Senegambia to Brufut: Where to Buy on The Gambia's Coast
The Gambia squeezes almost all of its resort life into a short stretch of Atlantic shoreline south of Banjul - the Gambia Tourism Board puts the country's coastline at around 80 kilometres in total. For property buyers, the areas that matter run from Cape Point at the northern end down through Bakau, Fajara, Kotu and Kololi to Bijilo and Brufut in the south.
Each has a distinct character, and because nearly all of it sits on state land under the State Lands Act 1991, you will be buying a lease rather than a freehold wherever you land. Here is how the areas compare.
Cape Point and Bakau: the established north
Cape Point sits where the River Gambia meets the Atlantic, a short drive from Banjul. It is one of the country's oldest resort spots, with calm water, established hotels and a settled feel that suits buyers who want somewhere quiet and walkable.
Neighbouring Bakau is a working Gambian town rather than a resort - botanic gardens, a busy fishing beach and the Kachikally crocodile pool - so property here means living alongside everyday town life, often on older, larger plots.
- Best for: quieter stays, established surroundings, proximity to Banjul
- Watch for: older properties needing renovation and plots with long, informal document chains - registry searches matter here
Fajara: leafy and low-rise
Fajara is the coast's most residential address - tree-lined roads, embassies and NGO offices, a golf course and low-rise homes behind garden walls. It attracts long-stay professionals and returning diaspora as much as holidaymakers, and it is the closest the coast comes to a conventional suburb.
Turnover is lower than in the resort strips, so patience helps; well-documented homes in Fajara tend to sell through word of mouth.
- Best for: year-round living, families, long lets to professionals
- Watch for: limited supply - be ready to move when a clean title comes up
Kotu and Kololi: the holiday heartland
Kotu is a small, mellow resort area around Kotu Creek, popular with birdwatchers and repeat winter visitors. Kololi next door contains the Senegambia strip - the highest concentration of restaurants, bars and hotels in the country and the centre of the winter tourist trade.
Apartments aimed at holiday lets cluster around Kololi, and this is where rental footfall is strongest. It is also inside the Tourism Development Area, where the UK Foreign Office notes tourist police stations operate.
- Best for: holiday-let potential and walk-to-everything winters
- Watch for: noise near the strip and service charges on managed apartment blocks - read the management agreement before you buy
Bijilo and Brufut: the growing south
South of Kololi, the coastal highway runs past Bijilo - known for its forest park and its newer apartment and villa developments - and on to Brufut, where hillside schemes such as Brufut Heights have drawn a sizeable community of British owners and retirees.
This is where the coast is still building out: plots are larger, prices per square metre are generally lower than in Kololi or Fajara, and the fishing village of Tanji is close by. The trade-off is that infrastructure and finish quality vary from scheme to scheme, so inspect carefully and check the developer's own lease terms.
- Best for: more space for the money, newer builds, retirement bases
- Watch for: off-plan promises - verify the developer holds a registered lease over the land before paying stage payments
Buying notes for the whole coast
Banjul and the Kombo districts are designated state land, so what you buy anywhere on this coast is a lease, and terms offered to foreigners can be shorter than those quoted in adverts - UNCTAD's 2017 Investment Policy Review noted a 21-year cap on residential terms for foreigners at that time. Use an independent Gambian lawyer, search the deeds registry and have boundaries surveyed before paying anything.
If you plan to let to winter visitors, the Gambia Revenue Authority taxes residential rental income at 8% of gross rent (15% for commercial lettings). Habio's area guides and Gambia listings can help you compare the coast street by street before you fly out.
Frequently asked questions
Which area of The Gambia is best for holiday lets?
Kololi and the streets around the Senegambia strip have the strongest winter rental footfall, with Kotu a quieter alternative. Bijilo and Brufut suit longer winter stays and retirement bases rather than short lets.
Is property on The Gambia's coast freehold?
Effectively no. Banjul and the Kombo coastal districts are state land under the State Lands Act 1991, so property is held on leases - generally up to 99 years, though terms available to foreigners may be shorter. Confirm the actual term with a lawyer.
What tax do I pay on renting out a home in The Gambia?
The Gambia Revenue Authority charges rental income tax at 8% of gross rent for residential property and 15% for commercial property, with an annual return due by 31 March.
How far is The Gambia's resort coast from the airport?
The resort areas from Cape Point down to Brufut are all within roughly an hour's drive of Banjul International Airport, with Brufut and Bijilo among the closest.
When is the busy season on The Gambia's coast?
The dry season, roughly November to June. This is when winter charter flights from the UK and Europe operate and when holiday-let demand peaks; many owners use the property themselves in these months and close it up in the rains.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Markets and rules change — verify the current position with official sources before acting. Published 2 August 2026.