit all of us. Fishing in a small local fishing boat was one that did not suit me, or Granny, but we would not want to miss the occasion altogether; Overlooking the fish market in Bakau is the Bakau Guest House. From the restaurant balcony you can watch the fishing boats going out with 2 generations of the family on board, while you and the top end of the age range have eggs on toast, a pot of tea, and a birds eye view of the fish market. The photos show the left, right and centre view from the balcony over the rooves of the market, the fishing trip, view to the guesthouse and the balcony itself .

After a second pot of tea we were invited to view the rooms available. (Foolishly I did not take a photograph) They were very big,shaded, clean and airie, with a big fan. The rooms with balconies overlooking the beach and the open public areas (bar reception and restaurant) had the added benefit of the sea breeze. I would book it tommorrow if we were a one generation trip. My generation does not insist on air conditioning or a swimming pool and the guest house would have been considered absolute luxury in my backpacking days. The menu was excellent, the quirky architecture a joy. One aspect of the Guesthouse was extremely interesting to all ages-the art work which I did feel energetic enough to snap.

GAMBIA TRIPS OUT Bakau Fish Market

This is the view from the end of the beach looking back at the market. There are big rocks to sit on while you wait for the boats to come in, then go pick your fish and watch the experts fillet

For those of you who know, this is a beautiful view of Bakau Fish Market and Bakau Lodge isn't it? Bakau Fish Market is not necessarily the first trip out I would recommend. When you first leave the air conditioning and waiter service you want something like the monkey park, or a taxi to Sanyang beach, where someone else can wait on you and you dont need aircon. But at some stage you must go there.

Please dont go to the Gambia and stay in, even if your tour operator says you should. They only want to keep you spending in their shops and at their bar. I prefer to spread my holiday a bit further than Thompsons bank account, especially when in Africa.Someone said that money is like manure; spread it around and it does a wonderful job, but leave it all in a pile and it will stink. Well a small amount goes a long way in Africa and if you cant spread a few quid every day while youre there you may as well go to Blackpool. But you have chosen the Gambia so go and have a look at it. You could be on that beach anywhere, why go all that way and stay in the hotel?

Bakau is one of my favourite places. I do self catering just so that I can go to the fish market and chose tea for the family. Be it barracuda, mackeral or butterfish or a massive bag of prawns, its like being Nigella or Jamie in my Cape Point kitchen, with all the different types of fresh fish and vegetables. One day it may be Bouillebaise, another thai prawns, and have you ever tried barracuda curry. You could never justify buying such produce in the UK. Someone would say "How Much? imagine what that could buy in Africa"

We like fishing too. My family fishes from a small local boat, with life jackets, and I wait on the beach or having a coffee in the Bakau Ldge balcony overlooking the market.The big freezers you can see at the start of the pier have every sort of fish you may want to try but butterfish is our favourite. ..You may feel a little hassled at the market if you go there on your first trip out. The fishermen and the filletters are all eager to help. Just be certain of what you want. If they are offering a tour of the market, definitely go because you will learn so much; which bits of the fish are sent to Japan, which type to Ghana, even a couple of recipes. They will need a tip, just like anywhere else in the world. Be fair. What was that hours private tour worth to you, and how much would you pay in Sainsbury's? Be careful with your video cameras. This is a working place and people dont necessarily want to be filmed at length. Once you have been there once, you will be known and feel well looked after.......