ABSTRACT
Gambia is an accident of history. The British got here first but the French moved inland and created the colony of Senegal, which surrounds the tiny Gambia, a narrow strip on both sides of the Gambia River. Having few resources other than groundnuts, the country has developed tourism as its main industry. The coastal strip has become a major package holiday destination with cheap charter flights but not much benefit to the majority of the population. Being such a small country, it is possible to combine a beach holiday with interesting visits to the nearby Tanbi mangrove swamp, the Makasutu Culture Forest and the small capital city, Banjul. Further up-country you can visit historic Janjanbureh Island; or Juffureh, the village which purports to be the original home of Kunta Kinte, the hero of Alex Haley‧s novel and TV saga, Roots. The Gambia has a good climate, warm but not unbearably hot in winter.
