36 degrees in January ? ?lovely jubbly? ? as our Gambian tour guide would say! (Gambia)

Member Name: toblerone

Product:	Gambia
Date:	04/02/03 (342 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Weather, Friendly people

Disadvantages: People begging at airport, but expected as third world country

He has obviously been talking to too many English people (-:
Anyway I have just returned from a fantastic holiday in The Gambia. This small country in West Africa is full of the friendliest warmest people you are ever likely to meet. They also have a great sense of humour. Interesting that our excursion coach drivers all had identical names to formula 1 racing drivers! You can?t go anywhere without someone waving to you or starting a conversation or just giving you a big smile. At first it is a bit unnerving, I suppose for some more than others (coming from London, I found it very strange at first) and if you want to go for a walk alone the so called ?bumsters? can become slightly irritating. But they are generally good natured and if you give the impression that you want to be left alone they are still so friendly and sweet and wish you a great day. I believe Gambians are genuinely kind- hearted people. I felt instinctively safe in their company. The crime rate is around 0.2% and this is mainly theft.

We stayed at the Palm Beach Hotel which is relatively new only opening in 2001. It was nice, good sized rooms with air conditioning (I don?t think all the rooms have this, we may have just been lucky) and a tv. Though there is only the local Gambian channel, which also shows CNN news. However there is a lounge with a bar and pool table which has satellite TV where you can watch films etc. This seemed to be kept on the sports channel (why is it that everywhere I go people are so obsessed with football)?! We were disappointed with our balcony which was hidden by palm trees and plants making it very dark. But this was no big deal as the beautiful white beach is literally on the doorstep of the hotel. Or if you prefer there is a nice pool area with lots of entertainment, organized water games etc. Every evening there is live music/dancing on the stage in front of the pool. This gives you a nice taste of African culture.

The Abuko nature
reserve is interesting. There are not too many animals there but it was amazing seeing the hyenas being fed (stomachs and intestines-yuk). And the two beautiful lions they have there seem so content compared to the lions in English zoos. We incorporated this with a visit to the monkey sanctuary which was lovely. These gorgeous little creatures look at you with such a funny expression as they take peanuts or banana from your hand. If you pretend not to have any food they try to prize your fingers open (so gently) looking at you as if to say ?I?m not stupid you know?. Soooo cute. Yes I love animals which is why this review has become mushy!

The excursions were very good and reasonably priced at around £30 each including lunch with JMC. The Roots tour involved a nice relaxing cruise on the Gambian river and we spotted dolphins swimming alongside the boat on the way back. This excursion involved a visit to the village of Juffure where Kunta Kinte (from the Alex Haley Book) lived as a boy before he was taken into slavery. We visited the actual descendants of Kinte at their compound, who were very welcoming. I found this fascinating having read and been very moved by the book. The small museum in the village was distressing as it contains original slave shackles, photographs etc.

In all the Gambia is a country with fascinating culture and history, warm friendly people and is the ideal destination for a holiday with a difference.

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