Travel Consideration: Gambia

The Gambia is a developing country in West Africa. Facilities for tourism in the area of Banjul, the capital city, are good, but they are limited in availability and quality outside the capital.

A passport and visa are required. Travelers are urged to obtain the latest information on customs and entry requirements from the Embassy of The Gambia, Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, telephone (202) 785-1399 and 1359; or from the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the U.N. at 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900-C, New York, N.Y. 10071, telephone (212) 949-6640. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Gambian embassy or consulate.

Although The Gambia recently completed a transition from military to civilian rule, U.S. citizens should nonetheless avoid political gatherings or demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times. Visitors should not photograph airports nor military installations and should be prepared to stop at all roadblocks or road checkpoints.

Petty street crime is a problem in The Gambia. Travelers should be careful of pickpockets and the crowded market areas and on ferries. Travelers should not leave packages or luggage unattended in taxis.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.


Medical facilities are limited and some medicines are unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. Travelers should bring their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines. Further information on prescription drugs is found in the section on import/export restrictions. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid nor accepted outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas and medical evacuation coverage to be useful. For additional health information, travelers can contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (877) 394-8747 or the toll-free CDC autofax at (888) 232-3229, Internet http://www.cdc.gov.

Petty street crime is a problem in The Gambia. Travelers should be careful of pickpockets and the crowded market areas and on ferries. Travelers should not leave packages or luggage unattended in taxis.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions which differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning The Gambia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:

Safety of Public Transportation: Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor

Although the main roads are paved in the greater Banjul area, due to narrow, pot-holed, poorly lit streets, drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents. Almost all roads outside the capital are not paved, and traveling is difficult because of road conditions, particularly during the rainy season, which is June through October. The U.S. Embassy urges visitors driving up country to travel with a recognized travel guide. Travelers should be cautious of individuals who persistently offer unsolicited help.


IMPORT/EXPORT RESTRICTIONS: The Gambia has strict laws on the import/export of skin bleaching creams and some medications. Visitors arriving with substances containing hydroquinone, hydrocortisone, betamethasone, flucinonide, clobestatol or clobestatone are subject to fines up to $2,000 and/or three years imprisonment. Airport police and Customs officials routinely inspect incoming and outgoing luggage. Travelers in possession of prescription drugs should have proof of the prescription, such as a labeled container, with them. Police have been known to arrest foreigners carrying unlabeled pills. For a complete list of prohibited items, travelers can contact the nearest Gambian embassy or consulate.

DRUG PENALTIES: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.


U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul upon arrival and to obtain updated information on travel and security in The Gambia. The U.S. Embassy is located on Kairaba Avenue in Fajara, a suburb of Banjul. The mailing address is P.M.B. No. 19, Banjul, The Gambia. The telephone numbers are (220) 392856, 392858 or 391971.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of The Gambia's civil aviation authority as Category 3 -- not in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of The Gambia's air carrier operations. Flights to the U.S. by The Gambia's air carriers are not permitted unless they arrange to have the flights conducted by a carrier from a country meeting international safety standards. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) does not permit its personnel to use air carriers from Category 3 countries for official business. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact DOD at 618-229-4801.