Shopping is a vital aspect of your study abroad! The Gambia offers you a great chance to shop what would rather have been left to chance in your homeland!
The Gambia allows you to hunt down souvenirs and local handicrafts in the various craft markets dotted around Banjul and the resort areas. Beaded belts and ladies' handbags are also popular, as are books and albums made from recycled paper and West African handicrafts using straw, beads, leather, cloth, or metal.
One rule to remember when shopping here is to be ruthless at haggling as in most cases, prices may be brought down by at least one-third of the original number. Bargaining is part and parcel of shopping in the markets in the Gambia.
Be prepared to barter for the best cost. If you do not want to pay the asking price, simply walk away. However, if you agree on a price, it is rude to change your mind.
The country rarely offers the western-style shopping that travelers may be expecting to find - there are little to none of glass display stores or shopping centers, with most shopping carried out at local markets or straight off hawker shops.
Items worth bringing back home include woodwork (masks, especially), fabrics, traditional jewelry and crafts, and even Gambian treats and foodstuffs.
DID YOU KNOW
- Bargaining is a big part of the culture. In the markets, similar to flea markets in the Gambia, you can find everything from fabric to vegetables, artwork to shoes, clothing to jewelry.
- The people tend to hike up the prices when they see a foreigner. Most speak the local languages, but some speak English in and around the cities. Haggling is expected. Start low and act like you do not care if you buy the item or not.
- Sometimes the vendors won't budge and let you walk away. At this point, you have to decide if you want the product. Bartering can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes. Food prices are usually set.
- In the local small shops, called bitiks, all prices are fixed. In any indoor shop away from the market area, albeit clothing or food, all prices are fixed. One exception is the fabric and clothing indoor stores that are located on the fringes of an open-air market.
When shopping in the local markets, feel free to bargain. If you want to get an idea of how much you should be paying, visit the state-run craft markets, which have steady rates. Shops here are mostly open from 8:00 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m on weekdays.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
