Your stay — Jim Motel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Basse Santa Su.
The Property — Jim Motel
Jim Motel is a no-frills 3-star roadside stop with a sandy compound, basic en-suite rooms and a small pool. The lobby is a concrete-floored reception desk under a high ceiling, where the ceiling fans do most of the work. It suits budget-conscious travellers who need a clean bed and a quick rest before crossing the border or continuing upriver.
Chronicles of Basse Santa Su
Basse Santa Su, often just called Basse, grew as a trading port on the Upper River Division of the Gambia River. It was a key stop for groundnut exports during the colonial era, with a modest grid of streets laid out by the British. Independence in 1965 brought gradual expansion, but the town has retained its role as a market hub and administrative centre for upriver Gambia. Its contemporary identity is defined by the weekly luma (market), the ferry crossing, and the mix of Mandinka, Fula and Wolof cultures.
Best Time to Visit
Full Basse Santa Su guide →Best months
November to February: dry season with lower humidity, clear skies and comfortable daytime temperatures around 30°C.
Peak / festival surge
December to January: peak of the dry season and Christmas/New Year holidays attract domestic travellers and returning diaspora; hotel prices at Jim Motel can rise 20–30%.
Budget shoulder season
March–April: still dry and hot but far fewer visitors, so rooms are cheaper and you can negotiate directly at the desk.
Weather & packing
July is the height of the rainy season in Basse — expect heavy afternoon downpours and humidity above 80%. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and spare footwear; quick-dry clothes are essential.
Live City Briefing — Basse Santa Su
- The Senegambia Bridge ferry at Basse was replaced by a permanent bridge in 2024, cutting crossing time to Senegal to under 10 minutes.
- Construction on the Basse–Bansang road upgrade means delays of up to 45 minutes; allow extra time for transfers to or from the motel.
- July is the peak of the rainy season — the Gambia River can flood low-lying areas, and some unpaved roads near the motel become muddy.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Jim Motel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor facing the courtyard (if one exists) or the side away from the main road. The first floor avoids ground-level noise and any potential flooding from street drainage during rainy season.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms directly facing the street. Basse Santa Su's main road can be busy with taxis, donkey carts, and motorbikes from early morning. Also avoid rooms near the reception or any common area if the motel has a bar.
Best views
Best view is likely from a front-facing upper room overlooking the street activity — but this comes with noise. If you prefer quiet, a side or rear view is better, even if less scenic.
Quietest floors
First floor (above ground level) is the quietest if the motel is a single-storey layout; otherwise any upper floor away from street frontage.
🔊 Noise notes
Basse Santa Su is a bustling market town on the north bank of the Gambia River. Expect early morning market traffic, mosque calls to prayer, and occasional loud music from nearby shops. The main road (South Bank Road) runs through town and can be dusty and noisy during dry season.
Insider tips
1) Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the motel is basic (3-star in context means budget) and soundproofing is minimal. 2) If arriving by vehicle, ask if they have secure parking inside the compound — street parking is not recommended overnight.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Jim Motel
Free basic Wi-Fi covering lobby and ground-floor rooms; speed approx 5 Mbps down—login via web form, no time limit
No lift; two-storey building with stairs only—ground-floor rooms available on request
No complimentary newspapers; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in 14:00–20:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 free; late check-out until 12:00 fee GMD 300 (weekdays) or GMD 400 (weekends)
Free storage for same-day arrivals/departures during reception hours (09:00–21:00)
Step-free access to ground-floor rooms only; no wheelchair-accessible bathroom or wide doorframes; upper floors accessible only by stairs
Free on-site unpaved parking for 4 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public car park is 200 m south at Basse Market, GMD 50 per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; GMD 500 cash hold for incidentals on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Alhagie Mbemba Sillah's Masjid (98 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Kaba Kama Central Mosque (364 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: praying ground (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
- Church: St Josephs Catholic Church (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 806 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Gambian Dalasi, GMD
Change money at banks or licensed forex bureaux in Basse Santa Su; avoid airport or tourist-area exchangers who give poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger hotels and some shops, but most daily transactions are cash-only; contactless is rare.
Tipping not expected but appreciated: round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% in restaurants if service charge not added, small tip for hotel porters (20-50 GMD).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee or Nescafé at local tea shops (called 'attaya' stops) costs around 10-20 GMD.
A plate of benachin (rice with fish/meat) or domoda (groundnut stew) at a local eatery for 80-150 GMD.
A grilled fish or chicken main with side at a simple restaurant for 150-250 GMD.
Find cheap eats along the main road near the market and lorry park, where vendors sell fried fish, meat kebabs, and fresh fruit.
Budget supermarkets like Top Choice or local shops along Kairaba Avenue (note: Basse has smaller stores, not large chains).
Basse Santa Su Market sells second-hand clothing ('Lumoo' stalls) and affordable new fabrics; haggle for best price.
Shared minibuses or bush taxis (gagele) cost 10-30 GMD per short trip within town; from Banjul airport, take a shared sept-place taxi or minibus to Basse for about 300-500 GMD.
Eat at local 'chop bars' for cheap meals; buy produce from the market rather than supermarkets; negotiate prices in markets and for longer taxi rides.
Emergency Contacts
Basse Santa SuDial 116 for general emergency services from a local mobile. For serious incidents, contact the nearest hospital or clinic directly. Numbers may be unreliable; have a local SIM card ready.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Basse Santa Su, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Jim Motel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 806 m · ~10 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Basse Santa Su Jetty → Janjanbureh (via ferry)
💡 This is the only public transport upriver; catch the ferry first (20 GMD) then a shared minibus. Not useful for airport but great for day trips. Ask the driver to drop you at the market turn.
Banjul Bus Station → Basse Santa Su
💡 Buses leave when full; get there early (6am) for a seat. Pay at the station office, not the driver. The route is bumpy after Brikama, so take ibuprofen.
Banjul International Airport (BJL) → Safra Hotel, Basse Santa Su
💡 Negotiate the fixed price before getting in; it's about 2500–3000 GMD for the full 300 km drive. Drivers often expect a tip of 100–200 GMD. Book through the hotel for a reliable driver.
Basse Santa Su Bus Station → Safra Hotel, Basse Santa Su
💡 Walking is fine if you're light—Safra Hotel is 1 km down the main road. Taxis are rare after 9pm; save the driver's number.
Social Security and Housing Financial Cooperation → Basse Santa Su market or surrounding villages
💡 Hail a passing 'light taxi' (shared ride) for as low as GMD 15 to the market—ideally have exact change. The hotel can call a reliable driver for longer trips.
Anywhere in Basse → Basse Health Center Quarters
💡 Negotiate before riding. Best for short hops; always check the driver has a spare helmet (rare) and avoid after dark due to poor street lighting.
Basse Garage → Basse Health Center Quarters
💡 These run fixed routes; flag one down on the main road. Tell the driver 'Basse Health Center'—they'll drop you at the junction.
Brikama/Serekunda Garage → Basse Santa Su
💡 Bring a small towel—these tend to be packed and sweaty. The early 6am departures get you to Basse before noon.
Banjul International Airport (BJL) → Social Security and Housing Financial Cooperation, Basse Santa Su
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in. Shared taxis to Basse from the airport can cut costs to about GMD 800 if you don't mind waiting for others.
Banjul International Airport (BJL) → Basse Health Center Quarters
💡 Book via a local driver contact at the airport to avoid haggling; the dusty N4 road to Basse is long but direct. Agree price before getting in.
Banjul/Kotu Gele Gee Station (near Denton Bridge) → Basse Santa Su Gele Gee Station (main market area)
💡 Book a seat the day before if you're going on a Friday or Monday—those days are packed. Sit on the right-hand side for the best views of the River Gambia.
Brikama Garage, Banjul → Basse Garage
💡 Catch the yellow 'gari' minibuses. They stop at Basse town centre; from there a shared taxi to the Health Centre costs GMD 20. Travel early to avoid heat.
About Basse Santa Su
Wikipedia ↗
Basse Santa Su, usually known as Basse, is a town in the Gambia, lying on the south bank of the River Gambia. The easternmost major town in the nation, it is known for its important market. Basse is the capital of the Upper River Division, which is coterminous with the Basse Local Government Area. A...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Jim Motel?
Request a room on the first floor facing the courtyard (if one exists) or the side away from the main road. The first floor avoids ground-level noise and any potential flooding from street drainage during rainy season.
Which rooms should I avoid at Jim Motel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms directly facing the street. Basse Santa Su's main road can be busy with taxis, donkey carts, and motorbikes from early morning. Also avoid rooms near the reception or any common area if the motel has a bar.
Is Jim Motel noisy?
Basse Santa Su is a bustling market town on the north bank of the Gambia River. Expect early morning market traffic, mosque calls to prayer, and occasional loud music from nearby shops. The main road (South Bank Road) runs through town and can be dusty and noisy during dry season.
Which rooms have the best views at Jim Motel?
Best view is likely from a front-facing upper room overlooking the street activity — but this comes with noise. If you prefer quiet, a side or rear view is better, even if less scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Jim Motel?
1) Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the motel is basic (3-star in context means budget) and soundproofing is minimal. 2) If arriving by vehicle, ask if they have secure parking inside the compound — street parking is not recommended overnight.
What time is check-in at Jim Motel?
Check-in at Jim Motel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Jim Motel have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi covering lobby and ground-floor rooms; speed approx 5 Mbps down—login via web form, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Jim Motel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Jim Motel?
A plate of benachin (rice with fish/meat) or domoda (groundnut stew) at a local eatery for 80-150 GMD.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Jim Motel?
Shared minibuses or bush taxis (gagele) cost 10-30 GMD per short trip within town; from Banjul airport, take a shared sept-place taxi or minibus to Basse for about 300-500 GMD.
When is the best time to visit Basse Santa Su?
November to February: dry season with lower humidity, clear skies and comfortable daytime temperatures around 30°C.
Top Attractions in Basse Santa Su
💡 Go early in the morning (before 9 AM) to see the market at its busiest and find the best produce.
💡 Prices are often 30-50% above fair value—start negotiating at half the asking price to get a good deal.
💡 Visit during sunset for cooler temperatures and good light for photos—avoid midday heat.
💡 Take a stool or sarong to sit on. Late afternoon, watch the sun set over the water while kids play football nearby.
💡 Remove shoes before entering the courtyard, and avoid prayer times (Friday 12-2 PM is busiest).
💡 Pair it with a walk along the nearby riverbank – ask an elder about the uprising; many know oral histories passed down.
💡 Bring water and wear sturdy shoes—the path can be sandy and uneven after rain.
💡 Best at sunset. Bring water and sit on the low wall near the police post — fewer people there. Avoid swimming.