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If your looking for a holiday where you can relax and forget about everything, and holidays in Gambia can offer you exactly that. With its amazing golden sands and its crystal clear waters you’ll find it hard not to relax. The beaches are everything you’d expect with palm trees and drink stalls dotted along the edge.

If it’s shopping you like then you would love the local markets as they sell a variety of souvenirs such as a selection of carvings; masks and figurines also silver jewellery is sold here. So you’ll have no problem finding a gift for the people back home.

It is often said that birds are for The Gambia what wildlife is for East Africa . Government has designed seven protected areas to serve as sanctuary for birds and other wildlife

The Gambia has all the features for 
eco-tourism – a great river, exotic flora and fauna and a vibrant African cultural heritage.

There are many different excursions designed to give the tourist a good feel of The Gambia. There are land-based tours, river trips, and mixed excursions

The Gambia is situated in West Africa and lies astride longitude 15W, which is why today’s six-hour flight from Britain causes very little jet lag. It is equidistant from the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer, 1315’-1330N being the approximate latitudinal extent. The area counts 11,295 sq. kilometers (4361 sq. miles). 
The north and south bounders are with Senegal. The widest point is 48 kilometers (30 miles). It also borders the north Atlantic Ocean on the west. 
In The Gambia, the River Gambia’s initial width of 600 feet is constricted to a twenty-foot channel by the Barrow kunda Falls. 
The administrative divisions are: Banjul, Kombo St. Mary, Western Division, Lower River Division, North Bank Division, Central River Division and Upper River Division.

Gambia's main indigenous groups have a highly stratified society wherein status is determined by birth. At the top of the social heap are traditional noble and warrior families, followed by the farmers, traders and persons of caste - blacksmiths, leather workers, wood workers, weavers and griots (GREE-oh). Griots are the lowest of the castes but are highly respected, as they are in charge of passing on the oral traditions and are usually the only ones who can recite a family or village history. Slaves occupied the lowest rank of the social ladder, and although slavery is now long gone, many descendants of former slaves still work as tenant farmers for the masters of old.

The overwhelming majority of Gambia's population is Muslim, though many practitioners combine their faith with traditional animist beliefs. It's not uncommon to see Gambians wearing a small leather pouch around their neck, arm or waist; called gris-gris (pronounced 'gree-gree'), these amulets are thought to ward off evil or bring good luck. Devout Muslims sometimes hedge their bets by keeping a small verse from the Quran inside.

Great importance is placed on greetings. Wolof and Mandinka people, for example, greet one another with a ritual that lasts up to half a minute, starting with the traditional Islamic greetings Salaam aleikum and Aleikum asalaam ('Peace be with you,' 'And peace be with you.') This is followed by several more questions about the other's family, home life, village, health etc. The answers - which are almost always that things are fine, even for people on death's door - are often followed with Al humdul'allah ('Thanks be to God.') In the larger cities, traditional greetings sometimes give way to shorter versions in French or English, but they're never forgotten. If you learn a few stock greetings in the local language, you're bound to be a big hit with the locals.

There are plenty of things to buy in The Gambia ranging from small souvenirs like silver bangles or music cassettes to large carvings and colourful African wear.
Your first point of contact is often the craft markets (or Bengdula ) which were located outside the main resort hotels as well as in Banjul market, Brikama and Juffureh.
The main markets in Banjul, Serrekunda, Bakau and Brikama are also interesting to visit. Shop and stall owners literally sell everything under the sun 
The most popular items are batik and tie-and-dye materials, antic masks and other wood carvings, leather goods, jewelry, sand painting and basketry. Local hand woven fabric is also good. Dyed bedspreads, table cloths or wall hangings are often beautiful reminders of The Gambia..

The birds of Senegambia are one of the region’s main attractions. By contrast, the mammals and other animals of the region are not a major feature for visitors, although several areas do exist where they can be seen. Popular and easily recognised animal species in forested areas include baboons and three types of monkeys (vervet, patas and red colobus). Abuko Nature Reserve is one of the best places to see these monkeys. Chimpanzees are inhabited in the River Gambia National Park. 
In the forest areas you also may see oribi and duikers (small members of the antelope family). In the drier grassland areas antelope species can be seen such as cobs, roans, waterbucks and derby elands. Other species found in this type of habitat include warthogs and bush pigs. 
Hippos have been recorded on the Gambia River, and you might be lucky enough to see some if you travel by boat on its upper reaches. Other mammals occurring in creeks and lagoons include dolphins and crocodiles. 
Reptiles to watch for are harmful snakes (including pythons, cobras and mambas), but most fear humans and you’ll be lucky to even see one. Other reptiles are lizards (such as the large monitor lizard), geckos and tortoise. 

The Gambia has six national parks and reserves, covering 3.7% of the national land area, plus several forest parks. The national parks and reserves are administered by the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management and have been set aside to protect representative samples of main habitat types and their associated fauna. All the parks and reserves listed here are open to the public (except River Gambia National Park).
- Abuko Nature Reserve: Gambia’s oldest protected area. It covers 105 hectares in western Gambia near the Atlantic Coast. The reserve protects a large tract of gallery forest, and it is particular noted for its birds and monkey populations.
- Baobolong Wetland Reserve: located on the northern bank of the Gambia River in central Gambia, opposite Kiang West. This wetland covers 22,000 hectares and was designated as Gambia’s first Ramsar site (the convention on wetlands of international importance).
Kiang West National Park: located on the southern bank of the Gambia River in central Gambia. Its 11,000 hectares are dominated by dry woodland vegetation, with areas of mangrove and mud flat.
River Gambia National Park: more commonly known as Baboon Islands. It is a 580 hectare park covering five mid-river islands near Georgetown in eastern Gambia. It was established mainly as a rehabilitation sanctuary for chimpanzees. Visitors are not permitted on the island. 
Niumi National Park: in the northwest of Gambia, contiguous with the Parc National du Delta du Saloum in neighbouring Senegal, and incorporates the coastal island of Ginak. It covers 5000 hectares and features dry woodland, sand dunes, mangroves, salt marches and lagoons.
Tanji River Bird Reserve: is located on the coast, in western Gambia. Its 612 hectares include dunes, lagoons, mangroves, dry woodland and is popular for the variety of birds which can be seen in the reserve.
Bijilo Forest Park: is one of the several forest parks in the Gambia, but is primarily a nature reserve. It covers 51 hectares and is located in Kololi. This park is popular for its birds and monkeys.
Tanbi Wetland Complex: is expected to eventually become a national park. 
For further information on these protected areas, please contact:
The Director,
Department of Parks and Wildlife Management,
Abuko Nature Reserve
Tel: 00220 4375888/4376973
Fax: 00220 4392179