The Gambia

Health & safety

Dangers & annoyances

Serious crime is still fairly rare in The Gambia. However, muggings and petty theft do occur, particularly around the tourist centres near the coast. Avoid walking around alone after dark, particularly in areas you don’t know well. Women in particular should be careful at the beaches, where some readers have reported instances of sexual assault.

Many visitors complain about the beach boys (known as ‘bumsters’) who wait outside hotels and offer tourists anything from souvenirs to drugs and sex. It’s best to ignore these guys completely. They might respond with verbal abuse, but it’s all hot air.