 Situated
in West Africa with Banjul as its capital, Gambia is the
smallest African inland country. Its border touches
Senegal and the coastal area looks over the Atlantic
Ocean. The Gambian population speaks English as an
official language, although the local languages such as
Fula and Jola, amongst others are widely spoken.
Although Gambia is a mere strip of land it offers a
diversified landscape, with lush tropical forests,
swamps, marshes, wooded savannah and sandy beaches, the
River Gambia running right through the country. Gambia
is also a paradise for birdwatchers with over 540
different species to spot. The national parks and
reserves are a major asset, attracting an ecotourism to
its pristine landscapes.
The beaches along the Atlantic Coast offer some of the
best in Africa, fringed with palm trees and scattered
with seashells, with a fromation of some superb sand
cliffs in the area where the river flows into the
Atlantic.
Some sites of interests are Albreda/Jufureh, twin
villages that offer an insight of Gambian colonial
history with the Exhibition of the Slave Trade, or the
standing stones of Wassu, a series of fascinating stones
standing in a circle, that are thought to mark a
perhistoric burial ground, although they are still
veiled by mystery.
Gambia offers the best climate in Africa, with
subtropical temperatures, with a dry season from
November to June and a rainy season from June to
October.
The people from Gambia are called Gambians.
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