Where to stay?
There are a variety of hotels and campements in the village to suit a range of budgets. Some favourites are below. Please click on the images for further information.
Kossey
Sunjata
La Belle Danielle
La Belle Etoile
Chez Vero
Casamar
Where to eat?
All of the above hotels serve meals. In addition there are several restaurants around the village, some serving local food and others adding a few western favourites to the menu. Otherwise you can visit the market and cater for yourself.
Getting here
From Banjul airprot it is only two hours or so drive to Abene, including the border crossing. Please note, there is a visa cost for French and Spanish nationals to enter the Gambia, although it is free for many other European nationalities. Please check with your countries embassy to be sure.
If you are travelling from Dakar it is a ten or so hour drive to Ziguinchor and a further 1.5 hour drive to Abene. The more comfortable route is to take the overnight ferry from Dakar to Ziguinchor.
Local transport includes fairly cheap buses, "sept place" which are old peugeot cars that carry 7 passengers or private vehicles which can be organised via your hotel or by contacting us on this site.
What to eat?
Typical dishes include:
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Yassa - a lemon and onion based sauce with fish or chicken on a bed of rice.
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Maffe - a peanut and dried fish based sauce similar to satay.
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Theiboudjenne - a national dish of rice cooked with tomato paste and big chunks of vegetable and chicken or fish.
Some traditional dishes.
The usual fizzy drinks are available as well as bissap which is a ribena like fruit and sugar concoction. Spicy sweet coffee (cafe touba) is available most places and Kankillyba - tea. As a predominantly muslim country, many people don’t drink but there are local beers including flag and the watery gazelle as well as palm wine for the more adventurous.
Activities:
In addition to cultural activities, people engage in different activities such as agriculture, fishing, crafts and sports for young people. A cultural association called Samaba Diabang and a football school for the youth of the rural community of Kafountine was born, thanks to a son of Abene resident in France who was concerned about the socio-economic development of the village. Diabancounda football school is a social project that will allow young people to learn not only football but also engage in education to prepare responsible citizens of tomorrow.
If you wish to contact the football school please contact: Abba Diabang - email:
Click here to see what to do in Abene.
‘Sabou Gnjima Kounda’ is an Eco-Cultural Center with gardens and trees for sale, as well as some beekeeping. They organize an educational children’s festival around Easter.
Eco-Cultural Center Sabou Gnjima Kounda, Quartier Badala, for fruit- and forest trees, contact Lamine Fofona : Tel 00221 774768304 For all other information email : eurafrika@xs4all.nl and see our website : http://eurafrika.nl
