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