Sub Saharan Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at WHO website has further details. Check Swine Flu for further information.
  
  
• You should not travel by road from The Gambia to the Casamance region in southern Senegal.  It remains affected by incidents involving presumed separatist groups and by incidents of banditry.  See the Local Travel section of this advice and the Travel Advice for Senegal for more details.
  
  
• Most visits to The Gambia are trouble-free.  31 British nationals required consular assistance in The Gambia in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (9 cases); hospitalisations (2 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (7 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (18 cases).  
  
  
• Care should be taken when driving or walking on roads, particularly at night, due to unpredictable driving standards and lack of street lighting.
  
  
• Malaria is common in The Gambia.  You should seek medical advice about taking anti-malarial medication before, during and after your visit.  In addition, you should take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.  See the Health section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel insurance for more details.