https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/gambiaGambiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/health-and-getting-around-in-the-gambiaFind out what vaccinations you may need to get before you go to The Gambia, plus tips on staying healthy and getting around the country safely.2019-11-12T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/health-and-getting-around-in-the-gambiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<h2>Vaccinations required for travelers to The Gambia</h2> <p>The Gambia's sanitation is poor, and mosquito borne diseases are prevalent. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers coming from areas with risk of yellow fever transmission. This is particularly relevant for those traveling to The Gambia from neighboring African countries. Water borne diseases and malaria are common in The Gambia throughout the year You should take precautions to avoid insect bites such as wearing insect repellent at all times and sleeping under mosquito nets.</p> <p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crs.org/stories/fighting-malaria-gambia" target="_blank" title="CRS.org">risk of malaria</a> is greater during the months of June to November.</p> <p>It is not safe to drink the water, so you should boil all drinking water (for at least one minute) or&nbsp;pack water purification tablets. Avoid ice cubes, or eating raw and undercooked food.</p> <p>You should consider the following vaccinations before traveling to The Gambia, but see your travel doctor to get the best advice for you:</p> <ul> <li>Hepatitis A and B</li> <li>Rabies</li> <li>Polio</li> <li>Pneumonia</li> <li>Shingles</li> <li>Influenza</li> <li>Typhoid</li> <li>Meningococcus</li> <li>Booster shots for measles, mumps and rubella and tetanus-diptheria</li> </ul> <h2>Getting around safely in The Gambia</h2> <p>The Gambia is a long narrow country that follows the shape of the meandering Gambia River.</p> <p>One of the major challenges faced by travelers is getting around the country by road and crossing the river safely by boat.</p> <p>Most roads throughout the country are in poor condition (which only gets worse in the wet season), Gambian drivers have varying levels of skill and respect for basic road rules and the public transport system is non existent.</p> <p>Be aware of the following transport safety issues to mitigate the risks:</p> <ul> <li>Many drivers do not use vehicle lights at night, particularly in areas that actually have street lights (mainly in the Banjul area)</li> <li>Drink driving is common</li> <li>Traffic&nbsp;<a href="/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/local-laws-in-gambia" target="_blank" title="Local laws in The Gambia">laws and regulations</a> are inconsistently applied by police, on the spot fines are common for real or contrived traffic violations</li> <li>High speed Government convoys which often take up both lanes of traffic &ndash; if you see flashing lights pull to the side of the road and let the convoy pass.</li> </ul> <p>While there is no public transport system in The Gambia, there is a system of taxi cabs. There are two types of cabs: green ones (tourist cabs) and yellow ones (regular cabs). Green cabs are expensive and the price is regardless of the number of passengers. However, these taxis must have basics such as seat belts and working indicators.</p> <p>Yellow taxis are much cheaper and the price depends on the number of persons in the cab, they also have lower safety standards. Yellow taxis are used mainly by locals, and in many tourist areas they are prohibited from picking up tourists, but if you walk a little further down the road you may be able to flag a yellow taxi, if you are up for the associated risks.</p> <p>Hitchhiking is common, but don't use your thumb as it is considered an obscene gesture in Gambia, instead wave if you want a car to stop. As anywhere, hitching is quite risky business, so be careful with what cars you enter and never hitch at night. Also, Gambian motorists will expect you to pay for the ride, so have some cash ready. You are probably better off flagging a taxi.</p> <p>You will probably find you need to cross the river at various junctures, so you need to be aware of the risks. Ferries rarely keep to their posted schedules, they are often overcrowded and they usually lack sufficient numbers of life jackets for all passengers.</p> <p>You may also be tempted to flag a wooden dugout or "pirogues", again these are often overloaded, not all that safe and have been known to sink in the middle of the river.</p> <p>If you want to cross the Gambia River use the Gambia Port Authority's Banjul-Barra or Yelitenda-Farafenni ferries, which are slower but safer than the privately operated pirogues.</p> <p>Finally, you should not travel by road from the Gambia to the Casamance in southern Senegal as the region remains affected by banditry involving separatist groups. .</p> <h2>Local tours</h2> <p>Like many tourist attractions made more famous by being written about in best sellers, the slaving colony of St James Island is now&nbsp;a hotspot for petty thieves and opportunistic locals selling dodgy souvenirs or asking for money to appear in photos. Alex Haley's book,&nbsp;<em>Roots,</em> inspires many to take the cruise to St James Island, only to be confronted by the overwhelming number of locals who swarm the boat on arrival.</p> <p>The Republic of Gambia, Gambia, The Smiling Coast of Africa &ndash; whatever you choose to call it, The Gambia is a relatively safe and easy country to travel to and around, even if it refers to itself in the third person.</p>Getty Images/Frans Sellies 11044975630 Getty Images Mangrove area near Lamin, The Gambiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/local-laws-in-gambiaLaws apply to unexpected situations in The Gambia – from drugs and skin bleaching to specific medications and photography of buildings, this is what you need to know before you go.2019-11-21T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/local-laws-in-gambiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Gambia has strict laws that apply to travelers. Some may be unexpected, so find out how you can stay out of trouble with these tips from our travel safety expert.</p> <h2>Religious customs and laws</h2> <p>The Gambia is a predominantly Islamic country, and local laws and customs reflect this. You should be respectful of local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.</p> <h2>Strict drug laws in The Gambia</h2> <p>The President of The Gambia has announced zero tolerance towards illegal and illicit drugs.</p> <p>The Gambian authorities will take strong action against anyone importing, exporting or found in possession of drugs.</p> <p>You should not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents, common sense should always prevail.</p> <p>The minimum sentence for those found in possession of drugs (over 250g) is a very large fine or up to 15 years in prison in default. Recent cases have included foreigners, carrying a minimal amount of cannabis, sentenced to ten years in prison.</p> <h2>Is The Gambia safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?</h2> <p>In May 2008, Gambian government leaders strongly condemned homosexuality and advocated for greatly increased penalties for anyone harbouring homosexuals. The Gambia's existing laws already criminalize homosexual sex acts, but current laws do not include the death penalty.</p> <p>Violations of the laws against homosexual sex acts are occasionally pursued and Gambian citizens have been prosecuted under these laws. In June 2008, two tourists were detained but not charged under this section of the criminal code.</p> <h2>Importing and exporting laws</h2> <p>The Gambia has strict laws on the import and export of skin-bleaching creams and some medications. Visitors who arrive with substances containing 1% or more of: hydroquinone (in any form), hydrocortisone (unless in trace amounts and for specific purposes such anti-itch products), betamethasone, flucinonide, clobestatol, or clobestatone are subject to fines up to $2,000 and/or three years imprisonment.</p> <h2>Carry proof for prescription drugs</h2> <p>Airport police and customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage. Travelers in possession of prescription drugs should carry proof of their prescriptions, such as labelled containers or prescriptions.</p> <p>Police have, on occasion, arrested foreigners carrying unlabelled pills. For a list of prohibited items, travelers should contact the nearest Gambian embassy or consulate.</p> <h2>Photography laws in The Gambia</h2> <p>It is against the law for tourists to photograph or film government buildings, including airports, military installations or embassies due to security concerns.</p> <p>You should also ask permission before photographing locals.</p> <h2>Cash economy</h2> <p>The Gambia's currency, the dalasi, is freely convertible but is not widely available outside the country. The Gambia is a cash economy, and travelers should carry sufficient currency to cover all expenses for their visit.</p> <p>Avoid changing money on the black market. A serious government crackdown on illegal moneychangers means that you don't only risk getting ripped off, but might also get into trouble with the police. If you've come in from Senegal and have no dalasi, CFA francs are widely accepted.</p>Getty Images/Bart Brouwer / EyeEm 1597185959 Getty Images Boats in Banjul, the capital of The Gambiahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/crime-in-the-gambiaTheft, fraud, scams and bumsters in Gambia. Our travel safety expert shares his top tips and advice on staying safe.2019-08-21T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/travel-safety/western-africa/gambia/crime-in-the-gambiahttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>You have to respect anyone or anything that refers to itself in the third person, and "The Gambia" is a deserving recipient of this respect. As far as an African nation goes, travel here is trouble-free, easy and safe.</p> <p>&nbsp;The Gambia&nbsp;has also&nbsp;started to refer to itself as "The Smiling Coast of Africa" &ndash; a reflection of its cultural diversity, safety for travelers and established tourism industry.</p> <p>To be fair, The Gambia is short for The Republic of The Gambia named after The River Gambia, but now referred to as "The Gambia".</p> <h2>Crime in The Gambia</h2> <p>Generally, travel throughout The Gambia is trouble free. However, like anywhere travelers should use common sense, be aware of their surroundings and any potential threats to their safety and security.</p> <p>The most common threats in The Gambia are petty street crime, such as pickpockets, and theft in crowded market areas, on public transport, in taxis and near isolated beach areas.</p> <p>Travelers are increasingly targets for thieves so never leave your luggage or valuables unattended; lock your car when not in attendance and do not leave any valuables or documents in unsecured hotel rooms or cars. Pretty basic safety and security stuff really.</p> <p>The Gambia is a popular beach destination, and as such the main tourist beaches are usually manned by police or hotel security. However, isolated beaches aren't, so you should take care of your valuables in these areas.</p> <h2>What is a bumster?</h2> <p>By far, the major irritant to travelers in The Gambia is &lsquo;Bumsters' &ndash; yes you read that correctly.&nbsp;Bumsters&nbsp;are young&nbsp;men who approach tourists offering help; be it romantic, tourist, social or to act as a guide &ndash; basically anything they can do to get some money. The best way to avoid this is to be polite but firm and decline any unwanted help or conversation. Bumsters seem to target women&nbsp;in particular, so women should avoid walking alone, particularly after dark in The Gambia. These guys often use romance in hopes of gaining money or in the hope of departing The Gambia through marriage to a foreigner.</p> <h2>Fraud in The Gambia</h2> <p>In The Gambia, like many African nations, business and internet fraud is becoming more common. While you are there, be suspicious of any unsolicited offers to participate in lucrative business opportunities, especially if they require financial disclosures, money transfers, large up-front investments or promises of confidentiality. Also, do not offer to help anyone you met on the internet.</p> <h2>Scams in The Gambia</h2> <p>A common scam occurs where marijuana is offered to tourists, or&nbsp;you are invited to smoke marijuana in a local's home, only to find police waiting for a hefty bribe before you are set free.</p> <p>Another petty scam targeting travelers involves having your passport stolen on arrival at Banjul International Airport by people posing as officials or security officers. All authorized security personnel who have the right to ask to see a passport have photographic identification badges, but not all are in uniform. Make sure you ask to see their identification badge if you are asked to hand over your passport at the airport (or anywhere for that matter).</p>Getty Images/Francisco Goncalves 11007725986 Getty Images Paradise Beach in Sanyang, Gambia