The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, stretching just 4,361 square miles and less than 31 miles across at its widest point. The country is bordered by Senegal on all sides except the west, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Also nicknamed the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa’, the country is not just known for its size, but also for its stunning natural unspoiled beauty and the genuine warmth of its people.
In a time when popular destinations across Europe face overtourism and anti-tourism protests, the Gambia offers a refreshing contrast. Gambia’s Atlantic coastline is lined with stunning swaying palm trees, white sands and crysal-clear waters.
Unlike many busy global hotspots, The Gambia’s beaches remain calm, clean, and blissfully uncrowded, even during the high season.
Cape Point is a big, family-friendly beach with both quiet corners and beach bars like Calypso, where you might spot crocodiles in the nearby creek.
Kotu Beach is lined with endless palm trees, soft golden sand and beach bars, while Sanyang which is also nicknamed Paradise Beach, is a long beach that hosts wrestling matches on Sundays, along with beautiful hammocks, and beach bars.
Bakau Beach is no ordinary beach either, it’s filled with colourful fishing boats that unload the day’s catch, and nearby smokehouses as well as a bustling market that give visitors an authentic taste of coastal Gambian culture.
The country is also home to the Gambia River, where you can take boat trips and explore mangroves, and even see hippos or crocodiles on an unforgettable sunset cruise.
For such a small country, Gambia offers fantastic wildlife with the Abuko Nature Reserve, Kiang West National Park, and River Gambia National Park with over 560 bird species, monkeys, baboons, and even chimpanzees.
One TripAdvisor user wrote about Kotu Beach: “A picture book sweep of soft pale sand, dotted with palm trees and a varied coastline. The weather was absolutely amazing, 28-32 , a gentle breeze just perfectly comfortable.”
About Jinack Beach, someone said: “Jinack Island beach is the best in the Gambia and one of the best in the world.”
