Africa is a continent I love traveling to! Africa as a whole is an amazingly unique travel destination.

The Gambia is one of those tiny countries most people don't know about but they should!
Two years ago while searching for a unique travel destination, I came across this little country in Western Africa. Honestly, I knew nothing about it, so it was a spontaneous decision to go, and I am so happy I made it! It turned out to be one of the most memorable trips I had ever taken, leading to friendships for life!

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The Gambia is known as the Smiling Coast! This tiny country is a year-round travel destination, it is authentic and still unspoiled with beautiful nature to enjoy, beaches to relax on, wildlife, and very welcoming smiley people! The Gambia is about the 3 Ss ~ Sun, Sand and Sea.

The Gambia offers cultural experiences and has delicious food that is a party for your taste buds! You can even go on a safari unique to this region in neighboring Senegal. Exploring this country is a fun and interesting journey indeed!

The Best Time to travel to The Gambia
The Gambia has two seasons: a wet season and a dry season. The wet season is from June to October. The dry season is from November to May which typically has cool temps and a breeze. We traveled in October and there was not a drop of rain in sight, and the heat was definitely ON!

Vaccination ~ Speak with your doctor to check what vaccinations they recommend you have. The standard normally is to have malaria tablets with you just in case and get vaccinated for Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Typhoid.

Visa requirements to The Gambia
Most countries don’t require a visa to enter The Gambia. Check what the current requirement is for your country.

A bit of Gambia’s back story
The Gambia suffered under the rule of a dictator for 22 very long years. His brutal and reckless rule finally ended in 2001 but the damage and repercussions will take a while longer to fix. The Gambia, as a result, is a poor country, it is slowly however showing signs of recovery. The natives are so peaceful, friendly, and immensely proud of their country. We felt very safe traveling around, unlike other countries in Africa ripped apart by war and tribal & religious problems, here you will see none of that!

Practical Tips For The Gambia

• Would you like to help the locals? Bring pens and if possible and footballs to give to the children. We saw no one begging for money here but everywhere we went, children asked us for pens and footballs.

• Agree on the price when taking a taxi before you get on board, it will make things much easier.

• Do not drink tap water!

• Internet Coverage ~ Many of the hotels and resorts do have free WiFi for guests however, it is very unreliable. In general, data coverage is not very good yet throughout the country.

• The main religion in The Gambia is Islam; 90% are Muslim so please, dress respectfully.

• What should I pack for a trip to The Gambia? Casual, comfortable clothes are the best fit for this country. The vibe is very laid back here so comfy is the fashion trend here. The temperatures are very high as well as high humidity. Pack linen, bamboo, and cotton clothing, these fabrics will help keep you cool and are easy to wash and dry.

Additional information for first-time visitors to The Gambia in this post

Where to stay in The Gambia
We flew to Banjul and from there it was a short trip to Kololi where our hotel was ~ The Senegambia Beach Hotel is located on the beach right on the Senegambia strip, you’ll find bars and restaurants right outside your hotel door. Tasty and lively. This location is an absolute winner! Central for daily trips, nightlife, and the beach of course.

Other beautiful accommodations in The Gambia

African Princess Beach Hotel

Bungalow Beach Hotel

Tropic Garden Hotel

7 Things To See And Do In The Gambia

Enjoy The Beach ~ The locals love to hang out on the beach, it is a place for them to come together. When you walk down the beach, you’ll meet local fishermen, the staff of the little restaurants along the beach, and of course, others chilling and playing football. They will most likely ask you to join them in playing. It is a wonderful way to engage and get to know the Gambians. While walking down the beach, we made friends that took us to visit the surrounding areas in their jeep. They introduced us to their culture in a way we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. They even taught my son how to play the drums and do a traditional dance.

Visit The Capital, Banjul ~ History, culture, colors and organized cause are a perfect introduction to your African adventure.

Enjoy The Wildlife Around You ~ It’s magical! In our hotel and in most resorts in the area, the monkies are a regular fun encounter. Watch out for your bags though, they will rob you blind if you let them lol Visit the Kachikally Crocodile Pool ~ It is believed to have healing powers, locals come here for a blessing, worth a visit for sure. The different nature parks are proof of how humans & animals here co-exist in peace and respect.

MUST VISIT ~ Take a day trip to James Island better known as Kunta Kinteh Island ~ It tells the story of slavery. You’ll visit the ruins of an old fort and prison belonging to Colonial Britain. From here African slaves were transported to America. This historic journey goes back 200 years back in time to Alex Haley’s “Roots.”

Enjoy floating along the Gambia River or spend the day driving in a 4x4 ~ Both are great ways to explore! You can start your cruise at Janjanbureh, if you’re lucky you can spot hippos, crocodiles, and colorful birds along the way.

Visit a Local Market ~ My favorite is in Serrekunda, the largest town in The Gambia. This market is so rich in color; it is dynamic and you can find anything here you need.

Visit The Wassu Stone Circles ~ This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. The locals believe that if anyone disturbs the stones they will be cursed.

Bonus Travel Tips For The Gambia

Cross over to Senegal through Bara and enjoy a Safari in Reserve De Fathala ~ It was amazing! It is on a smaller scale, however, you will be able to see wildlife while coming so close to them, it will knock your socks off! Pro Tip ~ Make sure you have the right vaccinations with you, so you can cross the border! You’ll have to show your vaccination book in order to cross.

Taste the local food! If on the Senegambia strip, have lunch or dinner at the African Queen Restaurant.

The national sport here is wrestling believe it or not. Go watch a match in Banjul.

This trip to The Gambia has started an ongoing romance with this beautiful country and its people. Since coming back home, I am in touch with two wonderful individuals over there who are very involved within their communities, together we help local causes.

There is a wonderful non-profit organization in The Netherlands called www.goodsforgambia.nl they do great things! This charity makes it possible to send over goods often, easily, and for a very low price tag. One cause I’m proud to be committed to be sponsoring local schools in poor villages. With the help of kind people around me, we have sponsored two schools in two villages.

The children in The Gambia go to school, education is very important for them. Only they don’t have money for pens or even notebooks. Through donations, I was able to send 120 school kits made up of everything a child could want or need. We’re very proud of being able to make a difference in these children’s lives.

My second cause is to do with football. Through making small talk with our waiter one evening, football came up. He mentioned that he trains children voluntarily, teaching them football also so they don’t wander the streets. Sports help children focus, keeping them on the right path.

Ebrima, the trainer/waiter we met, had one ball and that was about it. My son Tristan plays football, it is a major part of our lives, we love the sport! We decided to sponsor both his teams’ ages 6 to 17. We designed uniforms and through additional donations, we made sure the children have football shoes and the coach has balls and other items he needs.

Our teams are called, ‘Tristan United.’ The boys and the coach insisted as a sign of respect and gratitude that my son’s name will be a part of the team’s name. We added United to send a message if we all came together, judge less, accepted more, and help each other, the world will be a better place! Wouldn’t you say?

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Before you go, don’t forget to follow me on social media for more unique travel content ~ @mytrenytrail

Yours,

Diti