The lovely beach at Jinack Island – which Joe had all to himself. It’s part of Niumi National Park.<\/p><\/div>\n

Why you should go<\/strong>
\nIf you’ve not previously travelled to Africa, The Gambia could be your ‘gateway drug’ to the continent. It is packed with so many typically African delights – from the smiling people to the amazing wildlife to the unbeatable sunsets – but with a level of comfort, safety and simplicity that is less common elsewhere. And with English as the official language, it’s also a far easier place to visit for English speakers than, say, neighbouring Senegal. Plus… well… all the reasons already mentioned! Once you have visited Gambia, you’ll be dying to have other African adventures.<\/p>\n

How you can visit<\/strong>
\nBanjul International Airport has regular flights from Europe. Vueling and Brussels Airlines have scheduled services, and there are plenty of Thomas Cook charter flights during high tourist season. Once you are in The Gambia, you can travel in comfort with private taxis, or get around like a local using gelly-gellies (run-down minibuses that leave when full to the rafters). With the latter, you can get from one end of the country to the other for under \u00a35 ($6.50).<\/p>\n