Travelers who wish to visit Gambia need a passport, visa and proof of yellow fever vaccination. Guests from countries where there is no Gambian consulate are given two working days from their arrival to secure visas from the Department of Immigration in Banjul. More information can be found at Travel.State.Gov.
Health and Safety
Be sure to bring your own sunscreen, stomach medication and insect repellent, as they tend to be expensive in Gambia. Travelers are also advised to get health insurance. If you are carrying prescription drugs, put them in labeled containers.
Water in resorts and urban areas is generally safe to drink, but do not consume unpasteurized milk unless it is boiled. Fruits must be washed and peeled, while fish, vegetables and meat should be properly cooked.
Giardiasis and other diarrhea-related diseases are common in Gambia. Travelers should avoid paddling or swimming in stagnant fresh water to avoid schistosomiasis or bilharzia. You should also be careful of getting hepatitis E which is widespread, and the endemic hepatitis B.
Vigilance should be used in public places where tourists are likely to be targets of crime and avoid traveling alone. Be careful when walking or driving late at night because streetlights are generally in poor condition.
Be wary of locals who try to stop you on the street to take you to another hotel which is a common scam used to rob tourists.