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The Gambia Highlights and Events
Travel in The Gambia with Intrepid
The smallest nation on the African mainland, countries don’t come much more compact - and traversable - than The Gambia. Less than 50 km across at its widest point, this tiny sliver of land streaking Senegal’s midriff is oft bypassed, or swiftly passed through, in favour of exploring its more well-known neighbour. Yet a spell in The Gambia itself will be richly rewarded. Home to magnificent birdlife, pristine beach getaways, and lush tropical woodlands, iddy-biddy Gambia just goes to show that size ain’t everything.
Experience The Gambia's highlights on these trips
Dakar to Ghana
56 days
Basix
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USD $5,360*CAD $5,347*AUD $5,193*EUR €4,069*GBP £3,254*NZD $6,622*ZAR R40,596*CHF FR4,691** Total price tool tip
Nomadic West Africa Eastbound
36 days
Basix
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USD $3,775*CAD $3,763*AUD $3,655*EUR €2,867*GBP £2,291*NZD $4,664*ZAR R28,583*CHF FR3,302** Total price tool tip
Freetown to Dakar
23 days
Basix
- USD $1,880CAD $1,895AUD $1,830EUR €1,465GBP £1,140NZD $2,345ZAR R14,620CHF FR1,695Trip Price tool tip
- USD $545Kitty tool tip
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USD $2,425*CAD $2,424*AUD $2,351*EUR €1,845*GBP £1,472*NZD $2,999*ZAR R18,410*CHF FR2,126** Total price tool tip
West Africa Overland
70 days
Basix
- USD $5,140CAD $5,170AUD $4,995EUR €4,005GBP £3,115NZD $6,405ZAR R39,945CHF FR4,635Trip Price tool tip
- USD $1,590Kitty tool tip
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USD $6,730*CAD $6,713*AUD $6,516*EUR €5,114*GBP £4,084*NZD $8,313*ZAR R51,003*CHF FR5,892** Total price tool tip
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Refer to booking conditions
Highlights
The Gambia's Top Picks
The West African manatee has been declared its own species
Top 5 Gambian Drinks
- Bissap: Blood-red and almost impossibly sweet, bissap or manjo is an infused herbal tea made from the flowers of the hibiscus plant and the nation’s number one drink. Typically flavoured with ginger or mint, it makes for a refreshing midday beverage. And with preliminary studies recently suggesting that it may reduce blood pressure and hypertension, you may well return home in better shape than you left.
- Ataaya: As much a social rite as a no-holds-barred caffeine injection, try the 3-glass Ataaya ceremony when you’re looking to recharge the batteries or make some local friends. 1 part Chinese green tea leaves to 2 parts sugar, 3 parts water and a bunch of mint; think of it as the teetotaller’s mojito. Just don’t drink the foam at the bottom of the glass.
- Kinkiliba: Brewed from the leaves of the local Kinkeliba plant, this strong and sweet herbal tea is mostly drunk as a breakfast tonic or at dusk during Ramadan when its reputed appetite-stimulant qualities assist gorging on the evening meal. And hunger inducing though it may be, one need not fret about possible weight gain as it also supposedly aids weight loss. Perfect!
- Bouyi: A thick syrupy juice made from the fruit of the baobab, this ultra-sweet libation imparts an unmatched sugar high and is certainly more appetising than its ungainly tree would have you expecting.
- Jul Brew: Described by some beer buffs as evoking aromas of hay, boiled vegetables, canned corn and cardboard, The Gambia’s national beer is probably unlikely to scoop any international beer awards. But knocked back on a white-sand beach while being buffed by 28-degree sea breezes, you’re hardly likely to care.
Shortlist
No trips.
The Gambia at a glance
- 6
- Banjul (population 360,000)
- 1.8 million
- English (official), Wolof, Mandinka, Fula
- (GMT) Casablanca
- Type G (Irish/British 3-pin), Type C (European 2-pin)
- +220
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