Introduction: Situated on the Atlantic coast in westernmost Africa and surrounded on three sides by Senegal, Gambia is twice the size of Delaware. The Gambia River flows for 200 mi (322 km) through Gambia on its way to the Atlantic. The country, the smallest on the continent, averages only 20 mi (32 km) in width.
We visited here for just a week on our honeymoon, and spent a whole three days by the hotel pool – it would have been great to relax but there’s just so much to see! The Gambia has on one side some beautiful beaches, absolute luxury, wonderful wildlife and amazing food. On the other, there is a high mortality rate, very low pay, low education, and everything else you might link to an poor African nation. However, the vast majority appreciate that tourism is one of their major incomes, and as a result are incredibly polite and friendly, and genuinely interested in you and what you do.
| Local name: | Republic of the Gambia | Flag: |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population: | 10,000,000 | Life expectancy: | 54.9 |
| Size: | 3,861 sq mi | Currency: | Dalasi |
| Capital: | Banjul | Capital population: | 46,700 |
| Language: | English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous | ||
| Religion: | Islam 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous 1% | ||
When we went: 1st December 2008 to 8th December 2008
Where we stayed: The Kairaba Hotel
Things we saw: A man balancing a fridge on his head, St. James island, a fish market by the river, monkey reserve, a family compound, Kim Kombo’s distillery run by two english brothers, rams being sold for Tabaski and said rams being transported any which way back to the compound (in the boot, on the roof etc). Virtually everything was booked through the local tour company Arch Tours, much better value than the Thomas Cook options, plus you don’t steam around the place in an air-conditioned coach with 50 other people, you bounce about in the back of the jeep either on your own or just one other couple! Alex & Solomon, you were absolute legends!)
The Food: Fantastic steak (particularly at Sherrillians, together with fantastic service!), excellent seafood, but you need a strong constitution for some of the local concoctions – they beat me!
The Drink: Very reasonable! About 5 dalasi (£1) out of the hotel, and lots of happy hours that mean if you time it well you can drink 50p beer all day. Some excellent fruit smoothies around, we can also recommend Chosaan as our favourite drinking hole – they manage to spell it four different ways in the same establishment!
Top five things to remember:The twin-pronged attack from the monkeys when our miserly offering was not enough, the most beautiful steak we have ever eaten, shaking hands with docile resting crocodiles, the monkeys fighting for territory in our hotel garden, that a Ju-ju rubbed in your footsteps can strike a man dead!
The not so good things:The begging of the kids for the sweets we took – next time we’re taking pencils! Plus I had delhi belly for most of the week, and had to visit a native cubicle far worse than that of Trainspotting fame…
Related galleries: Main Gambia gallery
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