Many tourists never see the 'Real Gambia' what ever the tour guides say. Much of the western area has developed around the hotel trade and services it and tourist needs. Because GTS is small we can take members as friends to several villages where GTS hosts have relatives to see how Gambian village life really is.

Villages may have 35 compounds, hamlets as few as 3 to 5.

Typically a compound will have a headman a number of wives, chidren and relatives some animals and a local well used by several compounds.

Villages and hamlets are largely self sufficient, taking any surplus to market or selling skills or products outside the village. Some relatives may work in the towns, and send money or sacks of rice, flour, sugar or salt back to their villages.

At the festival of Tobaski, in April-May (A Muslim festival celebrating the Old Testament freeing of Abraham's son Isaac and the sacrifice of the ram caught in the thicket) most Gambians who are away from home will travel back to their families, taking with them a ram if they can afford to, so the family can celebrate and share the feast with others in the village.

Much of village life is centred round the daily chores, carrying water, washing, preparing food and cooking. Everyone has very little and make the make the most of what there is available - People talk a lot as a form of entertainment and our word 'banter' is african meaning 'to chat' every village will have a 'Banter Bar' little more than a covered sitting or lounging area, used by the men to chat.

This trip is only available to GTS members by special arrangement.