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Attractions
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Practical
information from A to Z
Banjul Belly
The popular English name for intestinal disorders. A Banjul Belly is
caused by lack of salt and usually doesn't last longer than 24 hours.
Regular consumption of a salt solution can prevent a lot of trouble.
Banks
Officially they are open from Monday to Thursday from 08.00 to 13.00
and on Friday from 08.00 to 11.00. Some banks have an afternoon opening
from Monday to Friday from 16.30 to 18.30 and on Saturday from 08.00 to
11.00. For all your financial matters and you can change
travellercheques. Rates vary! Exchange rates and cost can vary
strongly, between banks and hotels that render the same services as
well.
Beaches
The coast consists of wide sandy beaches, in many spots bounded by palm
tree forests. Tides greatly influence the width of the beaches.
Birds
There are more than 450 different species in The Gambia. A paradise for
ornithologists. Regularly new species are discovered. Binoculars and a
camera with telephoto lens are indispensable.
Changing money
You can change money in most hotels and there are plenty of banks that
render the same service. Rates vary. That also goes for traveller's
cheques. Be careful changing money on the 'black market'. Changing
money and cheques in hotels is often restricted to private guests.
Compound
A compound is a collection of accommodations round a centrally situated
main residence, occupied by members of the same family, within a joint
fence. A compound usually comes into being because someone settles to
live on his own, for example as a result of the existence of farmland.
He buys, gets or inherites a piece of land and builds a fence around
it. In the course of time a small house comes into being that is
rebuild into a larger house later. Children who get married settle
within the same fence, build a house fixed to it, or build their own
house somewhere else on the terrain.
Contraceptives
Condoms are for sale at some chemists. There is a lot of promotion for
safe sex in The Gambia, but aids is certainly not unfamiliar. The
number of HIV-positive people however, is remarkably lower than in many
other African countries. Nevertheless venereal diseases demand most
attention of the doctors.
Creditcards
Usable in some shops, in hotels, for booking excursions and car hire.
Crime
In general walking in the dark in The Gambia is safer than walking
through a big city in your own country in broad daylight. You attract
crime by behaving conspicuously as a tourist. Don't set out without an
inland guide after nightfall. Beware of pickpockets on markets and on
busy ferries. There are hardly any purse snatchers and the further you
get inland, the safer you can feel.
Customs
Customs officers are friendly and considerate. If there is nothing
wrong with your documents you don't have to expect any problems. It
often happens that they check the contents of your suitcase. If you
don't arrive in The Gambia via the airport, you have to take into
account that the Senegal borders are closed at night. Most stations at
the northern border close down when it gets dark: there is no
electricity here.
Departure
On the day of your departure your luggage will be taken to the airport.
You usually get the labels that have to be fixed to your suitcases in
your hotel. The clearance takes place at the airport itself. All
suitcases are lined up on the platform, you pick out your own suitcases
and give them to the customs officer. In many cases you will have to
open them, so don't forget your keys. After customs have checked your
suitcases and have put a new chalk mark on them, porters (tip!) will
see to it that they are loaded onto the transport lorry to the airplane.
Dialects
Many languages and dialects are spoken in The Gambia, usually
interspersed with English and French words. The most important ones are
Mandinka, Wolof and Fula. The latter has a lot of French words. The
official language is English and only in the far inland it might happen
that there is nobody around who is in command of this language.
Discotheques
In some hotels you can find discotheques, often open to guests from
other hotels as well. There are a few 'public' discotheques in the
vicinity of hotels too, but I advise against visiting these without
inland guidance.
Distances
Hereunder are some distances, measured via the road in km:
Banjul-Soma 180
Banjul-JanjangBureh (Georgetown) 310
Banjul-Basse Santa Su 370
Banjul-Fatoto 415
Soma-JanjangBureh 130
Soma-Basse Santa Su 190
Soma-Fatoto 235
JanjangBureh-Basse Santa Su 60
JanjangBureh-Fatoto 105
Drinks
Beer and spirits are on sale in nearly all hotels or in their vicinity.
They sell the popular domestic- and foreign brands. Prices are not
extremely high. Milk can be obtained in supermarkets, just like the
most important drink: water.
Electricity
Mains voltage is 220 volt. Outside hotels you will often find deviant
sockets. If you are going to make a journey through the inland, take
into account that there might be no electricity.
Embassy or consulate
If there are problems with your travelling documents or if you want to
contact your ambassador or consul in The Gambia, always do so through
your host(ess) or through the hotel reception.
Events
Should events be organised at all, they happen in or around hotels.
Don't get your hopes of The Gambia in a cultural sense up too high.
Excursions
To be arranged via most touroperators who work in hotels.It is also
possible to make direct reservations. Never make use of excursions that
are offered out of the official circuit, no matter how reliable they
may seem, now matter how highly recommendations speak of them. You
often set out uninsured, guides and drivers are hardly able or not able
at all to cope with problem situations.
Export of money
You are not allowed to export more than 75 Dalasis. Besides, the
Dalasis you have left are probably not convertible at home. At the
airport you have the opportunity to change money into your own currency
at considerable rates.
Fax
You can fax from Gamtel offices, open from 08.00 to 22.00. Landinward
not every Gamtel office has this facility. By the side of the road is
indicated what services you can appeal to at the concerning Gamtel
office.
Ferries
It is possible to cross the river Gambia throughout the entire country.
Fares on the official ferries are low. They sail according to schedule.
There are private ferries as well. Agree on the fare beforehand.
Film and Photography
Materials can be obtained in The Gambia, but they are pretty expensive.
Always pay attention to the expiry date.
ATTENTION: Children will stand in front of
your camera the moment they think you are going to make a picture or
shoot a film. Never make pictures or shoot a film of adults without
explicitly asking permission beforehand. This also goes for objects and
even cattle that is accompanied. Refusing permission is usually a
matter of religion, sometimes it has to do with the fact that you don't
give any money or too little money. If you do get permission, offer a
trifle: money, a pen or something like that. Don't forget to thank him
or her and you do that by shaking hands at least.
Flag
The national flag of The Gambia consists, from top to bottom, of the
colours red, white, blue, white and green. The white bands that
separate the colours red, blue and green may vary in width. The colours
have the following meaning: red stands for the alliance with the sun,
white means peace, blue represents the river Gambia and green is
connected with agriculture.
Guide books
For sale in hotel boutiques, both in the English and in the Dutch
language. They give more detailed information than this
mini-travel-guide.
Guides
A lot of people present themselves, often in a very pushy way, as
guides. The only guides who are reliable without reservations are in
the pay of a touroperator or a hotel. They are recognizable as such.
Health
Alledgedly precautions are not necessary. That is not true! Malaria is
rife in The Gambia. That is why a malaria cure is very important.
Drinking a lot is an absolute necessity in The Gambia. Although
drinking water on the coast is safe you are advised never to drink tap
water and not to consume water-ice. Be careful drinking cold drinks.
If you need a doctor, the hotel reception will help you further. There
are some clinics in the vicinity of hotels, some hotels have their own
clinic.
After you have left The Gambia you will finish your malaria cure of
course. That means that you must take your pills for another couple of
weeks. If you catch a serious cold within (about) a month after your
departure, or if you feel uncomfortable or if you fall ill, always
consult a doctor and tell him that you spent some time in Africa.
Holidays
There is a mixture of Christian- and Islamic holidays. The most
important ones are:
New Year's Day: 1 January
Independence day: 18 February
Good Friday: March/April*
Easter Monday: March/April*
End of Ramadan (Fid-al-Fitr): April*
Labour day 1 May
Day of the offering (Fid-al-Adha) **
Mary Ascension 15 August
Birthday Mohammed (Mouloud) September*
Christmas 25 December
* dates differ from year to year.
** Tobaski: if they can afford to, a sheep, goat or chicken is
slaughtered and eaten with family and/or friends; it is celebrated 2
months and 10 days after the final Ramadan celebrations.
Ice-man
In a lot of places, both on the coast and in the inland, you will meet
the ice-man. A little shop where you can buy cooled water or lemonade
in little bags and water-ice. Don't do it!
Language
English is the language that is adequately spoken by nearly everybody
in The Gambia. In the inland you might be surprised. Usually French
will serve you in hotels as well.
Maps
There are several sorts of maps, that often contradict each other.
Signposting is minimal and not reliable. If you set out on your own
taking several maps with you is advisable.
Medications
Medical knowledge and the quality of medications round hotels is good
in The Gambia. Landinward there is often a lack of medications. Doctors
and medications must be paid cash. With the receipt you may get your
money back via your insurance company.
Money
The Gambian monetary unit is called Dalasi. The Dalasi is divided into
100 Butut. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Butut and 1 Dalasi,
and there are bank notes in the denomination of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100
Dalasis.
Nightlife
Nightlife in The Gambia doesn't amount to anything. There are some
nightclubs and discotheques on the coast. For as far as they are not
situated on the grounds of one of the hotels, these places of
entertainment can best be avoided, without inland guidance.
Opening hours
Opening hours of shops, banks etc are not the same everywhere.
Particularly supermarket-opening hours are strongly dependent on the
fact whether they belong to a chain, and if they do it matters to what
chain.
The enumeration hereunder is nothing more than an indication.
Banks: Mon-Thu and Sat 08.00-13.00, Fri 08.00-11.00, some banks also
from 16.30-18.30h.
Postoffice: Mon-Fri 08.30-12.15 and 14.00-16.30, Sat 08.30-12.10h.
Telephone(Gamtel): daily from 08.00-22.00h.
Shops: Mon-Fri 08.30-12.30 and 15.00-18.30, Sat 08.30-13.30, in
touristical area's from 08.00-20.00, minimarkets sometimes 24hours a
day.
Petrol
There is a petrolpump in most larger places. If you have rented or
borrowed a car, always inform what petrol you have to tank. Pumps do
not always work because there are regular power failures. Sometimes
they pump manually, you will often get the advice 'to come back in an
hour or so'.
Trouble or getting stuck in a certain place can be prevented by filling
up the tank whenever there is the opportunity.
Pharmacies
There are only a few pharmacies in the country. Medications are
supplied by doctors. The hotel reception will help you further.
Painkillers are to be obtained at some chemists. If you buy medications
yourself, pay attention to the expiry date.
Police
Police are considerate and polite, always willing to help tourists. The
uniforms of the officers bear a strong resemblance to those of their
British colleagues. If you have a talk with them, they will easily ask
you some personal questions. This has got nothing to do with suspicion,
but everything with curiosity. Don't hesitate to call in their help if
you think you have a reason to do so.
Post and stamps
Postcards, stamps and postboxes near or in hotels. Post offices in
larger places. The average mailing-time from the coastal area is 10
days. Officially! In practice three weeks is usually closer to reality.
If you want to be sure that your post will arrive on time it's best to
mail it in your own country (give it to somebody who is about to
leave!) You'd better not send any post from the inland. Cards and
letters posted at a post office reach their destination a lot quicker
than when you post them from your hotel. You buy your stamps from
traders, in your hotel or in the post office.
Prices
Prices are fixed in shops. In the street you have to knock down prices
heavily.
Prostitution
There is hardly any streetwalking in The Gambia. Sometimes services are
rendered on the beach and in hotels, both to men and to women. For most
prostitutes you have to visit a nightclub.
Radio and television
There are two local radio transmitters in The Gambia, Radio Gambia and
Radio Syd. The latter is a Swedish initiative. There is a television
transmitter, most hotels, however, have got a dish antenna for
satellite reception.
Renting a car
Besides local leasing companies, Avis and Hertz are also active in The
Gambia. Prices vary. Be sure to arrange insurance. Most rented cars are
Renaults. If you want to set out into the terrain or the inland, book a
4WD. To be able to rent a car you must be 25 years old at least and you
must be in the possession of a current driving licence.
Safari
More words than actions in The Gambia, with the exception of so called
'bird safaris'.
Senegambia
Senegal and The Gambia together are called Senegambia. At any time
these two countries should have been joined together and that is why
you come across that name in so many places.
Shopping
You do your shopping in shops with fixed prices, but mostly you do that
in the street or on markets. Knocking down prices (to 40 or 50% of what
is asked) is expected from you.
Shops
Average opening hours are between 08.00 and 19.00. Often closed at
lunch time for a few hours and sometimes on Friday and Saturday
afternoons.
Souvenirs
To be obtained in and around hotels, on markets and from merchants you
meet everywhere. Woodcarving and batik products are very popular, but
wicker baskets and (fake) jewels are in great demand as well.
Sunbathing
I definitely advise you against doing that during your first few days.
You will get sunburnt even under a sunshade. A good sun tan lotion with
a high protectionfactor (15 or higher) is a necessity. All popular
brands of lotions and aftersuns are available. Topless sunbathing is
allowed round the hotel swimming pool or on the hotel beach.
Sunstroke
There is a real danger you might have one. If you travel in an open
car, walk around the whole day or are exposed to a lot of sunlight in
any other way, wearing a hat is strongly advisable. Consult a doctor
right away if you suspect a sunstroke, lie down and keep your head cool
(literally).
Supermarkets
You will find them in the vicinity of hotels. They are mostly called:
minimarket. This also goes for the little shops you come across
throughout the country. There are a few large supermarket chains.
Telephone
Making calls is simple. It is possible from every hotel, but there are
dozens of phone booths, some of them in places you would not expect
them to be. Some telephones are coin-boxes, for others you need phone
cards. It is wise to have such a card with you, they are for sale at
Gamtel offices, which are the cheapest oppportunities to make calls at
the same time. Gamtel is open from 08.00 to 22.00. After you have
dialed the entry code for the country (00220), you can dial directly
the number, there are no city dialing codes in The Gambia Connections
are not always optimal.
Tennis
Most hotels have (free) tennis courts.
Time difference
In The Gambia they have GMT, Greenwich Main Time.
Tips
In general service charge is included. A 10% tip is usual in hotels,
bars etc. Room service personnel also expect tips, but it is wiser to
give them a small amount regularly, than waiting till your departure.
You agree on the fare with taxidriver beforehand and when you are
satisfied about his guidance you show this by giving him a little extra.
Toubab
This is one of the very few words that have the same meaning in every
dialect. It literally means 'white man' (or woman).
Tours
Tours through The Gambia and Senegal are organised. Take into account
that you will probably travel in international company. Make
reservations via the official channels only. Consult your host(ess) or
this guide.
Traffic
There is relatively little traffic. They drive on the right, but if the
condition of the road doesn't allow that, it is normal to drive on the
left. The condition of roads is often bad, there is no or inadeqate
sign posting. There are police checkings in several places, but they
leave tourists practically undisturbed.
Traffic rules
Traffic from the right has right of way, fast traffic gives way to slow
traffic. If there is a maximum speed this will be indicated, on most
roads the maximum speed is self-evident.
Water
Drinking a lot of water is advisable. However, don't take it from taps.
Bottles of water are for sale in hotels and supermarkets. Prices for
the same brand may substantially differ.
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