The Safari Gardens has a slogan "The hotel that gives more than it takes"
which is so true as we married there in March 2009 and had an amazing time.

There is so much i want to say about this quiet pleasant hotel.

The hotel is nicely hidden down a side street which means its very quite and peaceful.
You are a 5-8 min walk from a quite Fajara beech and local restaurants.
The hotel is well maintained and presented. they have a pool with a bar and seating/lounge area.
The hotel is very much Safari in its theme of decor through the hotel which creates a very relaxed atmosphere.
The Staff are very friendly and helpful. The Hotel owners who we absolutely treasure went out of there way to make our wedding and the time we sent there special.

The food prepared for our wedding was top quality and delicious, i can still taste it now.
I could find 100 great reasons to recommend The Safari Gardens Hotel but will give you just 5 of them today!

Say here if:
You want to be hidden away from the busy tourist area.
you want to be near a nice quite beech
You want a peaceful relaxing atmosphere
You want a wedding/ special celebration with amazing food and hospitality.
You want professional friendly staff who go the extra mile.

We will be staying here again in the near future.

We have stayed here four times as part of the excellent Hidden Gambia experience. Great swimming pool, lovely staff, good food. Lack of water pressure at times and so we just jumped into the pool to stay clean. Located where there is real life.
On your first visit it is best to use a hotel guide until you get the hang of things. Travel by bush taxi to Banjul market, lively but friendly. Guide recommended.
Great place to relax at the begining and end of up river tours to Bird Safari Camp, another wonderful place to experience real west Africa.
Buy wonderful Gambian silver jewelry at Almanba (Lama Lama) on Atlantic Rd. or have your dress made on site by the friendly seamstress.
Talk to the staff and get the feel of how they live. They are just great, and all this is from a sceptical seventy year old.

ATMOSPHERE - Very laid back, relaxed and informal. I wanted somewhere away from the larger tourist places where one hotel is like another.
ROOM - OK, clean but simple, don't expect top class luxury BUT personally I don't go on holiday to spend my time in a hotel room.
GARDEN - Lovely. Nice to wake up and have breakfast outside in the garden then slip into the pool for a dip. Also spent a couple of evenings relaxing and talking to the other guests who seemed to range from tourists to African Gov Ministers, volunteers and ex-pats working in the area. A real mixture and just so interesting!
FOOD - I ate here a couple of times. The food was a bit expensive about (£6) for a main meal but the fish dishes were superb.
STAFF - Brilliant, I have to say they were amazing. From the lady who cleaned my room to the owners, they were definitely the best staff I have ever encountered. I have travelled quite extensively and they are not similar to other hotel staff they are genuinely friendly but not in your face. They also gave some advice about the best places to visit and helped me arrange cheap transport.
DIFFICULTIES - Take cash...debit and credit cards seem to be a problem throughout the country. The hotel did offer to take my card but it cost them a supplement which would be added to my bill.

The hotel is run by a lovely English ex-pat couple, Geri and Maurice, who took a very active interest in making me feel at home. The staff are very engaging and it was a pleasant and relaxing stay. The place also attracts a lot of NGO volunteers and other long-stayers which gives more of an insight into the country.

The hotel has a small pool surrounded by a pretty garden and as well as the communal sitting area, most if not all rooms have their own verandah. The beach is less than 10 minutes walk away. There are 2 ATMs within about 10 minutes walk of the hotel and the rate worked out identical to what I got at banks, bureaux etc. although you can only get out D2000 at a time.

Fajara is a quiet area where a number of the consulates and embassies are located and was a good choice to be away from the main tourist areas.

I was booked in for 2 nights initially but I ended spending all but one night there, with just a brief jaunt up-country to Bintang.