Gambian Cooking Class & Market Tour Cook with Locals

Four hours: market, traditional cooking, and lunch or dinner in a local garden

A hands-on Gambian cooking class in Tujereng combines a guided trip to Tanji Fishing Market to buy fresh fish and vegetables, then preparation and cooking of authentic dishes like domoda, benachin or yassa in a family home, with the meal eaten in the garden afterward. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Banjul or Tujereng are included. You choose between a lunch or dinner departure. The class runs in English with Ida and her daughters-in-law, and dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free) are accommodated with advance notice.

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Banjul or Tujereng, then a warm welcome at Ida's house where you dress in vibrant traditional Gambian clothing before heading to the market. Tanji Fishing Market is where Senegalese fishermen arrive daily to sell their catch straight from the boats. It's where locals do their grocery shopping, not a tourist stop. You'll shop for fresh fish, vegetables and produce alongside them, learning what goes into the dishes you're about to cook.

Back at the house, you move into the outdoor cooking area and work through the preparation and cooking of a traditional Gambian meal using traditional utensils and organic ingredients. The menu depends on what you choose and what's in season: domoda is a peanut stew, benachin a one-pot rice dish from the Wolof tradition, yassa a braised fish or chicken. You handle the cooking itself, not watching a demonstration. Ida, Haddy and Aïcha guide you through the techniques and the stories behind each dish.

Once the food is ready, you pick fresh herbs from the garden to brew your own herbal tea, then sit down to eat your meal in the peaceful garden setting with the family. The experience closes with the meal itself. The thing you made, eaten in the place where it was cooked, with the people who taught you.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Banjul or Tujereng.
• guided tour of Tanji Fishing Market to shop for fresh fish and produce.
• hands-on cooking class in a family home.
• a traditional Gambian meal (domoda, benachin, or yassa depending on your choice).
• seasonal salad and fruits.
• local juice (baobab or wonjo).
• herbal tea brewed fresh from the garden.

Options for this experience

2 options

Market visit, cooking class and lunch, round-trip transferGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

Market visit, cooking class and dinner, round-trip transferGuide in English · 13:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Choose the lunch departure if you want the market and cooking done by early afternoon, or the dinner option if you prefer to arrive later and eat as the day winds down. Either way, the four-hour window gives you time to shop, cook and sit down to eat without rushing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly do I cook in the Gambian cooking class?

You prepare and cook one main dish from a choice of domoda (peanut stew), benachin (a traditional one-pot Jollof rice), or yassa (braised fish or chicken), using traditional methods and organic ingredients. The menu is subject to change based on the season and what's available at the market, and you can request a preference when you book.

How does the Tanji Fishing Market work? Is it set up for tourists?

Tanji Fishing Market is a working fishing beach where Senegalese fishermen sell their daily catch. It's where locals do their grocery shopping. You shop there as part of the experience, buying the fresh fish and vegetables you'll cook later, and you're guided through the market as part of the tour.

What's included in the price, and do I need to arrange my own transport?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Banjul or Tujereng, the guided market visit, the hands-on cooking class, and a traditional Gambian meal with herbal tea are all included. You choose at checkout whether you want a lunch or dinner departure.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions like vegetarian or gluten-free?

Yes, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free diets are accommodated if you let your host know in advance when you book. The menu can be adjusted based on your preferences.

Who teaches the class, and what language is it in?

Ida and her daughters-in-law, Haddy and Aïcha, lead the class in English. They welcome you into their family home and share the cooking traditions and stories behind the dishes as you work together.