Do you want to immerse yourself in an infectious culture, golden sandy beaches, a vibrant atmosphere, brilliant landscape, and world-class bird sightings? Worry not, Gambia got you covered!
The Gambia is diverse enough to keep your mind spinning and your gut recoiling at the danger you will be willing to put yourself to experience the “thrill.” Yes! There is always a bit of everything to captivate adrenaline junkies and feed a serious wanderlust. Not many people get to experience it, and there is no way to truly experience it without actually putting it on your bucket list!
Few places in Africa beat this region for sheer photogenic beauty and epic history thanks to the Makasutu cultural forest, Fathala Animal reserve, Jinack Island, Cape Point Beach, and Kunta Kinteh Island. The feel of Gambia’s history will transport you back to the age when Cleopatra bathed in milk AWE! Gambia’s brilliant landscape is set to leave you scratching your head!
Here, you can go in search of the Warthogs, puff adders, green mambas, aardvarks, monitor lizards, chameleon and spit cobras, and others. The Gambia is a raw way of life you can’t help but fall in love with. The Gambia is pure Africa.
Highlights
Gambia: Banjul
Population: 2.42 million People
Area 11,295 km²
Major Religion: Islam
Official Language: English
• Quick peep!
Wolof, Serer-Sine, Sarahole, Pulaar, Maninkakan, Mandjaque, Mandingo, Jola-Fonyi, and the Aku’s Creole (pidgin English) are widely spoken in the Gambia
Climate: The best time to visit the Gambia is the long dry season of mid-October to early June.
Dialling code: +220
Gambia Currency
Currency: Gambian dalasi
Symbols: D
DESTINATION AND CULTURE
Gambia Cuisine
The Gambia offers more than just shimmering sand, golden sandy beaches, a vibrant atmosphere, and infectious culture. It is a hotbed of hospitality with diverse restaurants serving different food across the globe, from classic seafood to exquisite drinks, blending Arabic influence with Gambia flavour – Yum! You will never go hungry either, as the Gambia is renowned for its sumptuous spread of yummy food and drink.
It is a burgeoning foodie hotspot, a culinary country where world-class chefs serve up top-notch fare alongside authentic street snacks.
Notable, the main staple dish in The Gambia is rice served with beef, chicken, fish, goat, or lamb stew.
Gambia clothing
Traditional clothes are colourful and bright; however, women wear western-style clothing with an African flare. On the other hand, Men stay in line with the Islam faith and wear Kaftan (a full dress embraided with bright gold thread.
Fathala Animal reserve
Fathala Wildlife Reserve is a great (and inexpensive) opportunity to get some brilliant safari action. Not only will you spot wild animals, but you will also get the chance to see some of the villages in the northern part of the Gambia, Tanji Village, and eat the best fresh fish of your life on the beach with your feet in the brown sand.
Wassu
The mysterious Wassu Stone Circles in the Gambia are located around Wassu in the Central River Region. They are believed to be burial mounds of chiefs and kings in ancient times over 1,200 years old. For the history buff, this is once in a lifetime experience. Yes, Try it raw!
River Gambia
Gambia River – rise in the Republic of Guinea and flow westward through The Gambia into the famous Atlantic Ocean. From here, you can spy crocodiles, warthogs, green mambas, monitor lizards, and more. A visit to the Gambia is not complete without a touch of River Gambia.
Kunta Kinteh Island
Located about 30km upstream, Kunta Kinteh Island (formerly James Island) is home to the ruins which once belonged to Colonial Britain. The Kunta soil was the last bit of African soil that most slaves saw before being transported in the bowels of transatlantic slave ships to the Americans.
Makasutu cultural forest
This protected wilderness is a pristine expanse of riverine, hardwood – forest, palm, savanna, salt-flat ecosystem, and mangrove creek. It rarely disappoints! Anyone who has visited here will agree that a trip to the Gambia is not complete without a touch of the Makasutu cultural forest.
How to get a visa to the Gambia
• Fill out and sign the application form. Attach your passport (2 coloureds) or travel document valid for at least six months on entry with one blank visa page. Also, hold proof of onward/return airline tickets, and documentation confirming the purpose and duration of your visit to the Gambia!
Helpful Travelling tips
• Book through an agent directly to save costs. Since OTA’s takes commissions
• Currency and Banking. The currency of Gambia is the Gambian dalasi There are approximately 1D= $ 0.020
• You need to bring an unlocked smartphone with you. You can get a sim card for your stay, which will allow you to add minutes and be able to call your family or friends.
• Dress Modest