Despite the small size of Zambia, it is very diverse with no group accounting for more than 33% of the population. Despite English being the official language of the country, many locals tend to stick to their local languages or dialects.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to the Gambia are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Entry requirements are as follows: Visa-free, visa-free but entry clearance required, visa on arrival, visa required and visa required with prior entry clearance. (List of country requirements in sources). Visitors who wish to drive in the Gambia can do so, using their national driving permit. An international driving permit is not required however it is recommended as it will help when dealing with the local police or renting a car. Holders of driving permits issued in the United Kingdom may use them to legally drive for up to 90 days. After that period a transfer to a Gambian driving permit must be made. Holders of UK issued driving permits may also transition earlier to Gambian driving permits however such transfer may be time-consuming and expensive therefore is not recommended.

Traveling hazards

Travel in The Gambia can be difficult due to poor road conditions, particularly during the rainy season, which generally lasts from June through October. Although there are paved main roads in the greater Banjul area, many are poorly maintained and poorly lit. With the installation of street lights on roads in the Banjul area, some drivers no longer use their vehicle lights at night. Most roads outside the Banjul area are still unlit and unpaved. Caution should be exercised when using taxis, particularly at night. Livestock and pedestrians pose road hazards throughout the country, including in the greater Banjul area. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to prevent accidents. Most taxis lack safety belts and many are not road worthy. The police do not consistently apply traffic laws and regulations, and sometimes compel drivers to pay fines on the spot for violations, real or contrived. Written citations/tickets are rarely given. Police periodically set up impromptu traffic stops on major streets to check for drivers’ licenses and proper insurance. Drivers should not attempt to drive around these traffic stops. Government convoys frequently travel at high speeds and often in either or both lanes of traffic, including in the oncoming traffic lane, requiring cars to move off the road. There are no trauma centers in The Gambia and severe accidents often require evacuation to Senegal or Europe. Water transportation in the region is unsafe. Ferries rarely keep to their posted schedules. The ferries, which are poorly maintained and often overcrowded, usually lack sufficient numbers of life preservers for all passengers. The wooden dugout “pirogues” that also cross the Gambia River often leave shore overloaded and occasionally sink in the middle of the river.

Environmental hazards

The Gambia is one of the smallest African nations however there are numerous animals inhabiting the country. African bush elephants can be spotted in around the Gambia. Elephants are the largest land roaming animals on earth. These giants are not aggressive however their sheer size makes them dangerous. If startled or angered they can easily trample people, flip over cars or even break trees. Hippopotamuses can also be found in the wetland of the Gambia. These are the second largest land roaming animal right after elephants however they spend a lot of their time in the water. These animals despite their docile look are fiercely territorial and will attack even crocodiles. Nile crocodiles inhabit Gambian freshwaters. These large reptiles can easily kill humans and are known for being aggressive. Out of 41 species of identified snakes, 9 of them are lethally venomous. This is of course if the bitten person does not seek medical attention. The likes of puff adder which happen to inhabit the Gambia, are responsible for over 30 thousand deaths across Africa each year. There are no reported shark attacks in The Gambia however such attacks cannot be ruled out.
When it comes to natural hazards, droughts, storms, and floods are the most frequent with floods taking the podium for the most damages caused and claims the highest death toll.

Health hazards

There is a risk of contracting yellow fever in the Gambia, therefore, all visitors are recommended to get a yellow fever vaccine. The government of The Gambia also requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever. There are other vaccines which are strongly recommended to ensure a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, meningitis and rabies vaccines. There is also a risk of contracting malaria and Zika in the Gambia. Both diseases are carried by mosquitoes and there are no approved vaccines for either of these two. Since these are transmitted through mosquito bites, the use of mosquito repellents and mosquito nets i9s recommended. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria. It should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. First-time visitors to the region are advised to seek medical advice before traveling. Due to its tropical climate and location along the Gambia River, arthropod and water-borne diseases are more common than in other larger nations. There is easy access to clean and safe drinking water in urban and resort areas, however, vigilance should be exercised in quieter, less populated areas where water for drinking and brushing teeth should be boiled or suitably sterilized before use. Medical facilities are consistent with those of similar developing countries. Outside of the major population centers facilities are limited, some treatments are unavailable and emergency services are widely known to be slow and unreliable. Some medicines may not be available and travelers are often advised to bring their own supply of prescription drugs and over the counter medicines. It is also advisable to bring the prescription letter in case of emergency. Private clinics are quite insistent on treating fee-paying patients only and while these costs are expensive in comparison to similar treatment at public clinics and hospitals, the level of service, treatment, and attention is of a higher standard and more comparable to the facilities one would expect in developed nations.

Crime

As tourism is one of The Gambia’s most important industries, the government puts great effort in providing for the safety of visitors. This effort is mainly visible in heavily trafficked tourist areas, however, crimes against visitors still occur. Officially, Gambian police attribute much of the criminal activity to third-country nationals. Poor economic growth and food insecurity have also contributed to the rise in crime rates. A wide range of criminal activity can be found in Banjul, especially during hours of darkness. Criminals often target victims based on perceived affluence or perceived vulnerability. Visitors should not go to beaches during hours of darkness. Westerners walking along the beach or in the Senegambia tourist area are often approached by vendors, colloquially referred to as “bumsters” or by common street criminals looking for a potential victim. Travelers should change direction or depart the area if you notice suspicious people, groups, or activity. There is no risk of terrorism in the Gambia. The Gambia has very strict drug policies. Only recently, the death penalty for drug possession was abolished however mere possession is still punished by lengthy jail time.

Summary

Despite its very small size, this African country hosts over 100 thousand tourists yearly making them a big contribution to the local economy. Tourists are safer in the Gambia than in the countries in the vicinity as the Gambian government puts a lot of emphasis on providing security to visitors. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.accessgambia.com/information/wildlife.html
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/the-gambia