So geat to get away from the stuffiness of the hotels and have a genuine welcome as we went in and out of the Lodge each day. We were treated like one of the family and no matter what we wanted it was available and nothing was any trouble for anyone. There is a pride taken in hospitality which included the surroundings. It was amazing how we were treated as they shook our hands with the same respectful greeting that everyone from the girl who did the laundry to the security and Omar who made sure everything was to our pleasing. It was daunting moving outside the hotel world, but having stayed here we now realise how claustrophobic our previous stays were. Its a Gambian family now for us and we will return again and again. There are so many reasons to go back, it is something to be experienced from staff who look after you with pride and dignity. Even on the walk to Senegambia Strip in the evening it does not take the locals long to know where you are staying and to talk to as you pass by and this includes the family with the stall at the end of the road who always have a greeting. I will NEVER go back to stay in a hotel not after having met Omar - a businessman with a heart. I hope his new plants in the garden are progressing.

My husband and i stayed at Lavender Lodge in Kerr Serign in Nov 2007, we have been going to Gambia for 11years now, only the first time did we stay at Palma Rima, in those days it was lovely, since then we have stayed in many places some good some bad some really terrible but Lavender Lodge was just great we found it though a very good Gambian friend, it has a wonderfull garden and a full size swimming pool, only about 4 or5 rooms all with en-suit, ours was a good size, lovely double bed and a excellent shower, even a heater to put on if the water was not hot enough for us, the sheets and towels were changed every other day, price included breakfast which you could take in the garden or by the pool, the breakfast was good our own tray set up with tea, coffee , milk, jam and crusty bread, bananas, plus always something cooked, beans egg tomatoes or if for a change you could have cornflakes, nothing was to much trouble, the whole place was very clean, the main gate kept lock at all times a door bell to get in ,any time of the day or night. When we were there, there was only 3 other guests and these went off out every day so we had the pool to ourselves at was wonderfull, so peaceful and some lovely birds come to vist the grounds.
Lavender Lodge is only 5-7 mins off the main highway first turning past the Sportsman Pub but we would suggest a local taxi home at night only 45-50 dalssia from the top of the strip, but a great place to stay if you want to get away from the hotels, and the prices are so much cheaper if you need to know more please get in touch,