Looking for somewhere different to go on holiday this year, to perhaps escape a situation where you feel unwanted in Spain, or maybe to just find some guaranteed sunshine and lovely warm temperatures? If that’s the case, and you still want to keep within a fairly modest budget, The Gambia may well catch your eye. With TUI, Thomas Cook, Love Holidays, First Choice and many others all offering packaged holidays to The Gambia, it may well be on the radar, but what travel health considerations will you find here, perhaps differing widely from those required for the Costas?
The first things to note is that The Gambia is in Africa. In fact, it gained its independence from the UK 60 years ago this February, on February 18, to be precise. It does most definitely come with that warming sunshine you may be coveting, with temperatures never really falling below 29°C or going above 32°C.
Another attraction is that it is only a six-hour flight from the UK and in the same time-zone, so the body-clock won’t be upset. With direct flights available too, it’s an easy way to bag some exotic me-time.
Appeal of The Gambia for British Holidaymakers
The Gambia has a plethora of delights for the British holidaymaker, starting with 50 miles of glorious coastline and sandy beaches liks those of Kotu and Kololi. This small country, that almost seems to have taken a bite out of Senegal’s coastline, has much more than just beach umbrellas and waves, however. Venture further afield and you can enjoy some exceptional birdwatching and wildlife encounters, whether you are watching wallowing hippos, delighting in chimpanzees along the Gambia River or spotting Nile crocodiles at Kiang West National Park.
Perhaps you could even canoe yourself towards traditional music and culture in the Makasutu Cultural Forest?
Nature-watching and culture in The Gambia
Exotic birds await at the Abuko Nature Reserve, which is home to around 300 species. At Bijilo Forest Park, you are more likely to have binoculars trained on vervet and red colobus monkeys and monitor lizards – if you can tear the eyes away from the 200-year-old silk cotton trees.
You could get on the trail of literary history and visit Kunta Kinteh Island which, along with Albreda and Juffureh is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of the fictional Roots character, Kunta Kinteh.
If it’s more ancient history you are after, there are the Wassu Stone Circles, ancient megalithic structures dating from 500-1000AD.
And present-day colour is always assured at the busy markets in the capital, Banjul, or on a plate, in the form of one of The Gambia’s signature spicy stew or seafood dishes.
Staying healthy on a Gambia holiday
But all of this comes with underlying health considerations for any tourist or holidaymaker considering a vacation in The Gambia. To enjoy that to the full, minimising the risk to health, you have to have your travel vaccinations lined up, pre-departure.
For The Gambia, there are quite a few to consider. The official Government websites will talk about the risk of yellow fever in all areas of the country, and how vaccination against yellow fever, as well as vaccination protection for hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid, is likely to be a requirement for most travellers.
Then there is that grey area of what ‘some’ travellers may need, with the list for The Gambia including cholera, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, polio, rabies and tuberculosis.
The health sites will also warn of a high risk of malaria in The Gambia, making antimalarial treatments a big consideration.
But how much of all of this will apply to you and your trip? Will all of these risks be in the locations that you will visit? If you want to know the answer to that, there’s one easy way.
Pinpoint Travel Health Brief for holidays to The Gambia
By buying a Travel Health Brief from Pinpoint Travel Health, you can ascertain exactly what risks will apply to you, given your medical history and age, and according to where you will travel and what you will do during your trip. Of course, you need to have an idea of what the plan is, whether that is just to stay in resort or venture to other areas, but if you feed that information in, your report will be generated very quickly and put you completely in the picture as to what travel vaccinations you need and which you do not require.
You might find that your location does not come with a huge risk of one of the diseases – or any risk at all. You may discover that some risks only really apply in some seasons, or if you are partaking in certain activities. It can all give you clarity as to what is needed – including which antimalarials will be most appropriate for you and your trip.
Having that clarity is worth everything, so take advantage of the Pinpoint Travel Health service today and get your travel vaccination and malaria prevention strategy in place, well before you board the plane. Allow around 8 weeks ahead for such treatments and make sure you also check your previous vaccination record to confirm that you had what are seen as ‘standard’ UK vaccinations during your childhood.
Do all of that and a holiday to The Gambia may be the dream you seek.