We stayed at Kololi Beach Club several times over the past few years and always found our accommodation to be excellent. It is a place where you can just sit and relax just watching the wildlife which is amazing and right on your doorstep too!

We don't really use the Club facilities prefering the choices of eateries in Senegambia which is a stone throw away. There are the green taxis just outside the club gates and they seldom hassle you, but they do like pass time chatting in a hope that they will get a fare from you.

The Beach is on your doorstep and you can walk for miles, we often walk to the fishing village which is an experience not to be missed go to the fish smoking house it amazing! Often tired from the long walk we then get a local bus to turntable cost 6 dalais each then you change for a bus to senegambia 6 dalais each a great day out and it costs a mere 50p.

For those that prefer to relax on the beach the Club have a private beach area where you won't get hassled. If you never been to The Gambia before it a great place to have your first holiday! The apartments are well equipped and if you need anything reception are always happy to help, a great place to stay!

I stayed a week at Kololi with some friends and had a good time.

I think my favorite parts were the beach (really beautiful, the water really nice and warm), with lounge chairs set up with nice mattresses/towels; the location next to a nature preserve which you can just walk to right outside the Kololi entrance and see monkeys and other wildlife for an entrance price of a dollar; a fairly well stocked market on-site with reasonable prices; and the villa was nice sized with bedrooms upstairs and living area downstairs. There were interesting restaurants within walking distance, and a larger supermarket within a bit longer walking distance (25 minutes about). The grounds are very pretty, and well kept too. The staff are super friendly and the food in the restaurant was good!

Things that weren't as great, the pool is very low key/kind of boring (but is open anytime with no restirctions), the internet didn't work during my stay which was a bit frusterating (and is set up only to work near reception anyways), and the units only have an air conditioner located in one of the bedrooms- so those using the other bedroom were uncomfortably hot at night (making those in the A/C bedroom feel a bit guilty). Also the cleaning lady tried to come really early to clean, which was a bit annoying. The decor in the villas is a bit outdated/tacky. The person on site offering tourist excursions is way overpriced, sadly.

In the end we arranged everything we did through the free tour guide that led us around the nature preserve next door to Kololi (he was super nice and knowledgeable). For $25/person he arranged everything for a visit to Lamine Lodge and Abuka Preserve one day in really nice transportation- while somehting similar was $60/person from the on-site tour operator.

The kitchen is nicely stocked so I recommend bringing spices and basics with you to make food in the villa. Unfortunately there wasn't a grill available for cooking meat, which would have been a nice addition.

Didn't have a lot of trouble with people bothering us on the beach but they were definitely around and I saw a lot of couples that seemed to be followed by unwanted sollicitors. To be honest we sort of acted like we didn't speak English and just didn't respond at all to sollicitors....which does seem really rude but otherwise people stick to you like glue.

There did seem to be a lot of sex tourism going on between Western ladies and Gambian men, and I think as a result ladies may get more attention.

Anyways, a relaxing vacation for sure and the staff were always friendly and helpful. amazing sunsets sitting by the beach, and fun evenings making dinner in the villa. We didn't go out too much actually, prefering to stay in and relax.

Spent a week here. The staff couldn't be friendlier. The grounds are well kept. The beach clean. Our 2 bedded apartment was spotless and large. Would liked to have had air conditioning in all rooms rather than just the twin bedroom. The restaurant on the beach was lovely. The menu could probably get a bit more adventurous and less 'english'. The sauces on the dishes all tended to taste similar. The puds and cocktails were great.

Don't be put off by the so called rainy season. it was very hot and sunny for the majority of the time we were there and only rained twice for a small amount of time. Easy access to trips to see the country.

Don't t confuse it with the Holiday Beach Club which is an entirely different establishment.

stayed originally nov 2010 and returned feb 2011. we had never been to gambia before and had heard many bad reports about all the hassle we would get from bumsters . we were also told we wouldnt be able to leave the hotel on a night as it may be dangerous.
How wrong these comments are about the gambia.
Kololi beach club is located at the quiet end of "the strip" right on the beach . the hotel is set around lush gardens with a central pool and bar area. the staff are very friendly and the rooms were a good size very clean with nice terrace . that is the bungalows. we were originally put in a top floor room in the blocks at the entrance to the hotel , these were awful , dark and dingy and i hated them , however we asked very nicely to be moved and we got moved the following day . if possible request the bungalows and you ll be very happy.
breakfast is poor , never changes . bread cheese bananas and melon. was nice but every day got boring. but gambia is very cheap and we went out some mornings for breakfast.
one downside id the cost of extras. the holiday wasnt expensive but in november was very hot and they charge £20 a week for a fan ! £50 a week air con . safety deposit box was £15 week. all in all though the hotel is well run and unlike some other hotels the manager doesnt allow anyone other than hotel guests to come in , so no young gambian visitors meeting up with older europeans , you get my drift.
as you exit the hotel there are many restaurants and bars etc all very safe to walk out through the day and at night . you do get asked all the time if you want trips, taxis , drugs etc but we just said no and they moved on they were not intimidating and once they knew your face left you alone .
the walk out the other end of the hotel leads directly to beach , this is amazing very lush and unspoilt and pretty deserted. we walked along for hours many days . again occasional hassle for time share, fruit sellers etc but a friendly but firm No does the trick.
if you like Goa but are sick of the 10 hour flight and fancy a change the gambia is better, friendlier locals great weather 5 hrs flight same time zone. and very cheap .
oh and finally the monkeys , do not feed them as they get lazy and need to find their own food , you wont be dissapointed if you want to see them , they are all over the grounds and come down to the pool in packs at times. very funny and cute