Travel Blog » Africa » Gambia » Western Division

Western Division Travel Blogs

Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.

Gambia, The

Map of Gambia, The

Gambia, The's Flag

Hostels in Gambia--The
Latest Western Division Blog Entries
Western Division Photos

By al gal
January 20th 2008

The one where I sweat Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda

After 2 long days of mind-blowing travel, I have finally arrived. The journey started out in DC, then I flew to London for a small lay-over, and then to Madrid for the most tummultuous and angry 11 hour lay over ever. After being charged an extra 650 dollars to check our bags through SpanAir, Julia and I were thouroughly pissed. We arrived in Gambia at 2 am on friday, and surprise surpise, our ride wasnt there. The intention from my friends to pick us up at the airport was completly honorable, except they thought we were coming on saturday. With no [View Full Entry]

By al gal
January 11th 2008

The one where I wait Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda

Life is funny sometimes. Jacked-up, but funny. I have been preparing for my move to The Gambia for several months now. The night before I was supposed to be in they sky, my friend who I was traveling with got real sick. Many phone calls, and a stupid re-booking fee later, our flight was postponed for a week. I've been walking around the house the past couple of days looking like a bag lady who should be pushing shopping bags in a grocery cart and barking. However, this next week I have before I leave gave me more time to do [View Full Entry]

By Byrkjeland
September 19th 2007

Tromme djembe og klappe krokodille Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi

Hei igjen, vi er fremdeles i Kololi i Gambia, og har som vanlig noe aa fortelle dere. Ikke det at vi har begitt oss ut paa store eventyr, de siste dagene har vaert ganske slappe, med soling og bassengbading som hovedaktiviteter. Men i gaar var vi paa utflukt til Bakau, som bare er noen minutter unna. Dit dro vi med Live, og vi besoekte noen venner av henne. Ene av dem var trommelaereren hennes, som bodde i bydelen Oslo (og hvis bror har spilt tromme sammen med storheter som Youssou N'Dour og Dr. Alban). Han ble med oss ned paa stranden, [View Full Entry]

By Byrkjeland
September 16th 2007

Action paa smilkysten Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi

Ja, naa er jeg inne i min siste ferieuke her i Afrika, og vi har forflyttet oss fra Ziguinchor og inn i Gambia. Gambia er et meget smalt land (hovedsakelig kun en elv med litt land paa hver bredde) som ligger midt i Senegal. Her har det regjert briter foer, saa folk snakker engelsk, noe som gjoer det mye lettere aa kommunisere. Etter en litt tungvint reise fra Ziguinchor, som tok ganske mye mer tid enn det hadde trengt, fant vi oss en leilighet i Kololi, naer stranden og med to luftkondisjonerte soverom. Senere fant vi ut at vi har baade [View Full Entry]

By Marcoelitaliano
July 1st 2007

Mandinka Sex Tourism for Ladies Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi

Two Hearts?

The Gambia synthesizes in few thousands of Km² all defects and virtues of the young independent Africa. On one hand it builds a tourism industry thanks to the callback of kilometers of white beaches and iridescent markets, on the other one, seems incapable to fulfill whichever undertaken plan, including the one of a repressive dictatorship. You get a first morsel as soon as you reach the border, arriving from Senegal. In that country, agents wear uniform and are efficient (by African standards) in carrying on their duties. On this part of the line, instead, customs officers show up in worn [View Full Entry]

By threels
March 6th 2007

Bwiam Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Bwiam

Kaddy

Na mijn aankomst op de luchthaven van Banjul, laat ik me door een taxi afzetten (letterlijk en figuurlijk) bij het hotel in Banjul waar ik de laatste nacht ook geslapen heb. De volgende morgen sta ik bijtijds op en vertrek richting Bwiam, het dorp waar Sara (één van de twee Amerikaanse vrijwilligsters die we in Mauritanië hebben ontmoet) woont, met haar Gambiaanse familie, een moeder, die ik niet heb gezien omdat ze er niet was in de tijd dat ik er was, Moussa haar zoon, Kaddy z'n vrouw en twee kinderen Fatou een meisje van een jaar of 14 en [View Full Entry]

By Loora
February 22nd 2007

"It's Nice to Be Nice"--Daily Life in The Gambia Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda

A Street in Jeshwang

My title is one of Gambians' favorite sayings. It's true for them--they're very friendly. Wherever I'm walking to, it's guaranteed that at least 4 adults say "Hah-lo" or "How ah you?" as I walk past. It's too much at first, but now I'm used to it. Some days it gets annoying, but it actually is nice to connect with people, especially the ones I walk past everyday. On the other hand, random guys come up to us and ask us how our holiday is, where we're from, where we're staying, what our name is. It's best to have a made-up name [View Full Entry]

By Loora
February 7th 2007

Monkeys, Markets, and Sand, Oh My! Africa » Gambia » Western Division

I hope it doesn't have rabies!

So I've been in The Gambia for a month now, which I think is unbelievable. Where have I gone so far? The first place we went was Bijilo Forest Park, which is on the other side of Serrekunda from where we live. It's pretty neat because monkeys live there and don't mind the tourists. The forest is thick there, which showed us how this area looked before all of the recent development/deforestation. The Banjul market is another touristy place we went the first week. It basically consists of many rows of little stands along the streets selling various items, fabric shops, [View Full Entry]

By Loora
February 6th 2007

We Made it to Africa! Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda

On the Plane

Well, I have way too much to say in one entry, so I'll try to start from the beginning. Basically, it took us a really long time to get here, and we got very little sleep. When we got to Dakar, Senegal, it was nighttime. We stepped out of the plane. It was humid and it smelled like smoke. The ground was packed sand. Immediately, I knew I was in Africa, even though I didn't really believe it. It smelled like I thought Africa would smell. Once we got through customs was when we really realized we were in Africa. It [View Full Entry]

By sunnydesert
May 26th 2006

Banjul, Serekunda, Lamin Lodge... Africa » Gambia » Western Division

Kotu beach

Gambia: Summer 2005 Gambia from 11 to 18 august 2005 by Gloria Bintou Jatta Always dreamed of travelling to Africa but still too scared of the Big Wild Continent? Go to The Gambia. Is safe, small, and they speak English. You’ll have a taste of the “real Africa” and always will be able to go to some “European” place if you need to get back in touch with your roots. If a woman can travel to The Gambia on her own without problem, you can too. And your kids. It’s a highly recommended experience and safe enough for those who still [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Gambia » Western Division

Western Division Travel Blogs, page 4

Western Division Travel Blogs

Gambia, The