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🇬🇲Things to Do in Gambia
From the history of Kunta Kinteh Island to birdwatching along the Gambia River - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Gambia is mainland Africa's smallest country, a narrow strip of land following the Gambia River and almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It gained international attention through Alex Haley's novel Roots, tracing his ancestry to a village near the river, and today draws birdwatchers for the sheer density of species along its wetlands. Here are 4 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Kunta Kinteh Island
A UNESCO World Heritage island in the Gambia River, formerly known as James Island, central to the history of the transatlantic slave trade and made famous internationally by Alex Haley's novel Roots.
📍 Gambia River
🚉 The island is reached by boat from Albreda and Juffureh on the north bank, which are themselves reached by ferry from Banjul and a road transfer - most visitors take a day trip by river boat from the coast.
Gambia River Birdwatching
The Gambia River and its surrounding wetlands support one of the highest concentrations of bird species per square kilometer in Africa, with boat tours from Janjanbureh a popular way to see them.
📍 Janjanbureh, Gambia River
🚉 Boat trips leave from Denton Bridge near Banjul and from Tendaba camp upriver, four hours east by bush taxi - the creeks are where the birds are, so the boat is the transport.
Gambia's Atlantic Coast
A stretch of beach resorts around Kololi and Kotu, popular with European visitors seeking a warm winter beach destination with a shorter flight than more distant tropical alternatives.
📍 Kololi & Kotu
🚉 The resort strip runs from Bakau through Kotu to Kololi, linked by shared taxis and the coastal road - green tourist taxis are metered and are what hotels arrange.
Serekunda Market
Gambia's largest market, in its largest city, selling textiles, produce and crafts - a genuine, bustling look at everyday Gambian commerce.
📍 Serekunda
🚉 Serekunda is the country's largest town, 10 minutes inland from the coast strip by shared taxi, and the market spreads over several blocks around the main junction.
Mark Gambia, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Gambia?
A week suits the Atlantic coast resorts plus a river trip to Janjanbureh and Kunta Kinteh Island well.
What's the best time to visit Gambia?
November-May is the dry season and the most popular time to visit, particularly for European visitors seeking winter sun. The wet season (June-October) brings heavier rain.
Is Gambia good for a first-time visit?
Yes - it's one of the more established tourist destinations in West Africa, particularly for UK and European visitors, with English as the official language.
Do I need a visa to visit Gambia?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mofa.gov.gm.
What are some things to do in Gambia on a tight budget?
Local Gambian food is inexpensive, Serekunda Market costs nothing to browse, and shared bush taxis are a cheap way to travel along the river and coast.
Can I rent a car in The Gambia, and what licence do I need?
You can, but few visitors do: green tourist taxis and shared bush taxis cover the coast and the highway cheaply, and river boats do the rest. A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for visits, and the minimum age is generally 23. Hiring a car with a driver is common and often costs little more. Roads outside the coastal strip and the south bank highway are laterite and rough, and the ferry across the river at Banjul can involve long waits. The Gambia's official tourism site is intermittently unavailable from abroad, so confirm the driving and entry requirements with a Gambian embassy before you travel.