Transportation in Banjul

Banjul's transport scene is built around shared taxis and minivans, the green-and-yellow "gele-gele" vans that rattle along the main roads all day, and the red-plate taxis that can be hailed almost anywhere. Both are cheap and operate on semi-fixed routes. But the vans only leave when full, so patience is part of the fare. If you want a bit more certainty, the taxis are a moderate step up and will usually agree to a set fare before you get in. First-timers should know that Banjul proper is compact and walkable once you're inside the city grid. But distances stretch quickly if your hotel is on the coastal strip. There's no formal bus map. Locals simply flag the next van heading in the right direction and pay the conductor on board. Tourists often overpay because they don't ask the person next to them what the real fare is, do that and you'll pay a fraction of what the driver first quotes. From Banjul International, the only honest move is the official taxi rank outside arrivals. Skip the freelance touts inside the terminal. The rank queue uses standard cars and fixed (though negotiable) rates. If you're on a tight budget, walk past the rank to the main road and catch a shared van heading toward the city, it's cheap but you'll need small bills and a rough idea of your stop.