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Flights to Gambia: Tips for visiting Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, usually shortened to Gambia, is the smallest continental African country. It's an increasingly popular holiday destination among UK travellers, providing an authentic taste of West African life while offering pleasant weather, sandy beaches, an interesting history, diverse wildlife and unique architecture.
Many trips to Gambia focus on the capital, Banjul. However, Gambia has a whole lot more to offer, including historic fishing villages and some of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves. From boat trips on the Gambia River to up-close encounters with animals, there's plenty to keep you entertained on a solo holiday or a family adventure. Explore our deals on flights to Gambia and start planning your next holiday!
Gambia travel tips
Before booking your flights to Gambia, it's important to have the essential travel information at hand. In the sections below, you can learn about everything from the official language spoken in the country to the currency used. You'll also learn the best times to visit Gambia and the duration of a typical London to Gambia flight.
Gambia at a glance
Flight duration (from London): 6 hours, 20 minutes
Main airport: Yundum International Airport (AKA Banjul International Airport)
Population: 2.5 million
Official language: English
Currency: Gambian dalasi
Socket types: Type G (no adapter required)
Time zone: Greenwich Mean Time
Airlines offering flights to Gambia: Royal Air Maroc, Brussels Airlines
When to visit Gambia
For most travellers, the best times to visit Gambia are from October until December or from May until June. This helps to ensure you'll have plenty of sunshine and dry weather while avoiding the most uncomfortable periods. December is a great choice for a winter sun holiday, but it's also the peak of the tourist season.
If you'd prefer smaller crowds, especially on the beaches and around key attractions, it may be best to aim for the May to June period. During this time, the weather is still pleasant, but the crowds have eased.
January until April is also viable for travel, but it can be windy, with April being the windiest month. Nevertheless, this time period is worth considering, especially if you can get a great last-minute deal.
Things to do in Gambia
Prior to booking flights and hotels, it can be a good idea to get a sense of the different things you can do in Gambia so you can understand if it's the right destination for your needs. In the sections that follow, you can learn about key attractions, interesting places to visit and activities to try.
Explore the capital of Banjul
Banjul is the capital city of Gambia and has a population of more than 400,000 people, making it the busiest settlement in the country. While you're in Banjul, both the Gambia National Museum and the African Heritage Museum can provide a sense of the history of the region and help you embrace local culture.
Why not take a boat ride along the River Gambia or shop at the Albert Market? Alternatively, just outside of Banjul itself, you'll find Bijilo Forest Park, commonly known as Monkey Park. Here, you'll have the opportunity to come face-to-face with patas monkeys, green monkeys, monitor lizards and Gambian sun squirrels.
Visit the beaches in Gambia
When making your holiday packing list for Gambia, don't forget to pack some beachwear and your swimming costume because Gambia's sandy beaches are the perfect place to spend an afternoon. In particular, the beaches near Serekunda are perfect for water sports, including jet skiing and sea kayaking.
Kololi is a resort town and includes the Senegambia Strip, which is home to restaurants and clubs. Batukunku Beach, meanwhile, is a great destination if you want to base your holiday around beach activities, offering various beach rentals. Alternatively, Sanyang Beach is another popular option with tourists and provides a great atmosphere.
Get closer to the natural world
Located in the Kombo Central District, Makasutu Culture Forest is a 1,000-hectare woodland reserve, which is easily accessible from Banjul. Guided walks within the area allow you to experience this varied landscape, which includes everything from savannah plains to wetlands and dense forests. The reserve also offers one of the most sustainable ways to explore Gambia, which can appeal to the more eco-conscious tourists.
Along the way, you'll encounter an array of Gambia's native wildlife, including monitor lizards, pygmy deer, baboons, vervet monkeys and a variety of reptiles and birds. You'll have opportunities to explore on a boat, while during the guided walks, you'll benefit from local knowledge and expertise and get to experience the full natural beauty of the forest.
FAQs about Gambia holidays
Q: How long should you stay in Gambia?
A: For most travellers, one week will provide a sufficient amount of time to experience the key attractions, enjoy the capital city of Banjul and explore Gambia's beaches. If you want a more relaxed stay, with plenty of time to visit some of the more remote locations, you might prefer to stay for 10 days or even two weeks. This will provide plenty of time to go off the beaten track, take in the local culture and truly engage with Gambian ways of life.
Q: Is Gambia cheap to visit?
A: Gambia is generally considered to be one of the cheaper African holiday destinations to visit, and this factors in expenses like flights, accommodation and day-to-day living expenses while in the country. You can make your visit cheaper still by prioritising meals outside of your hotel, rather than eating in hotel restaurants. Generally, local restaurants in Gambia's towns, cities and coastal areas will charge less for meals, and you'll get to sample authentic cuisine, too.
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