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Host: Ida, Haddy and Aicha

Banjul, Gambia

USD
$124 per person

Market Tour & Gambian Cooking Class with Transfers

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Ida, Haddy and Aicha

Ida hosts an unforgettable culinary experience in her home in Tujereng, Gambia. Passionate about preserving and sharing her Gambian heritage, Ida welcomes guests from around the world into her home to experience authentic Gambian cuisine and traditions. Committed to sustainable tourism, she creates meaningful connections through food and culture.

Ida works alongside her daughters-in-law, Haddy and Aïcha, whose talents enrich the experience. Haddy, a skilled chef, leads cooking sessions with warmth and energy, drawing from both her family traditions and professional kitchen background. Aïcha brings a unique blend of psychology and cultural insight, offering workshops on women's roles in Gambian society and the healing power of local herbs. Together, this family team offers a warm, immersive journey into Gambian life and hospitality.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (2-15 guests) Experience Gambian culture through a traditional cooking class in Tujereng. Join Ida and her daughters-in-law, Haddy and Aïcha, for an immersive Gambian cooking experience in their family home. The day begins with pick-up from your hotel in Tujereng or Banjul, followed by a warm welcome and the chance to dress in vibrant traditional Gambian clothing. Next, explore the bustling Tanji Fishing Market to buy fresh vegetables and fish. Senegalese fishermen arrive at this beach daily to sell their catch, and you'll find an incredible variety of seafood and produce - this is where locals do their grocery shopping.

Back at Ida's house, you'll prepare and cook a traditional Gambian meal in the outdoor cooking area. In this hands-on Gambian cooking class, learn to make authentic dishes such as domoda (peanut stew), benachin (a traditional one-pot rice dish from the Wolof ethnic group), or yassa (braised fish or chicken), using traditional utensils and organic ingredients. After cooking, pick fresh herbs from the garden to brew your own herbal tea, then enjoy your meal in a peaceful garden setting with Ida and her family. This intimate experience in a local home offers a deep dive into Gambian cuisine, culture, and hospitality—perfect for food lovers and curious travelers alike.

Notes: Dietary accommodations are available for lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets, if informed in advance. This experience includes pick-up and drop-off from hotels in Tujereng or Banjul, please provide your hotel name and address when booking online.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Local juice (baobab or wonjo)
  • Main: Domoda (peanut stew) or Benachin (Jollof rice) or Yassa (braised fish or chicken)
  • Seasonal salad
  • Seasonal fruits
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Ida, Haddy and Aicha

$124 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-1:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Ida, Haddy and Aicha

Ida hosts an unforgettable culinary experience in her home in Tujereng, Gambia. Passionate about preserving and sharing her Gambian heritage, Ida welcomes guests from around the world into her home to experience authentic Gambian cuisine and traditions. Committed to sustainable tourism, she creates meaningful connections through food and culture.

Ida works alongside her daughters-in-law, Haddy and Aïcha, whose talents enrich the experience. Haddy, a skilled chef, leads cooking sessions with warmth and energy, drawing from both her family traditions and professional kitchen background. Aïcha brings a unique blend of psychology and cultural insight, offering workshops on women's roles in Gambian society and the healing power of local herbs. Together, this family team offers a warm, immersive journey into Gambian life and hospitality.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit: (2-15 guests) Experience Gambian culture through a traditional cooking class in Tujereng. Join Ida and her daughters-in-law, Haddy and Aïcha, for an immersive Gambian cooking experience in their family home. The day begins with pick-up from your hotel in Tujereng or Banjul, followed by a warm welcome and the chance to dress in vibrant traditional Gambian clothing. Next, explore the bustling Tanji Fishing Market to buy fresh vegetables and fish. Senegalese fishermen arrive at this beach daily to sell their catch, and you'll find an incredible variety of seafood and produce - this is where locals do their grocery shopping.

Back at Ida's house, you'll prepare and cook a traditional Gambian meal in the outdoor cooking area. In this hands-on Gambian cooking class, learn to make authentic dishes such as domoda (peanut stew), benachin (a traditional one-pot rice dish from the Wolof ethnic group), or yassa (braised fish or chicken), using traditional utensils and organic ingredients. After cooking, pick fresh herbs from the garden to brew your own herbal tea, then enjoy your meal in a peaceful garden setting with Ida and her family. This intimate experience in a local home offers a deep dive into Gambian cuisine, culture, and hospitality—perfect for food lovers and curious travelers alike.

Notes: Dietary accommodations are available for lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets, if informed in advance. This experience includes pick-up and drop-off from hotels in Tujereng or Banjul, please provide your hotel name and address when booking online.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Local juice (baobab or wonjo)
  • Main: Domoda (peanut stew) or Benachin (Jollof rice) or Yassa (braised fish or chicken)
  • Seasonal salad
  • Seasonal fruits
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-1:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.