Sub Saharan Africa
Gambia, The
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Still current at: 25 July 2008
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Updated: 09 June 2008
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(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
See entire profile
Travel Summary
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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.
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Most visits to The Gambia are trouble-free. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in The Gambia in 2007 were for dealing with arrest or detentions (13 cases) and replacing lost and stolen passports (35 cases). Crime against tourists is increasing and you should take sensible precautions, and remain vigilant, in public places.
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Care should be taken when driving or walking on roads, particularly at night, due to unpredictable driving standards and lack of street lighting.
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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.
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The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- We strongly 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 the "Travel Insurance" page on the FCO website for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Crime
Attacks on tourists are increasing. You should not take valuables or large sums of money to the beach or display them in public. The more popular beaches are usually manned by tourist police or hotel security. Visiting isolated beaches is riskier and you should take particular care in those instances.
Visitors, both male and female, should be particularly cautious of young men locally known as “bumsters” who approach tourists, particularly on beaches, offering unsolicited help. Bumsters often use romance in the hope of gaining money or other assistance. We advise you be polite but firm in declining unwanted help or attempts at conversation.
Theft from vehicles is also increasing. Valuables should not be left in unattended vehicles.
Visitors, both male and female, should be particularly cautious of young men locally known as “bumsters” who approach tourists, particularly on beaches, offering unsolicited help. Bumsters often use romance in the hope of gaining money or other assistance. We advise you be polite but firm in declining unwanted help or attempts at conversation.
Theft from vehicles is also increasing. Valuables should not be left in unattended vehicles.
You should take precautions in unlit areas or in places away from the Tourist Development Area.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
The Gambia is a multi-party state and elections are held every five years. The Presidential elections took place in September 2006. The National Assembly elections took place on 25 January 2007. Both passed off peacefully.
You are advised to avoid political gatherings and demonstrations.
You are advised to avoid political gatherings and demonstrations.
Local Travel
You should not travel by road from the Gambia to the Casamance in southern Senegal. The Casamance region of south western Senegal (the area of Senegal due south of The Gambia) remains affected by incidents involving presumed separatist groups and by incidents of banditry. You should note that we advise against all road travel in the Casamance region to the west of Kolda, other than on the N4 national highway, for which we advise against all but essential road travel, ando n the main road from Ziguinchor to Cap Skiring which is often used by groups of tourists during the daylight hours. See the Travel Advice for Senegal for more details.
Travel to other areas in The Gambia is reasonably safe as long as sensible precautions are taken to safeguard your baggage and personal possessions.
Road Travel
You can drive on a UK driving licence for up to three months.
Driving standards are unpredictable and some local taxis are not roadworthy. Driving after dark carries added hazards because of poor road and vehicle lighting. For this reason, you should exercise particular caution when walking along roads at night. In the event of an accident, emergency medical facilities are very limited.
During the rainy season (June to October) potholes on roads are common and you should take care when driving. Poor roads up-country make travel outside of the Greater Banjul area difficult year round.
Security checkpoints are common on all major routes in The Gambia. They are not always well sign-posted and care should be taken when approaching them, especially at night.
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm
Local laws and customs
Local laws reflect the fact that The Gambia is a Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims (though children under the age of puberty are not required to fast). For more general information see Travelling During Ramadan.
The Gambian authorities will take strong action against anyone importing, exporting or found in possession of drugs or contraband. You should not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents.
The Gambian authorities will take strong action against anyone importing, exporting or found in possession of drugs or contraband. You should not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents.
New laws were introduced in 2003 to tackle the problems associated with travelling child sex offenders. In particular, there are heavy penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child.
Foreign visitors to the Gambia need to carry an ID with them at all times.
Although there are no laws specifically covering homosexuality in the Gambia, the Gambian Criminal Code states that any person who has, or attempts to have, "carnal knowledge" of any person "against the order of nature" is guilty of a felony and could face imprisonment. The Gambian courts may interpret homosexual acts as falling under this part of the Code. The Code also states that gross indecency between men, whether in public or private, is a felony and anyone committing this felony could face imprisonment. Any private citizen has the power of arrest for these offences. We have received reports that the police are actively enforcing this Code. There are no current reports of any attacks on homosexuals. There are no gay clubs in the Gambia.
Photography of military and official installations is prohibited.
For more general information see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas
There are no entry requirements for British citizens visiting for up to 28 days. For visits in excess of 28 days, permission has to be obtained from the Gambian Immigration Department at their offices in Banjul. Extensions cost D250 for each additional month.
Passport Validity
Gambian authorities require that passports have a minimum of three months' validity.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Gambian High Commission.
Yellow Fever Certificate
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission. This is particularly relevant for those travelling to the Gambia from neighbouring African countries.
Health
Medical facilities in The Gambia are very limited and the cost of medical evacuation can be very high. Private clinics will only treat fee-paying patients.
If you intend to bring prescription medicaton you should also bring a copy of your prescription and keep items in the original packaging.
Water borne diseases and malaria are common in the Gambia throughout the year. The risk of malaria is greater during the months of June to November. In November 2005, two British natioinals died from malaria after travelling to The Gambia.
In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 19,000 adults aged 15 or over in The Gambia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.4% of the adult population. This co,mpares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK or around 0.2%. You shoudl eercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to the Gambia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on endemic diseases, like malaria, health outbreaks and vaccination requirements for The Gambia you should check the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general information see Travel Health.
Natural Disasters
Floods are common during the rainy season (June‑October), but do not normally impact on tourists.
General
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
If you are a long-stay visitor you should register at the British High Commission in Banjul.
Money
You are advised to bring travellers' cheques or cash to The Gambia because only a few places accept credit cards. Bureaux de Change and local banks do not. There is an ATM in the tourist area of Senegambia and several other locations which accept VISA but not MASTERCARD.
Money
You are advised to bring travellers' cheques or cash to The Gambia because only a few places accept credit cards. Bureaux de Change and local banks do not. There is an ATM in the tourist area of Senegambia and several other locations which accept VISA but not MASTERCARD.
Travel advice for this country
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contacts
Gambia, Banjul, British High Commission
Address:
British High Commission
48 Atlantic Road
Fajara (PO Box 507)
Banjul
Telephone:
(220) 4495133
(220) 4495134
(220) 4497590 Visa
Fax:
(220) 4496134
(220) 4497583 Visa
Email: bhcbanjul@fco.gov.uk
Office hours:
GMT: (Local Time = GMT)
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1500
Fri: 0800-1300
