Conditions are mixed today. Seaweed is low, but there are other factors worth checking. See the live conditions card above for today's full picture.
The Gambia is particularly popular with British, German, and Scandinavian winter-sun travelers: it's the closest tropical beach destination to northern Europe and one of the few in West Africa with an English-speaking, visitor-friendly tourism infrastructure. The Gambia River, birdwatching safaris, and wrestling matches complete the experience beyond the beach.
November through May is the dry season and peak tourist season. The Gambia is sometimes called "The Smiling Coast of Africa" for its reliably sunny dry season weather. June to October brings the rains: most European tour operators suspend charter flights during this period. December to February is the busiest and most pleasant time, with temperatures around 75–82°F.
A wide beach with a lively resort atmosphere, beach bars, watersports (jet-skiing, windsurfing, banana boats), horse rides along the surf, and persistent but generally good-natured beach vendors. The Senegambia nightclub is a West African institution. Birdwatching on Abuko Nature Reserve (1 hour) and river trips on the Gambia River are world-class; The Gambia is one of Africa's premier birdwatching destinations with over 560 recorded species.
The Gambia River was one of the primary arteries of the Atlantic slave trade: the Kunta Kinte story (from Alex Haley's Roots) was set here, and Juffureh village on the river is a major heritage site. James Island (now Kunta Kinteh Island, UNESCO World Heritage) in the river was a key slave trading post. The Gambia became a British colony in 1816 and gained independence in 1965. The country is almost entirely Muslim but has a tradition of religious tolerance and peaceful relations between communities. The Jola, Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula peoples are the main ethnic groups, each with distinct musical traditions.
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.": Psalm 33:12Live seaweed levels, surf, water quality and hotel deals — updated daily. Free.
View Live Conditions →