Gambia
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
The Gambia can be reached from Italy mainly by air with flights to London, Lisbon, Casablanca or Dakar. Banjul Yundum International Airport (BJL) is the only international airport; direct charter flights from Europe are frequent in the high season (November-April), operated by operators such as TUI and Condor. By land, Gambia is surrounded on three sides by Senegal; the border with Senegal is open and busy. The trans-Gambia ferry connects the two banks of the Gambia River (Banjul-Barra) in about 45 minutes. The internal road network is limited but passable; collective taxis (sept-places) are the main means of public transport. The country has no railway network.
Introduction
The Gambia is the smallest country in continental Africa, a strip of land on average 30 km wide and about 350 km long that wedges into the territory of Senegal following the course of the river of the same name. It faces the Atlantic Ocean with a coastline of about 80 km. The territory is almost entirely flat: the highest point is no higher than 53 metres. The Gambia River crosses the country from east to west and forms the geographical, economic and cultural hub of the nation. The Gambia borders exclusively on Senegal, which surrounds it on three sides. A former British colony, the country gained independence in 1965. Its peculiar shape is the result of colonial treaties between France and Britain that assigned the banks of the Gambia River to the British, dividing the Senegalese territory.
Description
The Gambian territory consists almost entirely of the floodplain of the Gambia River and its lateral wetlands. The vegetation is savannah with riverine galerpha along the course of the river, where mangroves grow in the estuarine areas and galeria forests in the interior. The Atlantic coastline to the west shows a succession of sandy beaches, estuaries and wetlands important for migratory birdlife.
The Gambian history is intertwined with that of the great West African kingdoms: the Mali Empire and then the Songhai Empire exerted influence over the region before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1455. The British established the first permanent presence on James Island in 1661; the British colony of Gambia was formalised in the 19th century. The island of Kunta Kinteh (formerly James Island), in the Gambia River estuary, was an important centre of the Atlantic slave trade and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. Independence was proclaimed on 18 February 1965. The dictatorship of Yahya Jammeh (1994-2017) ended with his electoral defeat and exile; President Adama Barrow has been in office since 2017.
The Gambian economy depends on seaside tourism (the country is a popular destination for European tourists in winter due to the mild climate), fishing, subsistence farming (peanuts, rice) and remittances from emigrants. Beach tourism on the Atlantic - with the beaches of Kololi, Kotu and Cape Point - is the country's main industry.
The Gambian culture is predominantly Muslim and reflects Mandinka, Fula, Wolof and Jola traditions. The traditional music of the kora, a 21-stringed string instrument of Mandinka origin, is among the best known musical expressions in West Africa.
Protected areas include the Lower Casamance National Park (shared with Senegal), the Abuko National Reserve - the smallest in the country, known for its crocodiles and monkeys - and the Kiang West National Park, the largest protected area in the country with hippos and manatees.
Walking in The Gambia is mainly naturalistic: birdwatching is among the most developed activities, with over 580 species recorded in the country, including herons, kingfishers and several endemic West African species. The trails of Kiang West National Park and the wetlands of the Gambia Delta are the most popular destinations. The offer is simple but expanding.
There is no mountaineering tradition in The Gambia; the flat terrain (max. 53m) does not allow it.
There are no internationally significant trail running events in The Gambia.
The Gambia has a long tradition of mountaineering.
Information
General Data
Capital: Banjul
Area: 11.295 km²
Minimum elevation: 0m (Atlantic Ocean)
Maximum elevation: 53m - [point not named, eastern border]
Number of inhabitants: 2,700.000 (estimated 2024)
Official name: Republic of the Gambia
Name of inhabitants: Gambians
Main administrative subdivisions: 5 regions + capital
Border countries: Senegal
Institutional site: https://www.statehouse.gm