Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Gambia
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Fake Hotel Staff
Strangers on the street claim to work at your hotel to build false familiarity. Decline the invitation to visit another hotel to avoid potential robbery.
Unsolicited Assistance
People offering directions or help on the street expect monetary compensation. Be aware that providing money once leads to repeated demands for more later.
Drug Entrapment
Locals offer marijuana or invite you to smoke in a private home to lure you into a police setup for a bribe. Use a brief excuse like being in a hurry to dismiss the offer without engaging further.
Hardship Stories
Bumsters use fake hardship stories to solicit money. Do not fall for these tales as they are a common tactic to extract cash.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Border Bribes
Military personnel at border crossings demand payment to stamp passports. Do not pay these bribes as it fuels corruption.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
No active CDC travel health notices right now.
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to the Gambia must obtain a visa from one of the Gambian diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or they do not have a Gambian diplomatic representative/embassy in their country, in this case they can obtain one at the Banjul International Airport.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in The Gambia, attacks cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreigners. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
There is a zero tolerance towards LGBT+ people in The Gambia. Same-sex relationships are illegal and could lead to lengthy prison sentences. Gambian law criminalises the act of men dressing as women with a 5-year jail term. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •There are a number of very commonly used scams in The Gambia.
- •Sadly, many Gambian military have an unfavorable view of Brits (sometimes white people in general) and can be extremely racist.
- •Scams also exist in which marijuana is offered to tourists or they are invited to come smoke in a home, only to find police waiting for a hefty bribe.
Staying healthy
- •Yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended.
- •It is a good idea to bring insect repellent, sunscreen and other health items from your home country since these may be hard to find in some areas.
- •Residents say the tap water is drinkable, but for travelers bottled or boiled water is advised, because you may get sick from the different minerals and microbes in the water.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
G · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 117 / ambulance: 116 / fire: 118
Cash vs. Card
The Gambia uses the dalasi as its currency, denoted by the symbol "D" (ISO currency code: GMD). The dalasi is divided into 100 bututs. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 dalasis and you may find D0.25, D0.50 and D1 coins in circulation.
Show the receipts (7 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09