Has anyone been to Gambia?

[pembo]

On a spur of the moment kind of thing I booked up a holiday last night to Gambia at the end of May but now I need to do some searching to find out about it and this is my first port of call.

So...
Anything I should watch out for?
Any vaccinations I should get before I go?
Anything I should try to do whilst I'm there?

Cheers

[nw28840]

check out >:

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/96/health/...

Went on a last-minute cheap vacation there a few years ago, weather good, food drink reasonable - not masses to do
to be honest - but an OK holiday for a good price.

[S7Paul]

The search facility is your friend:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Gambia, any good?

How long are you going for? We found a week about right; not sure if there's really enough to fill a fortnight.

[cptsideways]

I drove there a few years ago twice (yes from the UK)

It's quite a nice place if very third world though not as bad as some, the people are very nice indeed, beaches are ok but not great, water is rather murky! Make a point of travelling about a bit & get to see the real Africa as opposed to staying in the resort hotel.

Mossies!!! billions of em!!!! & yes you'll need malaria jabs

[lastexile69]

Back a few years ago I went three times as it was always bloody hot and is such a short flight.

Not much to do there except sunbathe to be honest - you can go on a camel ride and do some watersports at certain hotels but that's it. I took a river cruise with booze and food chucked in and it was great - until everyone jumped off into the salty, dirty Gambia river!! Jeez it was truly filthy! At least the river crocs stay within the shade at the water's edge......

Jabs wise you need to be up to date with the combi jab or whatever its called (the multi hit one for a whole battery of stuff) and as previously said you'll need malaria tablets. I used the one a day mega strength ones instead of having to mess about taking the six different milder ones that have less side effects - had some proper dizzy flip outs on those one a day ones if I stood up too quick!! You usually have to continue taking them for a while after you get home as well IIRC.

I'd recommend the Kairaba - it's by far the best hotel. It's the only one that I had absolutely no trace of dodgy belly in, and is kept pretty spotless as well.

All in all I'd recommend it for a sun lover, but if you're the type that needs to fill every minute, go elsewhere. And remember, above all else, this is a shockingly poor country; don't be surprised at what you see just five steps from your hotel gates.