The Gambia Facts for Sailors

• The Republic of the Gambia is a country in West Africa. The capital city is Banjul.
• Surrounded on all sides by Senegal with only a narrow outlet to the Atlantic Ocean, The Gambia is a thin ribbon of land stretching along the Gambia river. The 480 km (300 mile) long river is the heart of this small country, which rarely exceeds 32 kms (20 miles) in width. The river is navigable for 270 kms (169 miles).
• Over 95% of Gambians are Muslim. Dress conservatively during your stay in lightweight full-coverage clothing.
• In 2023, Gambia’s population stands at 2.4 million, with English as the official language and various tribal languages like Mandinka and Wolof.
• The currency is the Gambian dalasi (GMD).
• The Gambia operates on GMT, with a maximum time variance of 2 hours with European countries.
• Its proximity to the equator provides the country with a tropical climate. See Weather for more details.
• For the ordinary tourist, The Gambia’s prime attraction are the vast stretches of undeveloped beaches, while upriver is the much-visited village of Juffure, from where the main character in the Roots book was abducted and taken as a slave to America. Other interesting sites are Abuko nature reserve and the Wassau burial sites, whose huge stone columns are said to be at least 1200 years old.
• Yachts can easily go all the way up to Georgetown on the river, the best areas are above Baboon Island. It is possible to go under the new Senegambia bridge, also known as the Trans-Gambia Bridge, which opened in January 2019 and which connects north and south Gambia.
• Located at 13°30′59″N 15°34′21″W, recent cruisers have reported passing under the bridge with 17.5m and 18 meter masts on the LW neap tide.
  
• At Georgetown there is a power cable across the river, however, cruisers report it is possible to go further up to Basse at low tide on the north bank in a smaller yacht with one man at the masthead (see reports).
• Some 27 kms (17 miles) upriver lies James Island, site of an infamous slave market. The bird and wildlife on the river are prolific and there are many villages along the river banks, where it is possible to stop and barter for food.
• The Gambia is English speaking with friendly people, the cost of living is very low, the wildlife is incredible and there are big supermarkets available on the coast for provisioning for an Atlantic crossing.
• Lamin Lodge up-river provides a warm welcome to visiting sailors.
• For details of services for cruising boats, see Yachting Essentials.

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