Why visit?
The Gambia is the closest thing in sub-Saharan Africa to a short-haul destination out of Europe. Indeed, boasting a sunny dry season that neatly coincides with the northern winter, this small and friendly Anglophone country is ideal for sun-starved Brits seeking a quick Vitamin D fix or first taste of African hospitality. The tropical coastline offers a great choice of facilities, from swanky resorts and quirky midrange eco-lodges to no-nonsense package hotels and budget-friendly camps. And while beach holidays predominate, the country is also renowned for providing a superb introduction to West Africa’s rich birdlife, with almost 600 species recorded in an area half the size of Wales, ranging from dazzling parrots and turacos to decorous crowned cranes and a wide variety of raptors and waterbirds.
Where to go