Gambia travel guide

For most visitors, it starts with the beaches. You can opt for the plush transatlantic five-star retreat sampling every creature comfort imaginable, or choose a busy (but not overcrowded) Mediterranean-style resort zone spilling over with cheap and cheerful bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Or if you just want to while away the days reading, swimming and walking along a pristine stretch of palm-lined sand, then the lush Atlantic coastline has something to suit almost all tastes and budgets. 

Ideal winter break

Logistically, Gambia has a lot going for it too. It lies less than six hours from Europe by air, and the absence of a significant time difference means there is no risk of the jetlag associated with more far-flung tropical beach destinations. Moreover, the long West African dry season, when sunny skies, warm day temperatures and pleasant nights are all but guaranteed, runs from November to May, making for an ideal winter break. A major draw is undoubtedly the African setting. Also, lots of day tours venture beyond the tourist zones, whether it be a birding trip to Abuko or a visit to the sacred crocodile pool of Kachikally. More darkly, a “Roots Tour” to Juffureh and James Island provide a sobering insight into how West Africa was exploited by the transatlantic slave trade.  Longer excursions, taking you deeper into the interior, might include a boat trip to see chimps and hippos in River Gambia National Park. And while Gambia caters mainly to the beach package market, this most approachable of African countries also offers unlimited scope to independent travellers.