Gambia
All You Need To Know

A slice of blazing orange of green scenery cut into western Africa, the Gambia is rich in colour, culture and adventure and awaits you with its intoxicating sights, sounds and friendly people.

Blazing African sunshine bathes the Gambia . It may only be a small sliver of land, but it manages to pack a huge amount of intriguing culture, fascinating history and beautiful coastline into its small borders. The country is a visual treat of grassy, emerald-coloured savannas, lush subtropical forests and wide sweeps of dazzling white sand.

Visiting the Gambia is an opportunity to experience the ‘real' Africa and many holidaymakers enjoy this so much, they return year after year. While resort standards are basic compared to other holiday destinations, for most of the year the sunshine is relentless. While the Gambia does not have any big game in the wild, it does have some ‘little game'. In the Abuko Nature Reserve, there are 3 varieties of monkey and more than 400 species of birds have been recorded.

The whole country is a bit of an oddity. It is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal , excluding the coastline and its map looks like a diagram of a face, with Senegal being the face and the Gambia representing the throat. It follows the course of the Gambia River some 240 miles inland and at most, the country is never more than 22 miles wide. River trips are one of the most popular activities for holidaymakers with boats picking their way through the mangroves. It is everything one could want from an African river. Through the foliage you'll glimpse brilliant flashes of exotic birds.

With soaring temperatures and a vast, sweeping coastline, the Gambia is the perfect hotspot for every sun lover.

Beaches

With soaring temperatures and a vast sweeping coastline, Gambia is the perfect haven for every beach lover. The resorts of Kotu and Kolol stretch to the south of the capital with long, peaceful swathes of fine white sand to relax on. Boat and fishing trips are available and the area is particularly good for windsurfing.

Nightlife

The capital, Banjul , has an exciting selection of local bars, laidback restaurants and vibrant discos. Nightlife in most other resorts is fairly low-key and typically hotel-based, although Kotu and Kolol have a variety of beach bars which will give you an unbeatable view of the sun sinking into the Atlantic .

Sightseeing

The long river that meanders gently through the Gambia gives you the chance to see much of the country from the water. Taking a boat trip is a real treat whether its to marvel at the 1200 year old circles of stone at Wassau or simply to indulge in a spot of fishing.

History & Culture

The Gambia 's tribal history is a fascinating flux of migrants who once formed the Ghana Empire, and today, the five main tribes of the country are a rich melting pot of culture with their own tapestry of traditions, music and legends. It was the Romans who first explored and mapped The Gambia though the first written accounts date from the 9th and 10th centuries when Arab traders came and established the trans-Saharan trade route for slaves, gold and ivory. During the 15th century, the Portuguese arrived and began the modern trade in human slaves, thriving in coastal areas, where Slave factories or forts were established to hold the captured slaves. For the next 200 years, exploration coexisted alongside the slave trade and the Portuguese, French and British dominated the Gambia River until the abolition of slavery in 1807. The Gambia became a British crown colony in 1889, gaining independence in 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth and is considered to be one of the safest countries in Africa with a strong tradition of peacefulness and a land of liberal people living in harmony.

Money

Local Beer: £1.00, Mineral Water (1ltr): £1.20, Tea/coffee: 75p, bottle of wine: £6.00, 3-course meal: £9.50. Prices are approximate and are only intended as a rough guide based on a typical 3T hotel in the Gambia . A £5 tax is payable on arrival by all visitors to the Gambia .If you have received exceptional service you are welcome to leave a gratuity. Tipping remains an entirely personal and discretionary matter though expected by most service providers .

Health & Safety

Vaccinations and anti-malaria tablets are recommended in Gambia . The currents in the Atlantic Ocean are strong so the sea can be rough and guests may not be able to swim. Always obey the flag system when swimming. Please see ‘Safety First' in the A-Z Guide for important travel advice.

Holiday Tips

Most hotels or apartments ask customers to vacate their rooms between 10am and 12 midday. For late afternoon or evening flights, late check out rooms may be available.

Holiday Reps are pleased to act as a collection point for customers who wish to donate pens and books to charities in the Gambia . Over recent years we have worked with such organisations as Friends of The Gambia who particularly welcome children's books and pencils to send to schools in the least developed areas of the country.