If you are seeking a beach holiday, with a guarantee of sunshine and where English is spoken, a tiny country on the west coast of Africa may be of interest. Gambia is merely a dot on this vast continent being only three hundred miles long and roughly twenty miles wide. Basically it lies along both banks�  of the Gambia River. Despite being so tiny, its diverse landscape has soft sandy shores as well as swamp land and forests.

Things to see and do in the Gambia.

As a former British colony until 1965, the national language is English but there are of course several tribal languages. With a sub-tropical climate and only a six hour flight time from the UK, Gambia Holidays continue to grow in popularity. They attract many visitors who wish to escape the dark days of a typical British winter as well as those looking for long hours of summer heat. Although tourists won't see Africa's big cats, this small country has a large and varied bird population, monkeys galore, crocodiles and if you are lucky, you may spot a hippopotamus.

Cheap Gambia holidays have wide appeal and all generations are represented in the tourist population. The long swathes of shimmering sands are a major attraction especially for families wielding buckets and spades. Compared with Mediterranean coasts, the beaches here are almost empty and are certainly unspoiled. Most of the beaches offer calm conditions, but remember this is the Atlantic Ocean and care should be taken when swimming. Particular caution should be used when swimming from Fajara and Bakau shores.

Winter Sun in the Gambia.

Most visitors take a boat trip up river to experience life in a traditional village or to visit a nature reserve. The market in the capital, Banjul, is a must for souvenir hunters. Gambia traditional cuisine delights the palate with tasty fish and meat dishes and a huge variety of vegetables and fruit. There are of course many hotels and restaurants serving international food. It is very important to drink only bottled water. Before you go you will need to protect yourself against malaria and also yellow fever.

The temperature in Gambia is fairly constant throughout the year, and usually sits around thirty degrees centigrade. As humidity levels rise between July and October, your hours of sunshine can be interspersed with tropical downpours. The rain of course is warm, and could be considered a pleasant experience by UK visitors.

Give into temptation and start looking for a cheap Gambia holiday today. By using our search facility at the top of the page, you could soon be basking in African sunshine.