Travel and Tourism

Travel and Tourism in The Gambia

Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to The Gambia.

Practical Information

Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.

Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Currency: Dalasi
Climate: Climate is subtropical with a distinct hot and rainy season from June to October, and a cooler dry season from November to May. The beginning and end of the rains are marked by high temperatures and high humidity, whereas the dry season is noted for the dusty and dry trade winds (harmattan) blowing in from the central Sahara. Temperatures range from a low of 48°F (9°C) in January to a high of 110°F (43°C) in October. Because of the cooling effect of the ocean, temperatures are lower along the coast than in the interior. Rainfall varies widely from year to year but ranges from an annual mean of 48 inches in the west to 34 inches upriver. Because of the humid climate and the salt air along the coast, metal rusts rapidly in The Gambia, and houses near the sea may be affected by the corrosive salt air. Termites abound year round in soils and woodwork. During the dry season, the harmattan winds blow in a fine dust. However, the moderate temperatures during the dry season with mostly sunny days give The Gambia one of West Africa’s more pleasant climates.
Ethnic Groups: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
National Holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Geographic Coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical facilities in The Gambia are very limited, some treatments are unavailable, and emergency services can be unpredictable and unreliable. Travelers should carry their own supplies of prescription as well as over-the-counter medicines or treatments. You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information. Malaria is a serious risk to travelers in The Gambia. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in The Gambia (and for up to one year after returning home) should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history, as well as what anti-malarial medications they have been taking.
Accessibility: While in The Gambia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation to be different from the United States. As per Department of State’s Human Rights Report, the Gambian constitution protects persons with disabilities in terms of access to health services, education, and employment. However, there are no laws to ensure access to buildings for persons with disabilities, and very few buildings in the country are accessible to them.

Degree of Risk: Very high
Animal-Contact Diseases: rabies
Food and Waterborne Diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Respiratory Diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Vectorborne Diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water-Contact Diseases: schistosomiasis