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Location
Flag
Quick Facts
Capital	Banjul
Government	Republic under multiparty democratic rule
Currency	Dalasi (GMD)
Area	total: 11,300 km2 land: 10,000 km2 water: 1,300 km2
Population	1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)
Language	English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religion	Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Electricity	230V/50Hz (UK plug)
Calling Code	+220
Internet TLD	.gm
Time Zone	UTC

The Gambia[1] is a country in West Africa and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. It has a short North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west and is surrounded by Senegal so that it is almost an enclave. The country occupies the navigable length of the Gambia River valley and surrounding hills.

[edit] Regions

Roughly from west to east, up the Gambia River:

• Banjul - the capital city area, at the mouth of the river
• Western Gambia The Kombos - most of the Atlantic coast and the land south of the widening river
• North Bank - the land north of the widening river
• Lower River - beginning of the narrow corridor hugging the course of river
• Central River - further up the river
• Upper River - the upper navigable reach of the river, and of the country

[edit] Cities

• Banjul - Capital
• Bansang
• Bakau
• Brikama
• Ghanatown
• Gunjur
• Kartong
• Kololi
• Sanyang
• Serrekunda
• Tanji
• Tujering

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Understand

Map of Gambia

[edit] Climate

Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May); Natural hazards : drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years).

[edit] Terrain

Flood plain of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills - the highest point is just 53m above sea level!

[edit] History

The Gambia gained its independency from the UK on 18th February 1965. A constitution was written on 24th April 1970, before being suspended in July 1994, before being rewritten and approved by national referendum on 8th August 1996. It was reestablished in January 1997

The Gambia formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.

[edit] National Holidays

The Gambia celebrates its independence day on 18th February. This small country gained its independency in 1965.

[edit] Get in

A beach in Gambia

Gambia is becoming a popular vacation destination for Northern Europeans. Therefore, many charter and holiday operators offer reasonable airfare and accommodation if desired.

[edit] Visa

US, Canadian and South African citizens must obtain a Gambian visa before entering the Gambia. Visa can be obtained at the Gambian High Commission in Dakar. Single entry visas cost $100 USD, 25,000CFA or multi-entry for three month period cost 30,000CFA. New Zealanders, Australians, Taiwanese, British, Finnish, Dutch, and some Europeans may not require visas for stays up to 90 days. Always check with the High Commission or Embassy before making travel arrangements.

[edit] By plane

There are regular flights from Nigeria by Bellview which come 2 times a week on Wednesdays and Fridays. Also, there are daily flights from Dakar provided by Air Senegal and Slok Air. Spanair operates regular (weekly) flights to/from Barcelona and Madrid (Spain). During the tourist season (October to April), there are regular scheduled flights direct from cities such as Manchester, Amsterdam, and Brussels. Current charter operators include Monarch Airlines, First Choice Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, Transavia, and Arkefly. However, several of these often book tickets through tour operators. It should be noted that booking one-way or round trip tickets originating in Gambia on these airlines can be difficult or impossible.

[edit] By car

Sept-places or bush taxis run from Dakar to Banjul and Banjul to Ziguinchor.

It is possible use your private car to drive from Senegal to The Gambia via the border town of Amdalli (just north of Barra). The border crossing is pretty stright forward. You will need your V5 logbook. The road approching the border from Sengal is terrible and its easier to drive next to the road as opposed to on it. Check before you travel if it is ok to bring in a right hand drive vehicle, as there are conflicting reports on the possiblity of this (though we did).

[edit] By bus

There are direct GPTC buses running from Barra (a ferry ride away from Banjul) to Dakar [2], but these are not recommended as they are slower than the bush taxis.

[edit] By boat

It is possible privately charter small fishing vessels from Dakar and nehiboring areas; though this can be fairly expensive and slow should one not be proficient at bargaining.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By car

A 4WD is recommended if you plan to rent a car, since the roads often are in bad condition and only a minority is paved.

[edit] By taxi

There are two types of cabs: green ones (tourist cabs) and yellow ones (regular cabs). Green cabs are expensive and the price is regardless of the number of passengers. Although there is no MOT system in Gambia, these taxis must have basics such as seat belts and working indicators. Yellow taxis are much cheaper and the price depends on the number of persons in the cab. They are used mainly by locals, and in many tourist areas they are prohibited from picking up tourists. Often it is worth if to walk a little to get a yellow taxi.

[edit] By bike

You can rent a bike from pretty much anyone that owns one at a negotiated rate. Cycling on major roads can be risky, as motorist safety is unreliable, some roads are not well-maintained, sand and steep shoulders cause road hazards, and pedestrians may walk or veer onto the open road without warning. In high traffic areas, taxis and vans often cut off cyclists to pick up travelers and the car horn may be used excessivly to warn of impending passage.

[edit] By thumb

No, don't use your thumb. It is an obscene gesture in Gambia, instead wave if you want a car to stop. As anywhere, hitching is quite risky business, so be careful with what cars you enter and never hitch at night. Also, Gambian motorists will expect you to pay for the ride, so have some cash ready.

[edit] By boat

The Gambia River is navigable the entire length of the country.

[edit] Guided tours

There are many companies that offer guided tours in Gambia.

There are also official tourist guides that will arrange transportation and guide you. They offer a good service and you will get to travel in a small group (usually 1 to 6 persons). Beware that there are false official guides, so always meet them at their offices, around tourist resorts.

[edit] Talk

Languages spoken in Gambia are English (the official language), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, sarrancule and other indigenous vernaculars.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Kora is the main music instrument of the Mandinka tribe, and could be considered the national instrument of Gambia. It is 21-stringed and built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator. It sounds like a mixture of harp and flamenco guitar. Real koras can be very expensive but small souvenir versions are also available.
• Tailor made clothes can be bought at cheap prices.
• wood carvings
• wooden masks
• african drums
• hand-woven table runners and place mats.
• Batik and tie-dye fabric.

typical craft shop

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Benachin or Jollof rice - a traditional West African rice dish with onions, spices, tomatoes or tomato paste mixed with meat, fish or vegetables.
• Chicken Yassa - chicken boiled with onion, black pepper and lime or lemon.
• Domoda - meat stew with rice and peanut butter sauce.
• Lots and lots of peanuts, the main crop of The Gambia.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Gambia's own beer, Julbrew[3] is worth a try. It's made by Banjul Breweries, who also make soft drinks.
• Palm Wine is juice from palmtrees that is collected and fermented. It is used as a kind of wine by the locals, and you may get a chance to try it if you go on a tour to rural Gambia.
• Baobab juice

Baobab fruit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are many luxury 4 and 5 star resorts along the Atlantic coastline. Further in land there are eco camps and lodges which offer basic accommodation usually in natural surroundings, such as Balaba Nature Camp near Kartong (www.Balaba.co.uk).

[edit][add listing] See

Entrance to Abuko Nature Reserve

• Abuko Nature Reserve. open daily 8 AM - 6.30 PM. Nature park situated outside the village of Lamin in the Kombo North District, 25 km from Banjul. At 105 hectares it is one of the smallest (if not the smallest) protected areas in Africa, but it still offers a good introduction to the Gambian wildlife. For instance there's monkeys, crocodiles and some 300 species of birds GMD 35.  edit

• Four Wheel Drive Adventure. Very popular tours visiting schools, country homes, and distilleries.

• James Island (Roots tour). An excursion inspired by Alex Haley's bestseller and movie Roots. You can go there on cruise up the centre of the wide Gambia river, towards the former French trading post of Albreda and the village of Juffureh. Views of the river bank are distant. Visit the setting of Roots, an old slave trade station. Tourists are overwhelmed by locals who appear only when the boat arrives, and disappear when the boat leaves. Locals are persistent in begging for money and thrusting craft items under tourists noses. Locals insist on being paid to appear in photos. Or you go by car, e.g. with th official tourist guides on the small roads on the North Bank and sail in a pirogue from Juffareh.  edit

• Kachikally Crocodile Pool. very popular, many crocodiles (West African Nile Crocs), opportunity to touch/pat West African Nile Crocodiles. GMD 50.  edit

• Senegal - 1-3 day trips. Warning - non-EU citizens such as New Zealanders and Australians must obtain a visa. The application takes 3 days.

[edit] Work

[edit] Stay safe

There are a number of very commonly used scams in the Gambia. If someone stops you on the street, they may tell you that they remember you from the hotel you're staying at and that they work there. They may invite you to another hotel, but this could be a scam to attempt to rob you. Also, because people are constantly looking for ways to support themselves, if they offer you assistance or directions, it may be understood that they expect some monetary compensation.

Scams also exist in which marijuana is offered to tourists or they are are invited to come smoke in a home, only to find police waiting for a hefty bribe.

A simple "Sorry, I am in a hurry" could suffice to dismiss them. But don't tell them why you are in a hurry and don't say anything else after that as this may lead to a conversation - and this could lead to unwanted attention and possibly a scam.

Also remember that some Bumsters are not unemployed or young and never fall for hardship stories. One last word of warning: should you feel you want to give a person some money out of sympathy or just to get rid of them it will certainly lead them to ask you for more money at a later date should you meet again. Some recommend a stern and harsh response to such requests, but this should be informed by your values and the relationship formed with the individual in question. Keep in mind, however, that you may see this person again, and they could truly be helpful if you're in a jam or need information. Many people in tourist areas are merely 'friendly facilitators' who may hope for an exchange of favors, but are genuinely harmless. Being overly guarded could deny you an offer to join a local family for a traditional meal, or to personally meet one of the craftspeople who make the local goods for sale.

The Gambia is a great holiday destination but just keep your guard up at all times.

When swimming, be aware that the currents in the Atlantic waters can be strong. Always look out for flags on the tourist beaches indicating the level of danger on a red - yellow - green scale.

Gays should note that they could be in extreme danger in Gambia. See the following articles:

Gambia Gay Death Threat Condemned [4]

Gambian Police Arrest Two Spanish Men for "Homosexual Proposals" [5]

[edit] Stay healthy

Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended. Meningitis vaccination is recommended. Anti-malaria pills are also necessary. Most cases of malaria in the Gambia are contracted between June and December. Mefloquine, Doxycycline or Malarone are the medicines of choice for the Gambia, and for most of sub-Saharan Africa, because of the increasing chloroquine resistance.

It is a good idea to bring insect repellent, sunscreen and other health items from your home country since these may be hard to find in some areas.

[edit] Respect

Always ask before you take a photo of anyone. Some Gambians have certain beliefs about having their picture taken, in particular by a stranger.

[edit] Get out

• Senegal is both north and south of Gambia. There are excursion to e.g. Fathala Reserve just north of the border.

[edit] Contact