Gambia

From Wikitravel

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Quick Facts
Capital	Banjul
Government	republic under multiparty democratic rule
Currency	dalasi (GMD)
Area	total: 11,300 sq km land: 10,000 sq km water: 1,300 sq km
Population	1,455,842 (July 2002 est.)
Language	English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religion	Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

The Gambia is a country in West Africa and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. It has a North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west and is surrounded by Senegal so that it is almost an enclave. The country occupies the the Gambia river valley and surrounding hills.

Map of Gambia

Table of contents

1 Regions

2 Cities

3 Other destinations

4 Understand

4.1 Climate
4.2 Terrain
4.3 History

5 Get in

5.1 By plane
5.2 By car
5.3 By bus
5.4 By boat

6 Get around

7 Talk

8 Buy

9 Eat

10 Drink

11 Sleep

12 Learn

13 Work

14 Stay safe

15 Stay healthy

16 Respect

17 Contact

18 External links

Regions

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Cities

Banjul - Capital

Other destinations

Understand

Climate

Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May); Natural hazards : drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Terrain

Flood plain of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills

Highest point: unnamed location 53 m

History

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: 24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997

It formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.

Get in

Gambia is becoming a popular vacation destination for Northern Europeans. Therefore, many charter and holiday operators offer reasonable airfare and accommodation if desired.

By plane

By car

By bus

By boat

Get around

Talk

Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Malawi Guest House (393012/ 392227 Fax). 18 rooms
Wendels Guest House [1] (http://www.wendelslodge.com/). (771 771) 7 rooms. US$ 95.00 including breakfast.