Luigi's Serviced Apartments

gambia beach accomm

Luigi's Serviced Apartments are just 50 metres to Kotu beach and a two minute
drive to the tourist centre.Facilities and Services:Consist of 17 One and two bedroom self catering apartments and 12 B and B rooms of various sizes, suites, deluxe standard, economy, or single room.

All accommodation has with En-suite shower rooms Air-conditioned with ceiling fans, satellite TV and Wi-fi Internet connection. S/C apartment all have fully fitted kitchens.

Private veranda or balcony

Daily cleaning service

Fresh towels

Sheets changed twice weekly or on request

British standard plugs

Free safety deposit box fitted in all rooms

Laundry service for a small fee
Airport transfer available.




Price range £25 to £75 per night depending on accommodation.General Facilities and Services:

Luigi's Pizza and Pasta House offers an extensive menu with a great family atmosphere; this very spacious restaurant offers seating over two floors with a fantastic view of the sea from the second floor balcony.

Open all day for Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meals, offering kiddies corner with special kids meals and play area. Luigi's pizza has become famous with the local people.

Other Facilities
Swimming pool
Jacuzzi set in the garden area
Water fountain
By design tailor shop:

Have your clothes made to measure to fit you perfectly.
Anna's Holistic therapy team of a wonderful relaxing massages.
Wi-fi access.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!

info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/

Tel +220 4460280

Kanali Featival 2010 Picture Gallery

Kanilai, the home village of the Gambian leader, will be involved in a long weekened celebration of culture as the much-hyped Kanilai International Cultural Festival kick-starts this month in Kanilai Foni Kansala District. The event, which will run from 21st May to 7th June 2010 under the distinguished chief patronage of His Excellency President Sheikh professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, is designed to revive, promote and develop our rich cultural heritage and showcase the diverse performance traditions of different ethnic groups of the sub-region.
In a brief chat with Entertainment recently at the National Centre for Arts and Culture, Mr. Cornelius Gomez, director of Literature, Performing and Fine Arts, said this festival has been created by the president since 2001 and is the fifth. He added that this has been established and has created more awareness for African people and also play a higher role in national development. Director Gomez explained that coming up with this kind of festival is the biggest not only involving Gambians but as well as the Diaspora to come together and renew our African culture. It is going to be a very big festival because is going to include both Latin America, Europe as well as other countries. African musitical power will all demonstrate during the festival and there will be prices giving for the best performance in all different areas.

Gambia Art and Crafts

African art comes in the most wonderful abstract forms, from paintings to murals to sculptures and wood carvings. Hand woven cloth, batiks, and mudcloth can be made into soft furnishings or designed into unique high fashion clothing.
The textures and designs are underused in the western world, but in Africa the rich vibrant colours are best used in the exotic clothes which are also embroidered
with wonderful original designs. The country of origin of traditional clothes can be identified by the style and use of material


Melted beeswax is mixed with paraffin and applied to the fabric before being dipped in dye. The beeswax will bind to the fabric and the paraffin wax will allow cracking, which is a characteristic of batik. Several colours are used with a series of dyeing. Thin wax lines can be applied with a canting, a wooden handled tool with a tiny metal cup and spout, out of which the wax can seep. 

Other techniques to apply the wax onto the fabric include pouring the liquid wax, painting the wax on with a brush, and applying the hot wax to pre-carved wooden or metal wire block and stamping the fabric. After the final dyeing the fabric is hung up to dry and then dipped in a solvent to dissolve the wax, or simply ironed between paper towels or newspapers to absorb the wax and reveal the deep rich colors and the fine crinkle lines that give batik its character. 

Gambian tie dye and batiks are extravagant, rich in different shades of colour and are often seen at tourist markets and are tailored into men’s Kaftans (haftans), women’s yara Wollof, or warambas (grandmubas), skirts, shirts, ladies blouses, as well as bed sheets, curtains and tablecloths.

Mudcloth or bògòlanfini is a traditional Malian fabric dyed with fermented mud, particularly associated with the Bambara. Bògòlanfini is a Bambara word meaning “earthcloth.” To create it, simple cotton cloth is woven, shrunk, and then soaked in a preparation of leaves
from certain trees. An artist then outlines an intricate design, often taking several weeks to cover the entire cloth, with a mud dye.

The areas of yellowish mud are then treated with caustic soda, bleaching them white and creating a stark black and white design. Traditionally, a man will do the weaving while a woman will do the dyeing. In recent years, fashion designers such as Chris Seydou have
employed bògòlanfini in international clothing lines, while Malian painter Ishmael Diabate
has developed it as a fine art form.


Wooden masks, either human, animal or some mythical creature, are one of the most common forms of art in western Africa. In their original context, masks were worn by a chosen or initiated dancer and used for celebrations, initiations, crop harvesting, and war preparation.


During a mask ceremony the dancer goes into deep trance, and while in this state,“communicates” with his ancestors. Masks can be worn in three ways: vertically covering the face: as a helmet, encasing the entire head, and as a crest, resting upon the head, usually covered by material as part of the disguise. African masks often represent a spirit and it is strongly believed that the spirit of the ancestors possesses the wearer


Within the vicinity of most of the major tourist hotels you will find small craft markets called bengdulas made up of a number of stalls offering a selection of items such as tribal masks, wooden carvings, batiks, tie dye fabric prints, beads, gold and silver jewellery and locally made hand woven baskets. There are larger markets at Serrekunda, Bakau and, the most famous of all, Banjul’s Albert Market.

Despite the influence of tourism in creating mass production of such art, there are some really beautiful original good quality handmade items, such as leather hand bags and shoes, hand woven cloths or solid silver jewellery but you will have to search for them. Special
items will be made to order for you in two or three days but they are worth the wait. Watch out for dipped silver bangles! Mostly these can be found being peddled on the beach or by street vendors.


You have to be prepared for the haggle in the markets and also be prepared to do a lot of hard bargaining, the price is always negotiable! So it depend on “your luck” as to the price you pay for any item … Our advice is to start with about 1/3 of the asking price
then, depending on your bargaining skills and your common sense, it is up to you how much you pay!


DON‘T TAKE OFFENCE AT AN EXTORTIONATE PRICE …the starting price is not meant to offend or to “rip you off”!


Bargaining is part of the way of life, and is meant to be part of the fun! It‘s part of the culture and should be treated light-heartedly. In the same vein the Vendor will not really take offence at your low offer even if he/she make out they are, if you cannot agree and you walk away “9 times out of 10” they will call you back …if they are not interested in your offer … then your offer was TOO LOW!


If you can‘t cope with the bargaining most hotels and gift shops will have fixed price
items for sale. You will expect to pay a little more for the convenience but sometimes
you may find a better selection and quality items than the local market.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Restaurants

No holiday is complete without good food! One of The Gambia’s best kept secret is the vast variety of restaurants. The Gambia is a mixing pot of culinary delights, you will find food from all parts of the world such as Chinese, Indian, Thai. African, Afro-American,
Jamaican. British, Italian, French, Lebanese and even Moroccan. Quality speaks for its self so to find the best restaurant ask your Rep for the most well established places to eat:


Kotu and Kololi offer a quieter atmosphere for a more relaxed holiday, fewer bars
and restaurants more modest entertainment with a couple of bars with live music
playing tracks from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and Karaoke Nights.

Luigi’s Pizza & Pasta House: is located on Palma Rima Rd, Kotu Beach.
Renowned for it‘s “Good Food” the menu has a wide selection of Italian and
British food. Set on 2 floors, the second floor balcony offers a relaxed atmosphere
overlooking the sea. It‘s a great place to watch the sun go down! and on the ground
floor is an ideal place for families offering kids menu and play area. Open all day from
8am serving full English breakfast, lunch and evening meals till 11.30pm. Kids meals
D125


The Senegambia is the busiest area offering many bars, restaurants and night
clubs. It is one of the best places for people looking for an exciting night life. “The
Senegambia Strip” really comes to life after dark with an array of bars playing live
music, karaoke, big screen sports TV and many fast food outlets. 

Cheerz offers a great friendly atmosphere with all that you would expect from a family run business, situated at the top of Senegambia Strip on the High Rd. There are a number of
night clubs in the area which play ear-splitting modern music as well as reggae
sounds. They normally get going after midnight; the entrance fees are reasonable at
all the nightclubs, charging D100/D250 entrance fee. The cheaper night clubs are
frequented by (Bumpsters) locals youths looking to make “a friend” and tag along,
so do go along with someone you know. For the “night owl” Quality Catering
are open 24 hours on the corner of the Senegambia Junction for a quick snack after
dancing the night away. Always clean and freshly made while you wait!



Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Local Food

Local foods are worth trying. A word of warning, be prepared to eat a bit more than
“just a little spice” – Gambians like their food hot! The food is a melting pot for all the
nations and tribes from the sub-regions who live in harmony and enjoy sharing food
from all cultures. If you interact with local people don‘t be surprised to be invited to a
compound to share a meal as the Gambian culture is very friendly and hospitable. 


Food is always shared, normally a group will eat from one bowl. As a guest you will be offered a spoon and sometimes your own plate! It is said you will not argue with someone
you share a bowl of food with! Fish plays a major part in Gambian cuisine due to the
variety of fish available in both river and sea. Oysters fresh from the creeks make a quick
and easy stew, Ebeh is made from an amazing array of ingredients including smoked fish,
crabs, oysters and fish eggs amongst other things. Benachin meaning “one pot” is the
equivalent of an Italian risotto or a Spanish paella. The beach bars are the best place to
find many of the local tasty dishes. Some are better than others so choose wisely. Some
bars don’t have electricity or running water, so keep this in mind when ordering food!
Nefertiti Beach Bar, Banjul offers a great location with a fresh menu local food and
snacks daily and Kotu Point Beach Bar, Kotu offers a B-B-Q every Saturday lunch time,
join in the fun, come Jamming with Lamin and try your hand at drumming!

Local Drinks
The most popular are Wonjo and Baobab. Wonjo juice is made from the dried red flowers of the Sorrel, which are boiled with sugar to make a refreshing, sweet drink full of Vitamin C. Baobab juice is made from the fruit of the Baobab tree. The fruit is soaked in water, sieved and the seeds extracted. The pulp is then mixed with a little sugar to make the base juice. Other ingredients can be added according to taste; the most popular are milk and coconut, but it is also tasty with mango, papaya or banana – making a thick natural smoothie. Both Wonjo and Baobab are very nutritious, healthy and with a unique flavour. They also make a wonderful cocktail when mixed together.


Great African Secret
Locally people use these drinks as regular source of nutrition, in Europe it had been forgotten. During World War 2 it was given to soldiers in bread to prevent scurvy. Recently rediscovered it is being branded as a superfood of the future. It has been clinically proven that it is a pro-biotic with 5 times more vitamin C than an orange and twice as much more calcium than a glass off milk as well as containing antioxidants and Omega 3-6-9.



Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Music

Music plays an important part of Gambian culture: “The drum” made of carved
wood and goatskin seems a simple instrument, but use of the drum is not limited to
musical entertainment, such as in music from the Americas or Europe. It has a serious
application in many societies across the continent. 


Many West African tribes are well known for their use of drumming in daily activities and special events and a native speaker of a language can often perceive an actual message in the music. This effect also forms the basis of drum languages (talking drums). In days gone by drumming was used as a way of communicating news from village to village, for example to inform members of their respective tribes about major news, such as a death, funeral, meeting, or celebration within the tribe. In the past it was used as a warning of imminent attack.


The drum is the sign of life – its beat is the heartbeat of the community. Such is the
power of the drum to evoke emotions, to touch the souls of those who hear its rhythms.
The beating of the drum is an opportunity to give one another a sense of belonging and of
solidarity. It is a time to connect with each other, to be part of that collective rhythm of the life in which young and old, rich and poor, men and women are all invited to contribute to the society.



Traditional music is mostly functional in nature, there are for example, many different
kinds of work songs, some of the drumming that goes on in the middle of the day even
helps women and men of the tribe get daily chores done more quickly as the drums allow
them to follow a rhythm while they work, Ceremonial or religious music accompanies
childbirth, marriage, hunting, and even political activities.

Ceremonial music will often be accompanied by the Balafone and the Kora, which
produces a harp-like sound. The player uses the thumb and index finger of both hands to
pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns. The combination of instruments used depends
on the tribe. Male griots, or praise singers, are born into the profession. They most often
act as a solo or duo instrumentalists and are traditionally heard at weddings and infant
naming ceremonies. They attend the ceremonies to bring good luck with their songs and
historical recitations. In some areas they may form part of a larger group that may include
Kora, Calabash, Flute and Tamo Drums. The griot or “Jali” society acted as historians,
advisors, arbitrators, praise singers and storytellers and essentially these musicians were
walking history books, preserving ancient stories and traditions through song. Their
inherited tradition was passed down through generations. They were said to have deep
connections to spiritual, social, or political powers through their music and speech. The
talking drums (Tamo) are some of the oldest instruments used by West African griots
and their history can be traced back to the ancient Ghanaian empire. Many griots have
developed a highly sophisticated genre of music centred on the talking drum

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Abuko Nature Reserve

Abuko Nature Reserve is one of the oldest established reserves in the Gambia.
An evergreen forest gallery follows the course of the Lamin Stream and covers
approximately 1/3 of the reserve area. Efforts are being concentrated on maintaining the
winding bush trails, bird photo hides and animal orphanage as well as the boundary, to
prevent encroachment by people and cattle. 


There are three small pools in the reserve, the biggest being the Bamboo Pool. This freshwater pond and its vicinity are a great location to spot crocodiles and birds. Abuko is within easy reach by taxi from any of the main coastal holiday resorts. It is an ideal first stop for birdwatchers, animal enthusiasts and tourists in general. There are designated guides on site to help you find animals and birds while on the forest trail – a tip is always appreciated though not mandatory!


Abuko’s area was extended from 188 to 259 acres in 1978 and, with the help of the
WWF, the reserve was enclosed in a 2.5 metre fence. It is one of six protected wildlife
management parks in Gambia and covers an area of 105 hectares (roughly 2 sq. km).
Bijilo Forest Park, is a small rainforest nature reserve located on a cliff edge on
the beach and within easy walking distance of the Senegambia strip. It is an ideal place
for eco-tourists and birdwatchers staying in the nearby Kairaba and Senegambia hotels.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Birds

Seasoned ornithologists and Africa birding novices alike will find tours of The Gambia to be extremely rewarding. Since 1985 British ornithologist Clive Barlow has lived in West Africa, studying and caring for the birdlife – and so tours are available using the best current scouting information and 20+ years of West African birding experience.



Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Animal Welfare

The welfare of Animals in and around the tourist areas are a big concern, not only for the prevention of the spread of disease but also to prevent unnecessary suffering. As part of responsible tourism, members of our association actively support Gambicats
and Dogs, by way of providing accommodation and funds for overseas vets to conduct regular neutering programs and sponsor feeding during the low season when food is scarce.


GambiCats and Dogs are a UK based charity which was formed in 1998 to help improve
the lives of stray cats and dogs in The Gambia. Their objective was to humanely control
the cat and dog population around the hotel areas. Periodically they will arrange vets
from Europe to visit The Gambia at their own cost and voluntarily conduct neutering
programmes along with the local vets. All neutered cats have their left ear tipped and
dogs ears are notched, which is an internationally agreed method for further recognition.


The dogs are micro-chipped and given anti-rabies injections. The Department of Livestock
Services have endorsed these method as a responsible and humane measures to control
stray animals. Since support for the charity has grown there have been a number of
Cat Cafe’s and Dog’s Diner’s opened in some of the hotels where the cats and dogs are
regularly fed and the guest can visit. If you are interested in the welfare of the animals
ask at the reception if the Hotel supports Gambicats and Dogs. They will have their
brochures which will give you more information of their work. There is a permanent team
of Gambian staff on the ground, lead by Dodou Bojang, who do their best to feed and
ensure the welfare of the cats and beach dogs all year round, especially during the low
season when the tourists go home and food is scarce.


If you would like to help with a donation please contact them on:
Mobile: 9900756 Tel: 4463251 or go to their web site: www.gambicats.org.uk
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE FOOD FROM THE BREAKFAST ROOMS TO FEED ANIMALS.
Member Hotels will give them food from the waste of the Restaurant.



Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

The Gambia- Smileing Faces

The Gambia is a peaceful country with many smiling faces. The population is 90%
Muslim and 10% Christian and other religions. The different ethnic and religious
groups live alongside each other in harmony and celebrate each other’s holidays and
festivals and even inter-marry freely.


The Gambia is a developing country with a good track record of economic growth in
recent years. The main sources of revenue for Gambia is groundnuts (peanuts), and
fishing and agriculture still provide a living for most Gambians. For the past ten years
tourism has been the fastest growing sector in the economy, providing more than
30% of the GDP. 


You as our guest are highly valued and it is our business to make
your stay a pleasurable one. We are always interested in your opinions to help us build and improve our service. We hope you will find this guide helpful and we most sincerely wish

you a very pleasant stay in the Gambia!
Country code +220
Useful Contacts
If you have any problems or complaints, you can contact one of the following:
• Gambia Tourist Authority Head Office, Kotu Tel: 4462491
• GTA Quality Control Office Senegambia Tel: 4463678
• Tourism Security Unit Head Office Senegambia Tel:4463676
• Tourism and Travel Association Head Office Tel: 4462601/2
www.ttag.gm—info@ttaggambia.com




Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Culture

We have compiled this weblog to create a better understanding of your holiday
destination, to give an insight into its rich history and culture and to let you know
what is acceptable in Gambian society and what is not. 


Please spare a few minutes to read on – especially if this is your first visit. You will find important information along with some interesting stories based on facts and history, and some which stem from legend and personal beliefs … peoples opinions may differ.


Most importantly please remember although the official language in The Gambia
is English this does not mean everyone speaks it fluently. As you read on you will
learn there are several different tribes, each with their own language. Many children
have very little schooling and even less interaction with visitors please be patient
with the local people as they won’t all have a good understanding. Speak slowly if
someone is having difficulty understanding you. Many people
have a habit of saying “YES” when they don’t understand – this is a way of
avoiding embarrassment in their culture.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia attends Miss ECOWAS Peace Pageant

The Gambia otherwise called the smiling coast of Africa has never been left out in the world of fashion, beauty and creativity.

The country over the years participated and continue to participate in series of fashion and beauty  related competitions at both local and  International level.The country is blessed with beautiful, intelligent, smart  and creative young girls, who from the inception of fashion and beauty competitions  continues  to grab  awards and other crowns which  earned them titles of  beauty queens thus the glory added to the good name of The Gambia as a nation.

 Fatoumata Koroma, a graduate of Ndow's Coprehensive School and Mary A.A.Camphell,a fourth year Medical student at the University of The Gambia (UTG),who doubled as the 2009 crowned  Miss  UTG beauty queen were  selected to represent The Gambia at the forth coming Miss ECOWAS peace pageant scheduled to take place on the 14th of November 2009 in the Nigerian City  of Port Harcourt.

The November 4th beauty  pageant is more than a mere beauty competition but to serve  as an avenue for intelligence and creative exhibition for the selected participants who will be competing to become the peace  ambasssadors of ECOWAS and other paece loving stakeholders both  within and out side of Africa. This year's event  is the  second edition oragnised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the said River state of Nigeria. 

The coveted Miss ECOWAS beauty pageant as it has  always been  the case with other  beauty pageants  aimed among other things towards promoting and strengthening  the ideals of peace and the pace of development within the subregion of west Africa and beyond. The theme of this year's event is "Peace and Development in Diversity". As the theme suggested, participants will be require to present peaceful  messages that befitted  the objectives of the programme.The venue has been choosen due to  the relative and steady peace enjoyed in that state of Nigeria thus set  it as an example for states  to emulate.

A total of thirty (30) contestants two (2) drawn from  each of the   fifteen (15) member states of ECOWAS are expected to participate in the beauty and creative competition. Contestants are expected to participate  in series of activities marking the programme such as exhibition  of fashion and styles tenable at their country level. They will also  participate in swimsuit competition, exhibition  of elegance in their  evening gowns among others.The eagle eye  panel of judges for this  event will look for nothing else  in the participants  beyond  beauty,  intelligence, personal  charm  and approachability.
The team panel of judges  would also  consider confidence,  self assured and  the ability to have  a sense of self  control  in a wide variety of settings. The  lucky winner of this historic subregional beauty  competition  will be decorated ECOWAS peace Ambassador and would stand to  sign series of contracts with the Subregional body as well as other stakeholders interested in  promoting peace and development in ECOWAS  member states and beyond.

The Gambia's participation to the ECOWAS  peace pageant is coordinated by the famous Gomez Promotions  in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment,the ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as a  strong support from the Office of the president. The invitation for The Gambia's participation came through the Ministry of Trade,Industry and Employment to the  Gomez promotions. The two Gambian contestants described by many as  intelligent, beautiful and  little creative  queens  are expected to  leave the Gambia on the 28th of October to Ghana for a short and precise stay.

From there they would be travelling to the    Nigerian River state  of Port Harcourt on the 30th of October for two weeks prior to the day of the contest schedule for the 14th  of November 2009. George Gomez, Coordinator of the Gomez promotions, in a chat with the Arts and Culture  anchorman  in his GNOC office along the Bertiling High way, spoke extensively about the prospect of the Gambian delegates to win the competition. "I have no doubt that our delegation to the ECOWAS  beauty  competition will emerge winners.They got all what a beauty contestants need. They have the comportment, intelligence and creativity  as well as the command of the language.Our delegation is second to none",George Gomez explained in an excited spirit filled with love for beauty and creativity.

The famous Gomez promotion boss,as part of efforts meant to put his points across with clear cut precision made  extensive reference to success stories registered by Gambians in the world of beauty and fashion industry. He recalled the first ECOWAS beauty competition held in The Gambia in 1999 and won by a Gambian lady in the name of  Amie faye as a success story and the first  Peace Message beauty competition organised by ECOWAS last year in the Nigerian River State of Port Harcourt, where the Gambia representative in the name of Amie Ceesay won the best peace message.

Mr Gomez further recalled numerous beauty competitions held in The Gambia and  organised by different organisations and institutions such as the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC),the Gomez promotion among other things is  geared towards promoting and sustaining  the spirit of beauty and fashion industry in the country. He revealed plans to organise what he called the Miss Hotleg UK scheduled to take place in December 2009 to be followed by the first ever Miss world Hotleg,where competent Gambians can participate.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!

info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/

Tel +220 4460280

Gambia braces up for fine arts festival

The Gambia is set to host the first ever Banjul Fine Arts festival, scheduled to take place from the 4th to 17th of January 2010 at the Alliance Franco Gambienne, along the Kairaba Avenue.

As part of activities geared towards the successful hosting of the sub-regional festival, the organising committee of the festival recently paid a courtesy call on Momodou Joof, director general of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in his Banjul office. Joof received the committee comprising artists and journalists, on behalf of Madam Nancy Njie, minister of Tourism and Culture and the NCAC.

Yuspalkala, a renowned artist and coordinator of the Banjul Fine Arts festival, gave a detailed overview of the festival, its aims and objectives as well as its perceived impact on The Gambian arts and culture.  Yuspalkala told DG Joof that the meeting was meant to brief officials of the ministry and the centre about the festival and to inform them of their desire to work with them. He added that the program will bring together participants from The Gambia, Senegal, Mali, and other countries in the sub-region and beyond.

"The festival aims to promote the development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in The Gambia, and to explore the potentials of both young and experienced artists. The programme is also meant to serve both as a meeting point for the participating artists and a breeding ground for prospective ones," he explained to the NCAC director general. As a mark of appreciation, Yuspalkala, on behalf of the organising committee, presented the symbol of the festival to Madam Nancy Njie through Momodou Joof.

Ebrima Jobarteh, manager of the Kanbeng Traditional Dance Group of Brikama, Western Region (WR), spoke at length on the role of artists in any given community. Jobarteh expressed the hope that the Banjul Fine Arts festival will be a success. "The Gambia, as a developing country needs such programmes to boost the morales of artists and arts lovers. Artists contribute significantly towards human, political and economic development of communities," he said. For his part, Momodou Joof thanked the committee for the visit. He described the idea as a step in the right direction and assured the organising committee of the support of both his Centre and the Culture ministry. 

Contact details and Reservations:

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!

info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/

Tel +220 4460280

Luigis Reviews

1.  Luigis restaurant and hotel

Destination Expert for Gambia
Luigi's' is very nice. it is a restaurant with accommodation. Julie is the wife of Luigi and she is English and very nice indeed. I haven't been in the rooms but i hear it is a very good standard. it is a stones throw from the beach quite a safe area but she will get hassle as anyone would. From the airport about a 20 mins and D500 ride, make sure she agrees the fare first.
Tripadvisor

2.  Luigis restaurant and hotel

daisy7889 Luigi's is a lovely place to stay and have a pool,and 1 minute from the beach, they may be busy for xmas so book quickly 0220 4460280 Julie is luigi's wife she will be there if you need to book over the phone,have stayed there myself hope your daughter has a good time.
Tripadvisor


3. Luigi's: Pizza, pizza, wow !!!!!! PIZZA !!!

When you visit The Gambia and when you like pizza then you must absolutely go to 'Luigi's'. It's an Italian who has a very good restaurant. Specially his pizza are delightfulness. Go and taste'
Specially his pizza are delightfulness. Go and taste it ! Directions: In Serrekunda - Kololi - not far from the Palma Rima hotel. If you ask for Luigi's, everybody knows. Even the president of the Gambia knows it !!!
Virtual Tourist


4. Luigis offers exceptional value

Submitted By: P Mcdowell
Luigis offers exceptional value for money, is exceptionally clean, service is excellent and so is the food, this accommodation is just down the road from the palma rima and i would highly recommend it!!! if you want european standard accommodation.
Holiday Watchdog


5. Christmas at Luigis
Our friends stayed in the apartments at Luigi's restaurant. They were really impressed and have already booked their flights for Christmas/New Year this year. Holiday Truths
 

6. Loved Luigis Apartments

Luigi's Complex
Trip type: Family 2/2 found this review helpful
I highly recommend staying at Luigis Apartments. The accomodation was excellent and very clean, with fresh towels and bedding every day. All amenities are included e.g air conditioning, ceiling fan, safety deposit box, cable t.v and telephone. There are no hidden extras what so ever. We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which was of a very high standard and beats any accomodation in England. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your stay and Julie and Luigi the owners are more than happy to help you, nothing is a problem. The pool and jacuzzi are excellent and clean and the food is just amazing.


Having previously stayed at hotels in Gambia we would not stay any where else after staying at Luigis and would strongly advise that if you are travelling to The Gambia to stay at Luigis.


Liked — Everything, it was very clean and of a very high standard.
Disliked — Nothing.        
Trip Advisor



7. Luigi's Complex contributions kent, uk
Trip type: Family 2/2 found this review helpful


further to t/a comments it seemed we would have a good chance of eating decently. on the 4th day we went there and the reviews were underestimated. the ambience was amazing.they have built a magnificent luxury complex, offering fantastic foods, from a comprehansive menu .great steak,pasta and pizzas are just a few to mention. with fantastic ice cream desserts and milk shakes.a comprehensive range of wine and spirits are available. great friendly service in immaculate, spotlessly clean and spacious lower and upper seating.upstairs benefits a open air section with balcony and sea views.

there are w/cs on both levels and downstairs offer a great childs play area , making it even better for families without the worry of interupting other diners. the cost is equal to any other restaurant within the area, although the standards and servings are truely superior. amazing food.

APPARTMENTS to the rear of the restaurant are the luxurious appartments, set amongst secure gardens and laid to lawn with flowers,plants,and even fruit trees. the swimming pool and bar area is for guests enjoyment and towels are provided.beuety and massage service are avalable {at a small charge}and a laundry and tailoring service is also available.appartments are tailor made to your requirements. 1 or 2 bedrooms sleeping 1-6 persons.they have en-suite tiled bathrooms with power showers , w/c and wash basin [for those who appreciate this luxury as so many hotels bathrooms are appalling ] a relaxing lounge and open planned kitchen with comfort and efficiency carefully planned and executed .

air conditioning and safety deposit box are inclusive. daily maid service and change of towels. the beds and bedding are of extremely high standards and no neighbouring hotel or appartments can match the overall standards the proprietors have accomplished.breakfast is available as well as lunch and evening dinner at additional cost.


Liked — 10 star in comparison to others.modern clean and immaculate
Disliked — nothing at all and i am very fussy
Trip Advisor


8.Un Ambiente Familiare

Luigi's Complex
contribution rome

Trip type: Family
 Vado nella Gambia dal 2000, da Luigi's già nel 2007 avevo passato una settimana.



Quest'anno abbiamo deciso con un gruppo di amici di andare.nella Gambia per due settimane, anche perchè avevo deciso con la mia compagna di sposarci in Africa. E' andata tutto bene, il personale era gentile, gli appartamenti sempre in ordine, la cucina sempre pulita. i miei amici sono rimasti soddisfatti , ed inoltre dato che luigi e la moglie julie il 14 agosto partivano , abbiamo trovato la sorpresa di una torta preparata da julie per la nostra festa.


Liked — il clima amichevole dei proprietari
Disliked — non saprei
Trip Advisor


9. Luigis Complex
"People who know me well would assure you that I once had an ardent, almost psychotic, dislike of food which ended in "a" or "i".

I often remarked that any country whose culinary product relies on a surfeit of tomatoes and an overdose of garlic and oregano has to be suspect.


Now I am converted. So let me extol the virtues of Luigi's, at Kololi Beach, (pass Palma Rima Hotel, towards the beach).
This is a real FAMILY restaurant. I appreciate that kids of all ages, (like up to a hundred years old) know and enjoy risotto, spaghetti, tagliatelle, pizza and pasta etc, but I offer my impressions of this colourful and attractive menu for your consideration.


• Good Food
The Garlic Bread, with or without cheese, is crispy and not too overloaded with the pungent root. Luigi’s "Special" Pizza with spicy beef and prawns was a real delight. Luigi is rightly famous for his Pizzas, anybody in this country who knows about Pizza will tell you about Luigi’s Pizzas.


The Seafood and Mushroom baked in Cheese sauce is a smooth and interesting invention, vegetarians may like the Mozzarella Cheese fried in batter with Aubergines in a Neapolitan sauce.

• Style
From the pasta menu try Matrican, bacon and onion with a spicy sauce served with tagliatelle. Or try Risotto Pesce, rice and fish with tomato, simple, but effective.
The finest taste in Luigi’s, to my mind, is the "House Special", Chicken cooked in a spicy coating. Mindful of my waistline I often remove batter and breadcrumbs from such dishes. Joy of joys, the flavour was actually infused in to the flesh of the chicken. Col. Saunders can retire.

• Decor
The plain clean lines of classic Roman villa architecture resemble a movie set from "Ben Hur". Sensuous balustrades, bronzed caryatids, a Tuscan fountain, and marble tiles. Plenty of space and marble topped bistro tables which can be moved around to accommodate large parties. Or take the stairs to the roof top balcony with a sea view.
The waiters (obviously) are dressed in the red, white and green of the Italian flag. The wines are fine. The house red is a Merlot, well kept and well presented.

• Praise
At Luigi’s Italian food reaches a peak which many trattoria would break their hearts to achieve. So do get down this sepulchre of ambrosia and enjoy........or use the Take-Away service which includes all the Pizzas and most of the rest of the menu.
And do not forget the milk shakes (THESE ARE FOR ADULTS ONLY) and there are some glorious ice-creams."
Food writer: Harmattan

Contact details and Reservations: 

Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280

Gambia Fishing Trip

Richard Sheard went Gambia fishing with the purpose of cataloguing the sport fish available in the fresh water reaches of the McCarthy island area and he was accompanied by the expert Gambia Sport Fishing team.

Trip Highlights

After hiring a skipper from the local fish market they set out in a rickety old boat to a spot above a shallow sandbar where they dropped bait all around and within two minutes both left and right hand rods were hit hard - Tigerfish.

Moving on to a different spot close to the bank soon had the rods dancing to what turned out to be Vundu catfish which have been known to grow to 100 lbs plus in other African rivers.


Fishing from the jetty proved to be equally successful with an elephant fish (when you see this fish you will know why they call it that) taking the bait and then a 20 lbs catfish which caused hysteria amongst the locals because it was one of the biggest fish they have ever seen.

Richard thinks that there are a lot of large fish of various species in the river but the locals just don't have the equipment to catch them.

All the nets he saw were ragged and filled with holes and the skippers couldn't afford an anchor line longer than 6 feet which meant that 80% of the river was unfishable by them.


The fish species available at the small fish market were Talapia, the three catfish they had caught the previous evening, elephant fish, freshwater sole, a bream-like fish with an elongated body, a pike-like fish with huge teeth, scaled eel, Captain fish {with the clear nose}, Joto, and Ninebones.

Gambia Fishing Tips and Recommendations:
The state of the roads here away from the coastline are not very good with potholes being the order of the day and the donkey/ox/horse carts can make a driving experience pretty stressful. It is relatively cheap to hire a taxi to get where you are going especially if you can share the fare between a group.


The currency here is called Dalasis and it is weak compared to all the major currencies which makes most things pretty affordable but you will pay a little more around the hotels. You can use sterling in shops and restaurants but don't expect a good rate.

Contact details and Reservations: 
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
info@luigiscomplex.com
www.luigis.gm/
Tel +220 4460280