🛍️ Gambia: souvenirs
The Gambia's craft markets are compact and cheerful - batik, wood and silver along a river that once traded in all three. Here is what travellers bring home from Gambia, where the good versions live, and the export questions worth a look - alongside our 31 written places.
🛒 The classic buys
Batik and tie-dye
The Gambia's strongest craft - lengths, shirts and wall pieces dyed in workshops you can visit; Serekunda's batik compounds sell direct.
Wood carving
Masks, bowls and figures from the craft markets - bargaining is expected and good-natured.
Silver and bead jewellery
Senegambian silverwork and trade-bead strings - the Albert Market in Banjul has depth.
Woven baskets
Palm and grass weaves in bright patterns.
Baobab and hibiscus products
Wonjo (hibiscus) syrup, baobab powder and local honey - market-stall staples.
⚠️ Check before you buy
- Check what your home country lets in for food and plant products - sealed and dried usually passes.
- Wildlife items need permits - buy nothing from protected species.
✗ Better left behind
- Ivory and skin products - banned.
- 'Antique' masks - new is honest, old is restricted.
Markets shift, workshops close and open, and the best souvenir is still the one with a story you were there for. Buy from makers where you can, keep receipts for anything substantial, and when a deal feels too good, it usually is.