Gambia Travel Guide


The latest travel Information on Gambia, includes ideas on Things to See and Do, Local Events, Consulate & Embassy Contact Addresses and much more, all from a first-time visitors point of view.

Gambia Information

Overview

Although The Gambia is mainland Africa’s smallest nation, it is scenically varied, with sandy beaches, lush tropical forests, swamps, marshes and large areas of wooded savannah. The River Gambia, one of Africa’s great waterways, dominates the country.

The Gambia is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 540 different species. While the country’s parks, reserves and up-country villages are a major draw for ecotourists and those interested in African culture, for many visitors it is the country’s pleasant tropical climate and relaxing beach resorts which are the star attraction.

The area around the River Gambia, known to the Carthaginians in the fifth century BC, subsequently became part of several successive African empires. During the colonial period, several European powers contested for ownership of the river and the rich trade which it carried. Britain eventually gained control of the lowest reaches, establishing an enclave in the surrounding French territories of Senegal and a useful base from which to launch attacks on French trading settlements.

The Gambia was Britain’s first and last colony, being officially colonised in 1765 and gaining independence 200 years later in February 1965. Since then, the country has enjoyed long spells of stability; unfortunately this has yet to translate into prosperity for its inhabitants.


Top Things To See

In the capital, Banjul, visit the National Museum, which has some interesting ethnographic displays, then admire the colonial architecture in the area near July 22nd Square and climb to the top of Arch 22 for great views over the city.

Visit the lively urban markets where Gambians shop for vegetables, spices, fish, clothing, fabric and household goods: Banjul’s Albert Market and the sprawling commercial heart of the busy town of Serrekunda are particularly colourful places to browse.

Hire a small boat to explore the mangrove creeks (known locally as bolons) of the Tanbi Wetlands near the mouth of the River Gambia, or the Bao Bolon Wetland Reserve in central Gambia. These are world-class areas for birdwatching.

Upriver from Banjul, explore Gambian colonial history by visiting the Exhibition of the Slave Trade at Albreda/Jufureh, twin villages that were made famous by Alex Haley’s novel Roots, then cross to James Island, mid-river, to see its ruined fort. 

In eastern Gambia, catch sight of the fascinating circles of standing stones around Wassu. Their origin is shrouded in mystery but they are thought to mark prehistoric burial grounds.

Enjoy the beautiful mid-river location of Janjanbureh Island in eastern Gambia, an excellent spot to unwind in an unspoilt rustic environment, with plenty of good places to walk or birdwatch in the vicinity.

Walk through the tropical forest of the Abuko Nature Reserve, which is within easy reach of the main resort areas and has crocodiles, monkeys, reptiles and a host of bird species. It is best early in the morning. 

At Makasutu Culture Forest, join a tour of the beautiful forest park, learning about local medicinal plants and woodland fauna, then take a boat trip by dugout canoe and enjoy a spirited display of local-style music and dance. 

Meet a friendly croc at the Katchikali Crocodile Pool, a site sacred to the Mandinka tribe in the coastal village of Bakau. Ancient fertility rites are sometimes held here.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Top Things To Do

Relax on the pleasant beaches in the resort area near Banjul, where friendly bars and restaurants are never more than a short stroll away, or head further south to the wild stretches of Atlantic coast and walk for miles along empty sand.

Book a few music and dance lessons with a dance teacher, a master of the kora (The Gambia’s national instrument) or with a drumming teacher who may help commission a djembé (drum) from a local craftsman.

Take a long-distance boat trip on the River Gambia, the dominant feature of the country. Look out for monkeys leaping through the riverside foliage, spot pelicans and hippos, or just relax and enjoy the peace of the wilderness. 

Shop for souvenirs and local handicrafts such as batiks, beads, weaving, musical instruments, jewellery and woodcarvings in the various bengdulas, or Africa-style craft markets, dotted around Banjul and the resort areas. 

Spend a day fishing, either sea-angling in the Atlantic, creek-fishing inland near Banjul, or line-fishing from one of the beaches and hook a marlin, barracuda, ladyfish or snapper. 

Soar over the fields, villages, creeks and beaches of the coastal region in a microlight. Short airborne tours and longer trips can be arranged from the microlight base at the airport. 

Book a couple of nights at the waterside visitor camp of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust (website: www.chimprehab.com) in the River Gambia National Park. It’s a beautiful place to stay and visitors have the opportunity to observe semi-wild chimps from a safe distance. 

Go to a live music session given by one of The Gambia’s many excellent local bands, or a concert featuring stars from neighbouring Senegal, home of Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal and many other West African greats.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.


Going Out

Food and Drink

Western food is available at most tourist hotels and restaurants, as are traditional Gambian delicacies.

National specialities:
• Benachin (also called ‘Jollof Rice’, a mixture of spiced meat and rice with tomato puree and vegetables).
• Domodah (meat stewed in groundnut puree and served with rice).
• Chicken yassa (chicken cooked with onions, garlic and lime, served with rice or chips).
• Plasas (meat and smoked fish cooked in palm oil with cassava leaves, served with rice or mashed cassava).
• Mangoes, bananas, grapefruit, papayas and oranges.

National drinks:
• Jul Brew is the local speciality beer. 
• Fresh fruit juice.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is sometimes included in hotel and restaurant bills; if the service calls for it a further tip can be given.

Nightlife

In general the nightlife is subdued, although there are nightclubs and bars in Bakau, Fajara, Kotu, Kololi, Brikama and Serrekunda. There are organised performances of Gambian drumming and dancing, and also fire-eating displays.

Shopping

Souvenirs can be bought in Banjul’s Albert Market and the various bengdulas (craft markets) in the resort areas. Popular purchases include brightly coloured batik clothing, woodcarvings and handmade jewellery. Some of the souvenirs are gaudy, others exceedingly attractive. Drums, beaded belts and ladies’ handbags are also popular items. Other West African handicrafts made of straw, beads, leather, cloth or metal can be purchased here.

Shopping hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1430-1800, Fri-Sat 0900-1300. Some shops may stay open until 2200.


Climate

The Gambia lies in a region that has arguably the most agreeable climate in West Africa. The weather is subtropical with distinct dry and rainy seasons. From mid November to early June, coastal areas are usually dry, while the rainy season lasts from late June to October. Inland the cool season is shorter and daytime temperatures are very high between March and June. Sunny periods occur on most days even during the rainy season.

Required Clothing

Lightweight or tropical for most of the year with rainwear for the rainy season.


Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
18 Feb Independence Day. 
20 MarMilad al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
22 Jul Revolution Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
2 Oct Koriteh (End of Ramadan).
9 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
18 Feb Independence Day. 
9 MarMilad al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
22 Jul Revolution Day.
15 Aug Assumption. 
21 Sep Koriteh (End of Ramadan). 
28 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas.

Note

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Koriteh, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted in a few instances.


Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Malaria

Special Precaution: Yes

Rabies

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: Sometimes*

Health Care

Visitors are advised to bring good supplies of sunscreen, insect repellent and indigestion/diarrhoea medicines; all of these may be needed and they can prove expensive or, in some cases, impossible to buy in The Gambia. The government provides both therapeutic and preventative medical and health services, and plays a dominant role in health services. Health insurance is strongly advised. Travellers in possession of prescriptive drugs should carry proof of their prescriptions preferably in labelled containers. Police have on occasion arrested travellers carrying unlabelled containers.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over one year of age arriving from endemic or infected areas. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would not normally require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Gambian Dalasi (GMD; symbol D) = 100 bututs. Notes are in denominations of D100, 50, 25, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of D1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 bututs.

Currency Exchange

There is a bank/bureau de change (Trust Bank) at the airport (Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Fri 0900-1230). The capital, Banjul, and the nearby towns of Serrekunda, Bakau, Fajara and Kololi have a number of banks where foreign currencies can be exchanged. Exchange bureaux are found in all the main tourist resorts. Some hotels also offer foreign exchange facilities, but tend to charge high commissions. As The Gambia is a cash economy travellers are advised to carry sufficient currency to cover expenses of a planned visit.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

While some hotels will accept American Express, MasterCard and Visa if arranged at the beginning of the stay, many local businesses only accept payment by cash or traveller’s cheques. ATMs are available in large urban areas, but are few in number and not always reliable. Due to credit card and bank fraud, caution is advised when using credit cards and ATMs.

Traveller's Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling or Euros.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0800-1330, Fri 0800-1100 (banks in Banjul); Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1600-1800, Sat 0800-1300 (banks elsewhere).


Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: Yes/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passport Note

(a) Some nationals will require a transit visa; enquire with airline for details. (b) All visitors must hold return or onward tickets, all documents for their next destination and sufficient funds for their stay.

Passports

Passport valid for at least three months following departure date required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart for stays up to 28 days except:
(a) nationals of the USA and Canada;
(b) 1. nationals of Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Spain;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within two hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Tourists and others travelling on last-minute bookings will be allowed entry without a visa but will be required to submit their passport to the department of immigration in Banjul within 48 hours to be issued a proper visa.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

Extensions are available from the Gambian immigration department in Banjul.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and Business: £20 (single-entry); £40 (multiple-entry).

Validity

Visas start from date of entry. Single-entry visas are valid for six months. Multiple-entry visas are valid for 12 months. Extensions are possible and should be applied for at the immigration office in The Gambia.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Two days in person; seven days by post.


Contact Addresses

High Commission of the Republic of The Gambia in the UK

57 Kensington Court, London W8 5DG, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 6316/7/8.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1600, Fri 1000-1200.

The Gambia Tourism Authority in the UK

Address as for High Commission.
Tel: (020) 7376 0093.
Website: www.visitthegambia.gm

Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia in the USA

Suite 905, 1156 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 785 1399 or 1425.
Website: www.gambiaembassy.us


Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits are trouble free.

Visitors should not travel by road from The Gambia to Casamance in southern Senegal. Travellers are also advised against all road travel in the Casamance region to the west of Kolda, other than on the N4 national highway, for which visitors are advised against all but essential road travel, and on the main road from Ziguinchor to Cap Skiring, which is often used by groups of tourists during the daylight hours.

Crime against tourists is increasing and visitors should take sensible precautions, and remain vigilant, in public places.

Care should be taken when driving or walking on roads, particularly at night, due to unpredictable driving standards and lack of street lighting.

Malaria is prevalent in The Gambia.

The threat from terrorism is low, but travellers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel




Disclaimer
We've tried to make the information on this page as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information with the relevant authorities before you travel.