A Brief History
There is evidence of human settlements in The Gambia dating back as far as 500 AD, while stone tools and pottery pieces dating back to 2000BC have been found in the West African region, indicating even earlier settlement.
Economy
The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy and is characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture. This small nation is confronted with issues such as a high population density, limited land space, few readily extractable resources, high illiteracy, and a single crop economy: groundnuts (peanuts), which used to account for more than 80% of total exports.
People and Culture
A wide variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia, each preserving its own language and traditions with minimal intertribal friction. The Mandinka are the largest ethnic group with 42% of the population, followed by the Fula (18%), the Wolof (16%), the Jola (10%), and the Serahule (9%). The Sere, Aku, and Manjago also live in The Gambia but in smaller numbers.
Language
English is the official language of The Gambia and most people around the coast and the tourist areas can speak it to some degree. However, the further upcountry you go, the fewer people you will find who can speak English. Learning a few sentences in some of the local languages (Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, etc.) will certainly be a good idea if one plans on visiting The Gambia, and Gambians will appreciate the effort taken.
Wildlife
Most, if not all the large mammals no longer roam throughout the West African region, however, three species of monkey – Callithrix (or Green Vervet), Patas, and the Western Red Colobus – and the Guinea baboons, are in abundance.
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