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Visit The Smilling Coast
Lovely Sunny Gambia
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Introduction:
Unspoilt and unforgettable, this little country gives you a taste of
Africa’s vibrant culture, incredible slave-trading history, exotic
wildlife and friendly people all in one amazing holiday, with glorious
golden sand the backdrop for each resort.
On Africa's warm west coast, this narrow strip heads inland from the
Atlantic Ocean, following the path of the River Gambia.
Memorable moments:
Paddle dugout canoes in the glittering waters of Makasutu's winding
mangrove creeks, glimpsing birds and monkeys as you glide past Gambian
women picking oysters from the riverbanks.
Beaches:
Gambia's beaches are beginning to flourish after years of coastal
erosion, thanks to a renovation programme aided by the government and a
First Choice representative agent. The programme assists the development
of local schools and tourist guides. On many beaches, warm soft sand
stretches for miles, scattered with drinks stalls and pretty shells.
Explore your destination
Here’s a little taste of what’s on offer: for more excursion ideas,
speak to your Rep.
River Cruise
Enjoy a relaxing day cruising down the River Gambia, where you can soak
up the sun, surrounded by beautiful wildlife and gorgeous scenery and
even take a dip in the river.
Roots Tour
Follow in the footsteps of writer Alex Haley, who famously travelled to
Gambia to meet descendents of his ancestor, Kunte Kinte. You’ll see the
old slave market and Fort St James, where they were imprisoned.
Jeep Safari
A jam-packed day, where you’ll visit a local school, see Paradise Beach
and travel through the Gambian jungle. Finally, you’ll sample freshly
made chocolate and banana liqueur at a local factory.
Food & Drink
The larger resorts offer Italian, Indian, British and traditional
Gambian cuisine, rich in flavour and heavily based on fish and peanuts.
Try Domoda, a meat and puréed nut stew, served with rice, or fresh
Barracuda. Dine alfresco, sipping banana cocktails or Banjul's lager,
JulBrew.
Information
Language: English (and tribal languages). Currency: Dalasi. Debit cards
are generally not accepted and credit cards only in limited places.
Standard GMT: +0hrs. Gambian Tourist Office: 57 Kensington Court, London
W8 5DG. Tel: 020 7376 0093. www.visitthegambia.gm
NB: A £5 Tourist Tax, per person, may be payable upon arrival.
Health hints: We would like to emphasise customers should obtain medical
advice on precautions prior to travel, particularly in relation to
malaria tablets.
Nightlife:
Listen to drumbeats and watch colourful African dancing, as local groups
in tribal dress spill onto the streets. Have a flutter in Kololi Beach's
casino or head to its few friendly bars and clubs.
Excursions:
See dolphins play in the River Gambia. Visit famous Juffureh, birthplace
of Kunte Kinte, the slave immortalised in Alex Hayley's Pulitzer Prize
winning book, 'Roots'; hear his tale and see Albreda's freedom flagpole
and Fort James Island. Glimpse birds and wildlife in the beautiful
Makasutu and Abuko nature reserves, visit village schools on the
off-road Truck Safari and meet Charlie at Katchikally Crocodile Pool.
Shopping:
Gambia's vibrant markets are an unmissable experience. Barter for
woodcarvings, including masks, bowls and traditional games crafted in
front of you. Buy silver jewellery and beautiful batik. Official tourist
guides are inexpensive and help you find bargains!
Travel Foundation
First Choice is supporting The Travel Foundation, the UK charity caring
for places you love to visit. With your help, in the Gambia the Travel
Foundation has
• trained locals to set up well-run businesses, providing you with fresh
juices and crafts, enabling Gambians to support their families and send
their children to school
Find out more at
www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk
Find cheap Holidays to The Gambia
http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/gambia/
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Important
travel information for tourist |
 Entry
Requirements |
 Health
Requirements |
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Citizens of the
United Kingdom, full members of the European Union, the
Commonwealth, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
and other nations with a reciprocal visa abolition agreement
with The Gambia do not require a visa to enter the country;
whether on holiday or on a business trip not exceeding 90 days.
All other
nationalities should possess a visa, which is available from any
of the Gambian embassies and consulates: London, Paris,
Washington DC, Brussels,Taipei, Rabat, Jeddah, Havana, Dakar,
Lagos, Freetown and Guinea Bissau. However, tourists and others
traveling on last minute bookings will be allowed entry but will
be required to submit their passport to the Department of
Immigration in Banjul within 48 hours to be issued a proper
visa. |
An
International Certificate of Vaccination is no longer compulsory
for visitors to The Gambia. However,
a yellow fever vaccination will be required for visitors
arriving from infected areas. The last outbreak of yellow fever
in The Gambia was in 1978 and there is no immediate danger to
visitors. Anti-malaria medicine is however recommended and
visitors should consult their doctors on which pills to take.
Visitors are also advised to bring along insect repellents,
sunburn, anti-fungal creams and disinfectant. They may prove
expensive or unobtainable in certain parts of the country. There
are several hospitals and clinics operated by the Government as
well as by private practitioners which provide both therapeutic
and preventative health. |
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For Further Inquires Please
Contact The Following: |
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 United
Kingdom
The Gambia Tourism Authority
57 Kensington Court, London W8 5DG UK Tel: +44(0) 207 376 0093,
+44(0) 207 937 6316 / 7
Fax: + 44(0) 207 9379095
e-mail: office@ukgta.fsnet.co.uk
The High Commission of The Republic of The Gambia
57 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DG UK
Tel: +44(0) 207 9376361, Fax: +44(0) 207 9379095 |
 Germany
Gambia Tourism Authority
Feuerbachstr.26, 40223 Düsseldorf, Germany
Tel: ++49 (0) 2114939584
Fax: ++49 (0) 2114939586,
mobile: ++49(0)1633330863
e-mail: badjie@bap-consulting.de |
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 United
States of America
Embassy of The Gambia
1155, 15th Street, N.W., Suite 100 Washington DC, U.S.A.
Tel: 202 785 1399
Fax: 202 785 1430 |
 Sweden
Gambia Tourism Authority
Drottninggatan 35, 411 14 Goteborg, Sweden
Tel: + 46 (0) 31 13 66 50, Fax: + 46(013 68 03
e-mail: info@gambiainfo.com |
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We wish you a pleasant journey! |
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 Travel
Insurance
Visitors are advised to take a comprehensive travel
insurance in advance of travel covering the following:
• Baggage
• Injury
• Death
• Illness
• Personal belongings
• Baggage damage / loss or delay |
 Duty
Free
The following goods and quantities may be imported into The
Gambia duty free:
• Cigarettes – 200 sticks.
• Cigars – 50 sticks.
• Tobacco – 250 grams.
• Spirit – 1 litre Beer or wine 1 litre.
• Other goods – up to a value of D1000.00.
For further information on duty free, please contact the
Director General of Customs and Excise in Banjul. |
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 By
Air
There are a number of tour operator chartered flights to The
Gambia. Most of these operate only in the winter months of
November to April. Some charters operate
throughout the year as do scheduled airlines serving Banjul
International Airport. |
 By
Road
If you are already in the West African sub-region, you can
travel to The Gambia by road.
There is a road link between Dakar and Banjul and the journey
will take between five and six hours. There is also a road link
with Ziguinchor, in Southern Senegal, and Bissau. However, a
four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. |
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From UK
The Gambia Experience Thomson Holidays My travel
(Airtours, Panorama, Direct) Cosmos, First Choice,
JMC, United.
From Holland
Olympia, Sunair, Sunrise.
From Belgium
SN Brussels Airlines (scheduled) Thomas Cook
/ Neckermann / Sunsnacks.
From the United States
Ethiopian Airlines (to be scheduled).
From Dakar
Air Senegal International, Slok Air.
From Germany
Condor.
From Sweden
My Travel.
From Spain
Spanair |
 By
Sea
Banjul has a deep-sea port, which receives several cruise ships
a year. Container ships and other freighters call into Banjul
Port from all over the world as well.
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source visitthegambia.com |
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More information available at
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