Plizio Visual Lab
Bakoteh
ℹ️Practical info — Bakoteh
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Since Bakoteh is part of densely populated Serekunda, allow extra time for short trips due to traffic.
- Near the SOS Children's Village there are craft workshops where you can buy fair-trade souvenirs.
- Traffic at the main intersection can be chaotic; use shared taxis (Gele-Gele) for cheap rides.
- Visit the local tailors in the side streets; they will sew custom clothes from your fabric in a few days.
🍽 Food
In the late afternoon, street vendors set up their grills; try the grilled lamb with mustard and onions.
A spicy cassava and seafood stew, often sold at small street stalls in the residential neighborhoods.
Refresh yourself with this local sweet hibiscus drink offered in almost every small eatery.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Buy colorful African wax-print fabrics on the busy streets heading towards the Serekunda market.
Around the craft centers in the neighborhood you will find wooden art where prices are mostly negotiable.
The green spaces and shaded streets near the SOS Children's Village offer a brief respite from the city noise.
A walk through the deeper residential streets during the hot afternoon hours is often surprisingly quiet.
Water temperature…
Bakoteh is a prominent suburb of Serrekunda within the Kanifing Municipality, characterized by its residential density and vital social infrastructure. It gained international recognition as the site of the first SOS Children's Village in Africa, which was established in 1982 and remains a cornerstone of child welfare in The Gambia. Geographically, the area is defined by the Bakoteh Bridge, a major transport link crossing the Kotu Stream. A significant urban challenge for the district is the Bakoteh Dumpsite, the nation's largest waste disposal facility, which has been at the center of environmental and public health discussions regarding its planned relocation and remediation. Despite this, Bakoteh is a thriving community with numerous educational institutions, health clinics, and a bustling informal economy. Its strategic positioning near the coastal tourism corridor and the Sayerr Jobe Avenue makes it a preferred residential area for many working in the Greater Banjul Area.
- Location: Gambia
- Nearby: Tallinding (4 km)
- Population: ~18.747 (2023)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
| Rain mm | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 74 | 187 | 306 | 231 | 67 | 3 | 0 |
Geography
Facts
- Site of Africa's first SOS Children's Village (est. 1982)
- Major residential district within the Kanifing Municipality
- Home to the country's primary and largest dumpsite
- The Bakoteh Bridge is a key crossing over the Kotu Stream
- Center for various educational and vocational training facilities
- Strategically located near the main Serrekunda commercial zone
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Frequently asked questions
What is Bakoteh known for?
Is there a dumpsite there?
Can you visit the SOS Children's Village?
How is the atmosphere at the Bakoteh fish market?
Is Bakoteh close to the tourist areas?
Bakoteh: where is it located?
Bakoteh: when is the best time to visit?
Bakoteh: why is it worth visiting?
Nearby cities
History & landmarks
More places
