Western Africa · UN member
Gambia: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of the Gambia
The Gambia is a country in Western Africa with its capital in Banjul. It has a population of 2.8 million (#141 in the world) and covers 11,300 km². The official language is English. The currency is the dalasi (GMD, D).
Where is the Gambia? Map of the Gambia
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal.
- Region
- Western Africa
- Coordinates
- 13.4667° N, 16.5667° W
- Neighbours
- 1 — see list
- Coastline
- 80 km
- Gambia
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of the Gambia showing Banjul (capital) and the largest cities: Nema Kunku and Farafenni.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to the Gambia
- Passport
The UK Foreign Office says your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 41 need no visa, 44 need an eTA, 103 get a visa on arrival, 10 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see The Gambia entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The Immigration Department says a short visit visa may be issued provided the applicant has a return ticket (or cash equivalent to its cost) or an onward transportation ticket from The Gambia, and that all passengers sh…
- Proof of funds
The Immigration Department says a short visit visa applicant must have adequate funds for his maintenance in The Gambia, and lists visible means of sustenance among its entry requirements; no official source we could re…
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says to check before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.
- Vaccinations
WHO lists The Gambia as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries it determines to be at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who transi…
- Customs allowance
Canada's travel advice says a currency declaration form must be completed on arrival in The Gambia.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to the Gambia
- Safety: the Gambia is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Gambia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: December to May — when daytime highs in Banjul are around 26–28°C.
- Money: the dalasi (GMD) — 1 US dollar is about 74.1383 GMD.
- Plugs: type G, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117, Ambulance 116, Fire 118.
- Language: English is official.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time zone: UTC0 in Banjul.
- Capital: Banjul. About 2.8 million people live in the Gambia.
- Outdoors: 3 national parks.
Key facts
Gambia at a glance
Languages spoken: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Geography & history
About the Gambia
In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surro…
Read the full history
In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won reelection in 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported democracy-strengthening activities, capacity building, economic development, and security sector education and training programs.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Highest point
unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Natural resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Natural hazards
droughts
National symbols
lion
Safety
Is the Gambia safe to visit?
the Gambia is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Gambia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about flooding and addition of information about power shortages and preparing for power cuts ('Safety and security' page).
Updated 7 Jul 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit the Gambia
The best time to visit the Gambia is December to May, when daytime highs in Banjul are around 26–28°C. June and November are also a good time to go. November is the warmest month (30°C by day), February the coldest (18°C at night), and August the wettest with about 290 mm of rain.
- Jan27°C19°C
- Feb27°C18°C
- Mar27°C19°C
- Apr26°C19°C
- May27°C21°C
- Jun28°C25°C
- Jul28°C26°C
- Aug28°C26°C
- Sep29°C27°C
- Oct30°C27°C
- Nov30°C25°C
- Dec28°C21°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in the Gambia
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
3 national parks in the Gambia
- 170 km² protected
- oldest from 1978
Largest: Kiang West National Park · Niumi National Park · River Gambia National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
dalasi exchange rates today
The Gambia uses the dalasi (GMD, D). One US dollar buys 74.1383 GMD; over the last 30 days the GMD has lost 0.9% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in GMD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where the Gambia ranks
How the Gambia compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in the Gambia
1 airports and airfields — 1 large, 0 medium and 0 small, plus 0 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
The Gambia borders 1 country along 749 km of land borders. Coastline: 80 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Banjul (481,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Export partners
Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)
Top exports
packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to the Gambia
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then New Year's Day (1 Jan).
Gambian passport
Ranked #115: 43 countries visa-free, 21 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 37 with an eVisa.
Gambian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for the Gambia's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling the Gambia
Dial +220 before the local number. Internet domain .gm.
Climate footprint
0.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.29 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting the Gambia: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about the Gambia
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Frequently asked questions about the Gambia
What do I need to travel to the Gambia?
How long must my passport be valid for the Gambia?
Where is the Gambia?
What is the Gambia known for?
What is the capital of the Gambia?
What language is spoken in the Gambia?
What currency does the Gambia use?
What is the calling code of the Gambia?
Which countries border the Gambia?
How strong is the Gambian passport?
Is the Gambia safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit the Gambia?
What plug type does the Gambia use?
How many airports does the Gambia have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.