Gambia - Gambia

Gambia is a small state ofWest Africa almost completely surrounded by the Senegal with the exception of the point where the Gambia River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to the beaches and wildlife, the Gambia is known for the city of Jufureh, made famous by the novel Roots of Alex Haley.

To know

For a traveler interested inAfrica, The Gambia is an excellent destination: despite its small size, the country boasts a short but excellent coastline, a hinterland cloaked in dense forests and a river (the Gambia river of the same name) on whose banks there are fishing villages and traditional villages with several colonial style buildings.

Gambia is the smallest country on the African continent and is divided in two by the river of the same name. Its current borders were defined in 1889, after an agreement between UK is France.

Geographical notes

With a narrow and elongated shape, the Gambia follows the course of the homonymous river that originates in the Fouta-Djallon massif (Guinea). The territory is essentially made up of the floodplain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills - the highest point is only 53m above sea level and is less than 50km wide at its widest point.

When to go

The Gambia is characterized by the subtropical climate with two seasons: the cool and dry season from November to June, and the hot and rainy rainy season from July to October.

Drought is a serious problem, as rainfall has decreased by 30% over the past 30 years.

Background

Historically, culturally and linguistically linked to Senegal, The Gambia was divided from its neighbor in the 18th century by the European powers. Most of the region was conquered by the France, but a narrow piece of land around the Gambia River was ceded to the UK. It is this small area that became the Gambia. The Gambia has its historical / economic roots on the slave trade with European states.

Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom on February 18, 1965. A constitution was written on April 24, 1970, before being suspended in July 1994 and subsequently rewritten and approved in a national referendum on August 8, 1996. It was re-established in January 1997.

The Gambia formed a short-lived federation of the Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary votes in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. Elections have continued ever since, but with government intimidation and the detention of opposition leaders, they are not fully democratic.

Having ruled with an iron fist for over 20 years, during which time he withdrew Gambia from international organizations such as the Commonwealth and the International Court of Justice (IGC), Yahya Jammeh eventually lost the election to Adama Barrow in 2016. Although Jammeh initially refused defeat, Barrow fled to Senegal and Jammeh was eventually forced to resign and go into exile under the threat of military intervention from Gambia's neighbors. Since coming to power, Barrow has attempted to redress some of Jammeh's excesses, with the Gambia having since rejoined the IGC and the Commonwealth.

Spoken languages

Languages ​​spoken in addition toEnglish are: Mandingo (or Mandinka), Wolof, Fula and other indigenous languages.

Culture and traditions

A variety of ethnicities live in The Gambia, each preserving their own language and traditions. Ethnicity Mandinka is the largest, followed by Fula, Wolof, Jola, Serahule, Serers and Bianunkas. The Krio people, locally known as Aku, constitutes one of the smallest ethnic minorities in the Gambia. They are descendants of the Creole people of Sierra Leone and have traditionally been concentrated in the capital.

Territories and tourist destinations

The Gambia is divided into 5 divisions and a city district (the capital, Banjul), in turn made up of 37 districts.

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

The Gambia is becoming a popular tourist destination for Northern Europeans. Nowadays, many low-cost operators and vacationers offer airfares and accommodations at reasonable prices if desired.

Entry requirements

Passport, visa and yellow fever vaccination for travelers in transit from infected areas. The VISA is required at the consulate of Milan, the cost is 26 euros, obtaining time approximately 10 days, bring your passport valid for 6 months, 2 passport photos and the completed form.

Tourists from ECOWAS, Commonwealth countries and other countries not listed below, or tourists from all countries arriving in The Gambia on a charter flight can enter without a visa for up to 90 days. ECOWAS citizens can also enter with a passport or biometric identity card.

Citizens of Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United States of America, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine is Uzbekistan they need a visa to enter unless they are traveling as tourists on a charter flight.

Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Japan, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Macau, Mexico, Myanmar, Mongolia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam is Zimbabwe can enter the Gambia without a visa for up to 90 days, provided they obtain an entry clearance from the Gambian immigration prior to travel, unless they are traveling as tourists on a charter flight.

Citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, South Korea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Haiti, Gabon, Jamaica, Djibouti, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Rwanda, Seychelles, Syria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, Southern Sudan, East Timor is Yemen require a visa and / or entry clearance from Gambia immigration prior to travel.

Visas can be obtained from the Gambian High Commission a Dakar, in Senegal. Single-entry visas cost USD 100, XOF 35,000 (about USD 69, so a better deal!), And multiple-entry visas for three months cost XOF 30,000.

A single entry visa could certainly also be obtained at the border for 15,000 XOF, although the embassy in Dakar claims otherwise, as they try to get paid more money.

A list of countries whose citizens can enter without a visa is available on the website of the Gambian Tourist Board.

By plane

Banjul (IATA: BJL) has the only international airport in The Gambia. Vueling, a low cost airline, operates regular flights to / from Barcelona (Spain) with continuous connecting flights to many cities in Europe. Royal Air Maroc flies from Casablanca, Brussels Airlines from Brussels, Arik Air from Accra is Lagos, Turkish Airlines from Istanbul and Senegal Airlines from Dakar. During the tourist season (October to April), there are regular direct scheduled flights from cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Amsterdam, Frankfurt am Main and Brussels. Charter operators include First Choice Airways, Transavia and Arkefly.

By car

Sept-places or bush-taxi range from Dakar to Banjul and from Banjul a Ziguinchor.

You can use your own private car to drive from Senegal to the Gambia via the border town of Amdalai (or Amdallai), just north of Bar. The border crossing is quite simple. You will need your vehicle registration document (V5C). The road approaching the Senegal border is terrible and easier to drive near the road than on it. Check before you travel whether you are allowed to bring a right-hand drive vehicle, as there are conflicting reports on this possibility (even if it has been done).

On boat

Small fishing boats can be hired privately from Dakar and from the surrounding areas; although this can be quite expensive and slow if you are not good at bargaining.

On the train

The railway network is non-existent.

By bus

There are direct GPTC buses running from Bar (a ferry ride separates it from Banjul) to Dakar, but these are not recommended as they are slower than the bush-taxi.

How to get around

By car

An off-road vehicle is recommended if you plan to rent a car, as the roads are often in poor condition and only a minority of them are paved.

By hitchhiking

Never use the classic thumb as in Gambia it is an obscene gesture, instead say hello to the driver if you want a car to stop. As everywhere, hitchhiking is a rather risky attitude, so be careful which cars you get into and never hitchhiking at night. Also, Gambian drivers expect you to pay for the ride, so have some cash ready.

On boat

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

By taxi

There are two types of taxis: the green ones (tourist vehicles) and the yellow ones (normal vehicles). Green taxis are expensive and the price is fixed regardless of the number of passengers. Although there is no vehicle control system in The Gambia, these taxis must have some basic accessories such as working seat belts and signal lights. Yellow taxis are much cheaper and the price depends on the number of people inside. They are mainly used by locals and in many tourist areas it is forbidden to carry tourists. It is often worth a little walk to catch a yellow taxi.

By bike

You can rent a bike from virtually anyone who owns one at a negotiable rate. Cycling on main roads can be risky, as motorists' safety is unreliable, some roads are not well maintained, sand and steep side lanes can be dangerous, and pedestrians can walk or veer onto the road without warning. In high-traffic areas, taxis and vans often cut cyclists' paths to pick up potential passengers, and the horn can be used excessively to warn of an impending overtaking.

With guided tours

There are many companies offering guided tours in The Gambia.

There are also official tour guides who will arrange transportation and guide you. They offer good service and you will travel in a small group (usually 1 to 6 people). Beware that there are fake official guides, so always meet them in their offices, near tourist resorts.

What see

Don't miss the World Heritage Sites in The Gambia.

13.26235-16.78951 Sanyang Beach it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Gambia. Public transport departs regularly from Serekunda is Brikama. Private taxis can be hired for day trips.

What to do

• Kachikally Sacred Crocodile Pond (Kachikally sacred crocodile pool) (Bakau), ☎ 220 7782479, @[email protected]. 50 GMD. Possibility of touching / stroking the Nile crocodiles of theWest Africa. 
• 4x4 adventures - Very popular tours visiting schools, country houses and distilleries.
• Tour "Roots"on the island of Kunta Kinteh - You can go on a cruise to the center of the wide Gambia River, to the former French trading post of Albreda and the village of Jufureh. River bank views are distant. Visit the Roots set, an old slave trading post. Tourists are overwhelmed by the locals who only appear when the boat arrives and disappear when the boat departs. Locals are persistent in asking for money and pushing handicrafts under the tourists' noses. The locals insist on getting paid to appear in the photos. Alternatively you can go by car, for example with the official tour guides on the small roads of the north bank and set sail on a Jufureh pirogue.

Currency and purchases

The national currency is the Dalasi (GMD), indicated by the symbol "D.". The dalasi is divided into 100 butut. The banknotes are available in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 GMD and coins of 0.25, 0.50 and 1 GMD could be found in circulation. Euros are not accepted and it is not easy to change them. It is advisable to enter the country with dollars or CFA francs. Credit cards are not generally accepted either and only a few businesses accept travelers checks. If you have a Visa credit card that does not use a PIN, the only bank that can help is GT Bank a Banjul (the largest in the country), which only requires your card, passport and your signature. However, the cards of the MasterCard and Visa circuits can be used in any ATM of the GT Bank or EcoBank to withdraw cash.

There Monetary Zone of West Africa (West African Monetary Zone - WAMZ), which includes the following states: Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, adheres to Economic Community of West African States (Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS / Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - CEDEAO) .WAMZ intends to introduce a single currency called Echo.

Below are the links to know the current exchange rate with the main world currencies:

(EN) With Google Finance:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
With Yahoo! Finance:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With XE.com:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With OANDA.com:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD

Souvenir

• Kora it is the main musical instrument of the Mandinga tribe and could be considered the national instrument of the Gambia. It is 21-stringed and constructed from a large pumpkin cut in half and covered with cowhide to create a speaker cabinet. It looks like a cross between harp and flamenco guitar. Royal koras can be very expensive but small souvenir versions are also available.
• Tailored suits can be purchased at affordable prices.
• Wood carvings
• Wooden masks
• African drums
• Runner and placemats hand-woven
• Batik and tie-dye fabric

Markets

• Brikama Market. Large market with some interesting shops, including some dedicated to batik. 
• Brikama Craft Market (About 10 km north of Brikama). 20/30 small shops with mainly wood carvings. Better selection than similar shops in tourist attractions and hotels. 
• Gena Bes Batiks, Salung St, 16 (TO Bakau between the old Kachikally cinema and the crocodile pond), ☎ 220 449 5614. From 1,000 GMD. Pretty batiks. 

Other

• Cigarettes - Cigarettes can be bought very cheaply at around € 2.80 per pack of 200, from all major supermarkets or tourist areas.

At the table

Typical agreements of the country are: domoda also known as mafe, benachin or Jollof rice, plasa, a vegetable soup, and niambo niebe.

• Benachin or Jollof rice - a traditional rice dish fromWest Africa with onions, spices, tomatoes or tomato paste mixed with meat, fish or vegetables.
• Chicken Yassa - Boiled chicken with onion, black pepper and lime or lemon.
• Domoda - Meat stew with rice sauce and peanut butter.
• Peanuts - There are various types and they are the main crop of the Gambia.
• International food - Don't be put off by what you might hear about Gambian cuisine, everything can come with rice, but the cuisine is international and the fish is outstanding. But if you are looking for something your stomach is used to, then there is a plethora of international restaurants to choose from where you can have a Chinese or Indian curry, the good old fish & chips or noodles Japanese, and there are restaurants too Thais, Lebanese, Germans, Dutch is Mexicans but also restaurants British where you can have a full English breakfast.

Drinks

• Beer - National beer is worth trying Julbrew, produced by Banjul Breweries, which is also made soft drinks. Julbrew is a lager beer, mostly sold by the bottle, but it is possible to have it on tap which is much less carbonated than bottled beer.
• Palm wine - Palm juice that is collected and fermented. It is used as a type of wine by the locals and you might have a chance to try it if you go on a tour in rural Gambia.
• Baobab juice
• Distillates - You can have most of the famous spirits and liqueurs in the tourist areas along the coastal strip. Most spirits are still much cheaper than Greece or Turkey.
• Liqueurs - Whiskey, rum, gin, vodka and brandy are readily available as is the Curaçao and the Tia Maria.

Tourist infrastructure

There are many 4 and 5 star luxury resorts along the Atlantic coast. On the territory there are ecological camps and lodges that offer basic accommodation usually in the natural environment.

Events and parties

National holidays

Being a nation with a strong Muslim presence, in addition to the Christian ones, the anniversaries of Islam are also celebrated.

May 25 is considered a double celebration because it coincides with Yahya Jammeh's birthday.

The Muslim holiday of Eid which is celebrated by virtually all Gambians and is a 2-3 day event during which up to 250,000 animals are slaughtered to provide food for the holiday. It is also a time when Gambians, especially women, don their finest robes and buy new clothes up to 3,000 GMD (Gambian dalasi).

Safety

There are a number of scams commonly used in Gambia. We may be stopped on the street by someone who says they saw us at our hotel where they work and we may be invited to go to another hotel, where attempts at theft occasionally take place. Also, as people are constantly looking for ways to support themselves, if they offer assistance or guidance, they may expect compensation before they leave us.

Unfortunately, many Gambian military have a negative view of British (sometimes whites in general) and can be extremely racist. Expect it especially at border crossings, as you will almost always be asked to pay for the stamp on your passport and to receive some insults aimed not only at your country, but also at yourself if you refuse to pay. Usual, not never pay bribes to avoid worsening the problem, not only to future tourists but also to locals who are already struggling to fight rampant corruption. Absolutely not to mention calling an embassy as this will only infuriate them, resulting in another round of abuse, as in reality their own embassy has no control over them. If you have made friends with a Gambian, they may be able to help, but as Gambia is seen as one of the most repressive countries in Africa, he could be at risk of punishment, so don't be annoyed if he does nothing in practice.

There are also scams in which the marijuana it is offered to tourists or they are invited to smoke it in a house, resulting in the police waiting for a hefty bribe. A simple "I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry"may be enough to dismiss them. But don't tell them why you're in a hurry and don't say anything else as this could lead to a conversation and this could lead to unwanted attention and possibly a scam. Also remember that some Bumstersnot they are unemployed or young and you don't have to never be enchanted by their tearful stories. If you give a person money out of sympathy or just to get rid of it, that person will be definitely induced to ask for more at a later time, if she were to meet again. Some recommend a sharp and stern response to such requests. Keep in mind that you might see this person again and it could really be helpful if you are in traffic or if you generally need information. Many people in tourist areas are simply "friendly facilitators" who may hope for an exchange of favors, but they are harmless. Being too cautious may deny you an offer to join a local family for a traditional meal or personally meet one of the artisans who sell the local produce.

The Gambia is a great holiday destination, but it's good to always keep your guard up.

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

Pay attention to your own political views, as such critical views against the government are considered a crime.

Active homosexuals could be in extreme danger in The Gambia, subject to possible arrests or even killings.

Health situation

The whole health system is developing.

Vaccination against yellow fever is strongly recommended. Vaccination against the meningitis. The antimalarial prophylaxis . Most cases of malaria in The Gambia are contracted between June and December. Mefloquine, doxycycline and malarone are the medicines to be used in Gambia and most of sub-Saharan Africa, due to the increasing resistance to chloroquine. Vaccination against thehepatitis A and B.

It is good practice to bring insect repellents, sun creams and other health items from your country as these can be difficult to find in some areas.

Residents say thetap water It is drinkable, but bottled or boiled water is recommended for travelers, as they could get sick from the different minerals and microbes in the water.

Respect the customs

Homosexuality is considered a crime and is punished with death.

Always ask before taking a photo of anyone. Some Gambians have certain beliefs about how to be photographed, particularly by a stranger.

How to keep in touch

Telephony

Telephone boxes are located in the main towns and on the coast it is also possible to find internet cafes.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Gambia
• Commons contains images or other files on Gambia
• Wikiquote contains quotes from or on Gambia
• Wikinews contains current news on Gambia