The Gambia holidays

Big smiles, big beaches and big on wildlife – that's holidays to The Gambia in a nutshell.

Africa’s Smiling Coast

The Gambia – one blink and you’ll miss it. Trace your finger south from the Canaries and you’ll come across this tiny West African nation, surrounded by Senegal on all three sides. It may only be 31 miles at its widest point, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality. It’s dubbed the Smiling Coast of Africa, thanks to its friendly locals. And the best bit? The Gambia runs on UK time, so there’s the added bonus of a jetlag-free journey.

Atlantic shoreline

Most tourists are drawn to The Gambia’s crowd-free coastline. Picture long strips of pale sand that go on and on – all gazing out across the Atlantic Ocean. The high priests of the 50-mile-long shoreline are undoubtedly Kotu and Kololi. These sun-soaked sweeps are big, bold and bustling with action. Here, the sands are accompanied by craft markets and strips of bars and restaurants, where you can tuck in to everything from Lebanese cuisine to Gambian delicacies.

Walk on the wild side

It wouldn’t be Africa without some exotic wildlife. And the David Attenborough moments come thick and fast in The Gambia. Its namesake river’s teeming with manatees, hippos and crocodiles, while monkeys and birds fill the treetops. Plus, more than 100 chimpanzees rule the islands of the River Gambia National Park. People aren’t allowed to step foot on the isles, but you can usually admire the apes from an organised boat tour.

Now for nightlife

Come sunset, The Gambia’s got another calling card up its sleeve – an up-and-coming nightlife scene. Here’s your opportunity to let your hair down, fill up on food and mingle with the locals. A lot of the action centres around Kololi’s main tourist road, which has been nicknamed the Senegambia Strip, after the Senegambia Beach Hotel which sits at one end of it all. What started off as a few roadside shacks is now a long row of restaurants, bars and clubs, where DJs play the likes of Afrobeats, pop and hip-hop into the early hours.

Off-beat adventures

Like a lot of developing countries, The Gambia comes with a few unique charms – but they’re all part of the authentic experience. The roads are on the bumpy side, Wi-Fi isn’t always as reliable as what you’re used to at home, and not all hotel lobbies and restaurants have air con. You’ll probably notice the odd power cut during your stay, too. However, all of this makes for an adventure to remember – and the smiling locals, tropical shores and off-the-beaten-track experiences you’ll get here will more than make up for the lack of mod-cons.