Basketball:
Pick-up sports are common in the areas behind the handball courts,
though female players are rather rare. A national teams exists,
but isn’t too big (or exceptionally talented by international
standards).
Cricket:
Inter-club cricket is played in league matches organised by the
Gambia Cricket
Association, which also organises international matches. Cricket
matches can be watched in the capital's McCarthy Square, Banjul.
Exercise Machines & Weight Lifting:
Many of the big hotel accommodations have fitness gyms
within their grounds as well as several in the Fajara
Golf Club.
Weight lifting and exercise machines: There are a variety of weightlifting
devices as well as several exercise bikes available for use at
the gym inside Independence Stadium. The cost for a membership
is about $15 per month. To get to this room, enter the stadium
through the front doors (the side facing away from the hotel).
Leave the lobby through the door on your right; journey down the
long hallway to find the weight room on the end. Hours are usually
between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Handball:
 Handball
is sometimes likened to a combination of football and basketball.
It is played in a 40 by 20 meter (131.2 by 65.6 feet) court, with
two netted goals at either end. The sides of six players and one
goalie each attempt to score goals by dribbling and passing the
ball down the court and into the net. The winning team is the
one that scores the most points during the sixty-minute match.
If you want to see handball in action, look for games in the fenced
in, paved handball court located next to the tennis courts in
the Friendship Hotel/Independence Stadium complex.
Rugby:
Rugby is probably as familiar to Gambians as American football—not
very much at all. However, a variety of expatriates (mainly scientists
from the MRC and volunteers from
Peace Corps and VSO)
meet twice a week at Leybato Beach
for an informal game of touch. At the time of writing, these games
occur Tuesdays at 6:00 pm and Sunday at 5:00 pm. All ages and
abilities welcome.
Swimming:
 The
estuary of the River Gambia
on the Atlantic coast provides miles of magnificent beaches with
warm seas throughout the year. Caution is necessary, owing to
strong currents.
Table Tennis:
You can play table tennis (ping-pong) inside the Independence
Stadium—enter the main doors (the side not facing the hotel) and
exit the lobby through the door on the left. The table tennis
room is at the end of the hallway, and is generally open Monday
to Saturday, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Apply within for a membership;
bring about $8.90 and two passport size photos for an I.D. card.
Tennis:
There are tennis courts in the Independence Stadium complex, so
bring a racket and a few balls if you are an enthusiast (they
are rather expensive here for their not-as-good quality). Tournaments
are occasionally held on these courts, as well as tennis lessons.
Watersports:
 Atlantic
resorts cater for windsurfing, jet-skis
and surfing. Sailing is possible at The Gambia Sailing Club at
Banjul, which welcomes visitors.
A notable event is the race to Dog Island. Additional regattas
are organised on special occasions. Both sea and river fishing
is good all year, particularly line-fishing from the beaches.
Several sport-fishing tour operators
have boats are available for sea-angling trips.
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