Africa

Gambia

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal.

You should take precautions in unlit areas or in places away from developed areas. Beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers. Weapons (various), ballistics danger areas, vehicle security, personal security, bandits / corruption, gunfire, legal / illegal checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, terrorism, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters. Beachwear is not suitable for towns. Sea swimming can be dangerous.

Use bottled water only.

Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills.

Tropical; hot, rainy season (June to October); floods. Cooler, dry season (November to May).

Drought (rainfall has dropped by 30 per cent in the last 30 years).

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhoea, bilharzia, cholera, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, hepatitis A, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, polio, rabies, schistosomiasis, typhoid fever, yellow fever.
Hospital: Royal Victoria Hospital, Banjul. Tel: 228 223

Deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent.

Driving standards are unpredictable, and some local taxis are unroadworthy. Road surfaces are poor with many potholes. Take particular caution at night due to the many poorly signed security checkpoints. Always approach these with care.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.