Private Tour
Full-Day Gambian Home Cooking Experience in Banjul
Overview
Available languages
24 hours
Mobile ticket
The menu varies from meat and fish dishes like Yassa, to Benachin rice. We also make local juices like Baobab and Wonjo juice, which is a dark cranberry-coloured juice, made from boiling the dark red flower from the sorrel plant. We will take you to a local market, dress in a traditional Gambian outfit and help you shop for food items or you to take home. We will then give you the guidelines on how to cook Gambian cuisine. You will then do the cooking including all the preparation of meats, vegetables, fish and rice. Finally, we sit as a family and friends and devour the meal before returning to the hotel.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Any food allergies to be notified prior to shopping for ingredients
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Minimum 2 adults per booking
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Local guide
Driver/guide
Lunch
Non alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic drinks
Gratuities
Solo travellers
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Black and White Safari - Day Tours
This is a popular place to visit
You will be guided around the market to purchase ingredients for the cooking
Options
Private Full-Day Gambian Home Cooking Experience in Banjul
Pickup included
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent Authentic Exper
Robert G,
Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Sofie provided an excellent authentic experience. We drive to her home in a smaller town abouy 15km from Banjul stopping atca huge wonderfyl Market to buy the fresh fush and all the other vefgetabkes etc for the meal. Then we were welcomed warmly to herr home and she gave us traditional gambian clothes to wear for the day. Then we were outside under the mango tree where her sister Fatima built the fire and together we all prepared the food which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend visitors to try this tour. You will be very glad as we were. Barbara
Simply the Best
bajanqueen06,
Aug 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friends and I been to Gambia twice and more of us are going this year again. Black and White are simply the best. We use them every time and planning ahead with them now for our trip to Gambia later this year. We have done so many trips with Black & White just to name a few Senegal walking with the lion, Safari, Kunta Kente Tour, Reptile Park, museums, Paradise beach. I can go on and we have never been let down. Armstrong the owner Yaya and Lamin the tour guides are amazing. We are so excited about going back to see more of Gambia with Black & White tours.
An Experience I Will Never Forget
Nancy W,
Mar 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was the best excursion I have been on so far on my cruise through west Africa. We were looking for a true peek into local life here in The Gambia, and Black and White Safari could not have delivered that experience more perfectly. We were picked up by MuHammed and Bax at the cruise port, and immediately welcomed warmly. We were then driven to a local household where I met the woman who made our entire day and experience as wonderful as it was. Her name is Kalla and she is the kindest and most generous soul. She dressed me in local clothes and it was absolutely beautiful. Afterwards, she guided us through a local market and we shopped for the ingredients we would be cooking with for the day. Kalla asked what I wanted to eat and we purchased ingredients accordingly. I cannot overstate how unique and special it was to have the opportunity to experience the markets in The Gambia. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life and I will treasure this memory forever. After we were done getting produce and meat, we went back to Kalla’s home and began cooking immediately. It seems like the experience is as hands on as you make it, so I made it clear I wanted to fully help and prepare lunch with Kalla. I highly recommend getting involved in this process because it was so fun and educational and rewarding to see the fruits of your labor in the meal at the end. I was able to help prepare our meat, clean and chop the vegetables, wash rice, prep every ingredient that went into our food in the way that Kalla would do at home for herself and her family. Everything was new to me and I was shown immense patience and felt so much joy and love from Kalla welcoming me into her space and routine. The food ended up being DELICIOUS. I was not expecting the delightful flavors and textures that would come from ingredients I prepped myself from scratch. I highly recommend eating Domoda, or their peanut sauce stew with chicken and rice. At the end of the meal, I helped clean up and do the dishes and this also taught me so much about the local way of life. Kalla also sent me home with some Gambian peanut butter of my own and some snacks so that I can recreate the meal myself in the future. I am amazed by the people here and their joy and disposition. The call this country “The Smiling Coast of Africa” and I feel like I really understand how they’ve earned that name after today. Despite being Africa’s smallest country, the spirit and love I felt here was huge and life changing. Please try this experience if you want to be welcomed like family and experience the authentic local spirit. I’m so grateful for the experience I had here and it’s one I will never forget.
Cooking in Gambian compound.
Sightsee47415267064,
Mar 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience with Sophie in her beautiful home, shopping, cooking and eating traditional Gambian food. Armstrong and his team are so accommodating, and think of everything. We had 3 excursions and all 3 were fantastic.
Outstanding full day shopping for, cooking and eating a festive meal
MarkTourist,
Aug 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00When visiting The Gambia, to can count on Armstrong and his amazing team of Black and White Safari. We were 14 guests for this private shore excursion off the Holland America Zuiderdam. We started our cultural experience working thru the Banjul outdoor market where staff purchased the food and spices we would prepare for our opulent meal. We were hosted at Armstrong’s family home were we pitched in preparing the meal. Delicious. A real cultural immersion.
Relaxed boat trip in Gambia with Janeya Tours
funenada,
May 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A relaxing boat trip with Janeya tours. A delicious lunch buffet was prepared on the boat itself, in a 1 m2 kitchen. While the two cooks were busy, the boat sailed between the mangroves. We saw birds, women harvesting oysters and there was time for fishing. There was plenty of drinks on the boat, coffee and tea with something on the side, but also soft drinks and beer. On the boat you have the option to sit in the sun or in the shade. Highly recommended for a relaxing day.
Black and white
Kathleen T,
Apr 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a 7am start with Muhammad from black and white went down to banjul ferry not there got carried to a dugout wow experiance in its self went other side of river gambia and into a open top 4x4 crossed into Senegal no problem and on to safari Park was given a huge stick and went walking with lions fantastic experiance and then into safari Park needless to say returned on real ferry thank you Muhammad for a fantastic day a memory for life
Cooking a traditional Gambian meal
Lkwezi,
Mar 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Myself and my girlfriend went on the cooking tour. It was amazing we saw a traditional Gambian Compound, went to the market to buy fresh food and fish then we returned to the compound to cook two complete meals that would feed 30 people. Being in the open air, seeing the young children and helping with the cooking was delightful.
Add Immediately to Your Vacation Agenda
Nadia W,
Oct 19, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent experience, I would highly recommend adding this to your agenda when visiting the Gambia. The owner, Amadou, opened his home and family up so that we can experience authentic Gambian home cooking. First we changed into traditional clothing. Then wee were able to go to the market, pick out all the ingredients needed for cooking. It was a hands on experience. We cut vegetables, prepped the food, and actually cooked. We also enjoyed Ataya (Gambian Tea) while we cooked. My favorite part was sitting together to enjoy the meal. We ate from one large dish and everything was delicious. By far better than any restaurant (and the food at the Gambian restaurants are tasty). It's a full day experience, but worth the time. We plan on visiting The Gambia again and will make sure to do this tour again to try a different meal.
Met our expectations!
Vacation59857492911,
Apr 24, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We did two tours with Black & White Safari (home cooking and four wheel drive) and they also helped us organize land transport between Dakar and the Gambia. We traveled with our three young children who really enjoyed the experience! We were grateful for all the support provided by Armstrong before and during our trip and are happy to recommend his company!
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