Gambia Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

West Africa.

Language

The official language is English. The most widely spoken local languages are Fula, Jola, Mandinka, Manjago, Serahule, Serer and Wolof.

Area

11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT.

Electricity

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either UK-style with three flat pins or Western European-style with three round pins.

Population

1.8 million (2009).

Population Density

159 per sq km.

Capital City

Banjul. Population: 38,828 (2003).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.

Head of State

President Al-Haji Yahya AJJ Jammeh since 1994.

Religion

Over 85% Muslim, with the remainder holding either Christian or animist beliefs.

Recent History

The River Gambia has been a busy trading zone since medieval times. During the colonial period, several European powers contested for ownership of the river. Britain eventually prevailed, declaring The Gambia a British colony in the late 18th century. A few visible remnants of the colonial years remain: weather-beaten stone fortresses, built to defend the river, and old merchants’ houses.

Since gaining independence in February 1965, The Gambia has enjoyed long spells of peace and stability but its economic development has been relatively slow. It retains strong connections with Britain and is one of the few parts of West Africa where English, rather than French, is the official language.

Yahya Jammeh was elected for a third term in the September 2006 presidential
elections, winning 67.3% of the vote. He came to power in a coup in 1994. The next elections are to be held in 2011.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +220. There are telecenters in the major towns but these are under threat from mobiles. The connection is generally good in main urban centers.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good around Banjul and most other towns, but patchy in remote rural areas.

Internet

Email can be accessed in internet cafes in major towns, where the connection is generally reliable but slow.

Media

State-run Gambia Radio and Television Service (GRTS) broadcasts tightly-controlled news that is heavily pro-government. Private media are severely restricted, with radio stations and newspapers having to pay large license fees. The government operates the only national television station, Gambia Television; Premium TV Network is a private satellite channel. Radio Gambia transmits programs in English and local languages.

A media bill passed in March 2002 was considered a threat to press freedom. The law set up a commission whose powers range from issuing licenses to jailing journalists. In 2004, further legislation was introduced allowing for jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or sedition. The assassination in 2004 of Deyda Hydara, an editor at The Point newspaper opposed to President Jammeh and one of the press law’s leading critics, further raised the stakes. Daily Observer and The Point are daily newspapers in English while The Independent and Foroyaa are bi-weekly.

Post

The postal service can be slow and unreliable; letters are generally ok but parcels and larger items frequently get lost. The main post office is on Russell Street, Banjul.Mon-Thurs 0800-1215 and 1400-1600, Fri 0830-1215 and 1430-1630, Sat 0830-1215.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas

2011
22 Jul Revolution Day
15 Aug Assumption
31 Aug Koriteh (End of Ramadan)
6 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Milad al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
18 Feb Independence Day
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
22 Jul Revolution Day
15 Aug Assumption
19 Aug Koriteh (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Koriteh, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted in a few instances.

Contact Information

British High Commission in The Gambia

48 Atlantic Road, Fajara, PO Box 507, The Gambia
Tel: (220) 4495 133
Website: www.ukingambia.fco.gov.uk

High Commission of the Republic of The Gambia in the UK

57 Kensington Court, London W8 5DG, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 6316/7/8.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1600, Fri 1000-1200.

The Gambia Tourism Authority in the UK

Same address as for High Commission.
Tel: (020) 7376 0093.
Website: www.visitthegambia.gm

Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia in the USA

Suite 600, 1424 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 785 1399 or 1425.
Website: www.gambiaembassy.us