Frequently Asked Questions

You will need an international passport valid for at least six months on arrival. If you plan to drive yourself, bring your home-country driver’s license; to drive in Gambia beyond two months, you must apply for a Gambian license. To visit Senegal from Gambia, you must present an official yellow-fever vaccination certificate (typically in the yellow booklet issued by your travel clinic). Travel insurance is not compulsory but is strongly recommended.

No vaccinations are officially mandatory for entry into Gambia—there are no checks on arrival—but you should consult your travel clinic for tailored advice. Antimalarial tablets, medication for stomach upsets and general pain relief are highly recommended. Don’t forget a 50 % DEET insect repellent (spray or roll-on) and, if you wish to cross into Senegal, the yellow-fever vaccination (which will be checked at the border).

Banjul International Airport (BJL) is small and efficient. After your flight, you board a shuttle bus to the terminal, pay a €20 security fee on arrival (and another €20 on departure), then pass through passport control, where you may be asked your hotel name. (“Senegambia Beach Hotel” is always a safe answer, though many guests stay at Bamboo Garden Hotel.) Luggage comes on two carousels, so keep an eye on both; local helpers may offer to carry your bags to the parking area for a tip of 100–200 dalasi (your guide can lend you dalasi if needed). Your bags then pass an X-ray scanner before you enter the arrival hall, where your guide will be waiting—keep your small baggage tags (affixed to your boarding pass or passport) ready for inspection. Thanks to a new highway, the drive to the Senegambia tourist area takes around twenty minutes. Welcome to the Gambia!

ATMs exist in the Senegambia area and occasionally at hotels, but they charge high fees and can be unreliable. It’s best to bring euros (you may import up to €10,000 per person) so we can exchange them for dalasi at a favorable rate. You can also have your phone configured for calls and internet on the day you arrive. Most hotels and lodges offer Wi-Fi (sometimes at extra cost). The fastest speeds tend to be early in the morning—an ideal time to admire the sunrise while you check your messages.

From the moment you arrive at Banjul Airport, virtually everything is included: all meals, accommodation, ground transport, guide services, park and reserve entrance fees, boat trips, and unlimited water and soft drinks during excursions. Exclusions are your international flight, optional travel insurance, the security fees at BJL (€20 on arrival and departure), tips, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks with meals in restaurants or lodges.

In Senegambia you can choose between local Gambian dishes and more international cuisine, and inland lodges typically serve generous buffets. Each morning we confirm your lunch selection, which often features rice with chicken, meat or fish, plus pasta or fries. During trips we provide chilled water and soft drinks; lunchtime picnics are arranged at scenic, bird-rich spots, so keep your camera close at hand—wild birds can appear at any moment. Beer is widely available but is on your own tab.

An outlet extension lead is indispensable, since many rooms have few sockets; don’t forget an international adapter. A flashlight or rechargeable lamp is essential for power outages and for camps where the generator may shut down around midnight until dawn. Bring a mosquito net if your lodge doesn’t supply one—pop-up styles are very convenient. Pack a high-SPF suncream, long trousers for walks in thick vegetation or still boat sessions, and a sweater for cooler evenings. If you use a spotting scope or heavy camera, include a tripod; ensure sufficient batteries and memory cards (or a tablet to offload images), and consider a power bank in your carry-on.

Accommodation is normally in twin rooms, sometimes with a third bed for a child. A single room can be arranged for an additional fee when you book. All rooms feature their own WC and shower.

The main tourist season runs from mid-October through the end of March, with more flights from Europe. Gambia is, however, open to visitors year-round. From mid-October to mid-November, the rains cease but humidity remains high—and the birds are in full breeding plumage. Mid-November to mid-December brings lower humidity, still with spectacular breeding displays. Mid-December to late March is dry, sunny and comfortable, with low humidity. Late March to mid-June remains pleasant, though the landscape dries out and birds gather around the last waterholes. From mid-June to mid-October the rainy season begins—but rain can be intermittent, with spells of dryness and occasional heavy storms, leaving the countryside lush and green.

Let us know—we’ll be happy to help.