The Gambia: Geography & Experiences in Africa's Smallest Country

Overview of The Gambia, the smallest country on the African continent. I spent 8 days there in 2024 and wanted to discuss some things I learned and experienced. I cover the cities, economy, infrastructure, beach tourism, and hookup culture. It's a country not often discussed so I wanted to cover things not generally covered in the more tourism-focused videos on The Gambia.

Good video focusing on the sex tourism and hookup culture:

0:00 Intro
1:34 Languages and ethnic groups
2:49 Poverty
5:18 Infrastructure
7:14 Banjul (capital city)
8:23 Serrekunda Market footage
10:17 Small village experiences
11:42 Tourism
12:43 Food
13:33 Sex tourism & hookup culture

Album dispalyed:
Beach Boys - "Beach Boys Concert" (1965)

[belive]

As someone living in The Gambia, this is by far the most accurate video I've seen about the Gambia. You didn't exaggerate the good or the bad, just said it exactly how it is.

Gambia is a lovely place to visit, mostly because of peacefulness and hospitality of the locals.

[Cylindropuntia]

I had no idea what The Gambia was like before watching this video. Thank to you for making this.

[leestamm]

This was great, Kyle. What used to be called the Third World. Few Americans have even the vaguest idea what those places are actually like. My experiences were 50 years ago in southeastern Asia and east Africa. The poverty was even worse then, but the people were always friendly and welcoming, just as you experienced. It's important to understand that much of the world still lives in poverty. The experience made me realize how fortunate I was to be born in the U.S.

[calebvalder]

You never disappoint Kyle. Thanks for the entertainment. I knew nothing about Gambia

[johnledingham]

I didn't realize that the Gambia was such a peaceful and friendly country. My wife and I live in Australia, so that is a long haul away, but what a destination
to slip into the must do bucket list. I only have a plastic bucket. But your unbiassed coverage of that tiny country has really stimulated my keen interest in
west Africa. The fact that it is not war torn, or engulfed in violence has won me over to nurturing the possibility of visiting there together one day! THANKS!

[GoTownMedia]

Incredibly informative video, thanks for sharing knowledge about your experiences there. I appreciate very much how you did not use the children there as clickbait like I'm sure a lot of other creators would have done, I think people keep coming back to this channel because you know your stuff and your perspective on the world is so wise. So much respect for you sir thank you for making such great content

[reddykilowatt]

Idea for a t-shirt: “I went to the Gambia to hook up and all I got was this t-shirt” showing an outline of a map of the elongated country. 😂

[michaeldescalso]

Nice video, Kyle. I spent a week or so there, but we were up river most of the time in a village, Dobang Kunda, that had a hole in the ground for a toilet, a pump well in center of town, and no electricity. Huts made of mud and straw and very few vegetables. The kids were the best, always smiling and full of wonderment at my whiteness and red hair. I felt like the pied piper. Walked with lions in Senegal at the Gambian border (Fathala Reserve) and pet a croc at the Katchakilly Crocodile Pool outside Banjul. Careful on the ferry, they're actually pretty dangerous.

[daysofcoffee]

I have a coworker from Gambia. We design bridges, I always joke she should go back when she’s done here and design a few since there are almost no bridges there.

[levinpugsley]

What a pleasant surprise! I lived in a small Mandinka coastal village of Tujereng, just north of Sanyang in 97’ for 5 months. At the time, there was no paved road to Serekunda, and it took several hours to get into town. There was no electricity along most of the coast south of Serekunda, I remember the stars were extremely vivid in the night sky. The village had a community well that ran on solar pumps, and the women were all extremely fit from fetching large jugs of water to carry home on there heads, as wells as pounding out the millet in the large mortar and pestle in groups with songs and clapping. The Christian Mandiago people from the neighboring Guinea Bissau lived outside the village in compounds with pigs running about ( the Muslim Mandinka didn’t have pigs) and made there living from climbing and tapping the Palm trees for the wine that was sold to Banjul. The Mandinka are a very culturally rich people with an incredibly diverse set of musical traditions and ceremonies that accompany many important passages in their lives. I was planning on staying in Tujereng for at least a year, but I had to return home when I was suffering from a nasty bout of amoebic dysentery. When I returned to Tujereng in 2002, the road south from Banjul was entirely paved, and the village had just received electricity. Unfortunately, most of the beautiful hard wood forest that I had walked through several miles to reach the quiet Atlantic coast had been cleared out for farming, and the wild monkeys and other animals that I had seen in the forest were long gone. The path was still there, but now there were barbed wire fences along the sides, and the land had clear boundaries and plots. The beaches were also beginning to see signs of development, and were no longer the clean and tranquil place that I had first experienced. I admit that I’ve been a little reluctant to check in again with my old friends, I know many have passed since I first left. The Gambia and Senegal are definitely two amazing countries in the often misunderstood Continent of Africa

[jamesbungert]

Absolutely awesome. When Rick Steves retires, you're right in line to take over where he leaves off, covering more the of the world!

[theaveragejoe]

Was really looking forward to this one. Amazing

[samuelripa-olry]

Once again another great video Kyle!!! I appreciate all the on the ground filming and the in depth discussion. Its also dope to see someone who loves geography as much as his viewers, i feel like geography nerds get a bad reputation about living in our maps and never going into the real world but im glad your showing us how its done!!

[gregshulas]

Thank you Kyle. I greatly appreciate the increased depth of this channel. Looking forward to Senegal. Hope organized crime is not playing a big role in that matter you spoke of. Keep doing great work.

[RemnantCult]

I love the insights you have on your travels and observations in the world and the US. Always a pleasure.

[pavleveljkovic]

This was so entertaining. Really nice overall view of The Gambia. Thank you Kyle for the insights.

[dmike]

Wow that was fascinating. I'm never disappointed by your adventures Kyle, hope you have many more of these trips planned in the future. I appreciate you focus more on the educational aspect of travelling rather than the clickbait.

[JimmyNasium]

Great video, Kyle. You really do capture the spirit of a place. Thank you from a longtime subscriber.

[CinemaChrisChats]

Fantastic video! I am glad you had a great experience.

[eljj]

Interesting video! I had absolutely no idea about the sex tourism in the Gambia.