Gambia Safari Tours & Holidays

The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It’s known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas and rare birds, the main capital Banjul and nearby Serrekunda offer access to beach holidays.

The wildlife of The Gambia forms one of the most memorable elements of any trip to the country, offering endless unforgettable encounter opportunities, whether in the grounds of your hotel or in the realms of a sprawling nature reserve.

One of the best ways to spot some of The Gambia’s most famous species is to embark on one of our specialists’ guided safaris though others may prefer to go DIY and plan their own wildlife trips. Whichever way you choose to discover the country’s beautiful and intriguing inhabitants.

Hidden away in the beautiful African bush along a tributary of the River Gambia, Mandina lodges is set within the heart of nature, and quite often you’ll find that during a stay here, nature will in fact come to find you.

Besides the several baboons and other monkeys that roam freely around Mandina, the birdlife discovered out on the water is incredible. An early morning canoe ride is a great way of catching the area’s birdlife at its most active, and you can expect to see an abundance of kingfishers, herons and weaver birds, amongst many other species.

How to get to the Gambia

Titan Airways and Small Planet Airlines offer twice-weekly flights from Birmingham (BHX) and Manchester (MAN) to Banjul during the winter months. Air Brussels also flies from Birmingham to Banjul with a stopover in Brussels, while Royal Air Morac flies from Manchester with a layover in Casablanca.

Passport, Visa and Entry requirements for The Gambia

The Government of The Gambia requires visitors to obtain a visa upon entering the country. You must have at least one blank page in your passport for the stamp. Tourist travellers are typically granted a 30-day stay in The Gambia upon arrival.

The health sector of Gambia

Gambia’s health sector has over the years been under great pressure due to a number of factors: the high population growth rate, inadequate financial and logistic support, shortage of adequately and appropriately trained health staff, high attrition rate and lack of efficient and effective referral system. so travellers can access private hospitals but you will need a travel insurance

Malaria and Yellow fever vaccination for the Gambia

Some vaccines are recommended or required for the Gambia. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for the Gambia: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis and tetanus.

Malaria is a risk in The Gambia. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Currency of Gambia

The Gambian Dalasi is the official currency for the Gambia, a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country in Africa, surrounded by Senegal, except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia River, the nation’s namesake, flows through the country’s centre and before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

Official Language of Gambia

The Gambia is a former British Colony and the official language is English but there are also several tribal languages including Mandinka and Wolof. Educated in English, most Gambians are at least bilingual.

Best time to travel to the Gambia

The weather is always warm, thanks to its position of the equator, but the best time to visit the Gambia is the long dry season of mid-October to early June when the roads will be passable, and the weather is good for wildlife visits and beaches.

What to wear in the Gambia

Both The Gambia and Senegal are conservative, predominantly Muslim countries. Away from beaches and pools, backpackers should always dress modestly. Cotton or natural fibres are always preferable in the heat and do not bring anything white if you want it to stay that way.

What to bring while travelling to The Gambia

Casual, comfortable clothes are the key when travelling in The Gambia. The local way of life is very laid back and relaxed.

During the day it’s hot, so our advice is to pack lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics such as linen, bamboo and cotton that will keep you cool and are easy to wash and dry.
The local dress is bright and colourful.
But do avoid blue or black clothing – the tsetse flies are drawn to these colours, and their bite can give you African sleeping sickness.
Mosquitoes are most active around late afternoon and through the evening. We strongly recommend you take a good insect repellent with you. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers will also help.
Wear plenty of sunscreen protection), sunglasses and a sunhat.
It would be wise to bring along a versatile travel jacket. We like the SCOTe VEST travel jacket because it has excellent storage (specifically tailored for travelling), can convert into a vest during warmer months and includes RFID security features.

Car hire and driving in the Gambia

Self-drive hire is expensive in The Gambia and often not worth the effort if you don’t really know your way around. Then you will need to consider if you need a 4×4. Otherwise, highway taxi transport is very cheap in European terms. By December the sand roads will be dry again, but this is very SOFT sand in parts and rocks and rubble gets dumped in the puddles during the rains so we all have to work out where the new ones are and/or follow a local. If you do hire wait to get here, a few companies advertise along the main highway and face to face you pay in cash, see the car and the documents and can get a better deal. Even then they may offer you a driver door to door! Save your arms and your nerves.

Accommodation in the Gambia

Banjul is the capital and the largest city in The Gambia. Has decent accommodation but outside of Gambian capital Banjul this start getting remote and clients planning a safari to the Gambia should ensure they pre-book accommodation in Advance.

Local food of Gambia

Domoda is the national dish of Gambia. It is a delicious “groundnut stew” (peanuts) consisting of whatever vegetable happens to be available, typically pumpkin or sweet potatoes, and a saucy base.

Tipping while Travelling in the Gambia

When you are staying in the major hotels it is expected that you are going to give a tip. Room service personnel also expect tips, but it is wiser to give them a small gratuity of about £1-2 a couple of times a week, than waiting until your departure.

Further information for The Gambia

The Gambia is a West African county that is mainland Africa’s smallest. The borders generally follow the Gambia River, which flows through the middle of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The estimated 2019 population is 2.23 million, which ranks 146th in the world and the area is 10,500 sq.

Safety of Gambia

The Gambia is reasonably safe as long as you take sensible precautions to safeguard your personal possessions. There are a number of checkpoints operating in and around the capital Banjul. Expect your vehicle to be searched if you’re stopped by security forces.