The Gambia is a small country on the western coast of Africa. It is barely 30 miles wide and some 300 mls long and follows the course of the river Gambia from which it takes it name.

The capital, Banjul, is situated on St Mary's Island at the mouth of the river. From here there is a sprawling suburban conurbation composed of Bakau, Fajara, Kotu Beach, Kololi and Serekunda, the population of which far outnumbers the population of Banjul.

The architecture of The Gambia is a mix of primitive mud block and grass homes to Colonial buildings and the ultra modern Central Mosque.
There are wildlife reserves such as the one at Bijilo Black Forest, home to monkeys and giant hornbills and easily accessible beach areas with their myriad of sea birds.

The history of he area is linked for much of its time with the larger country of Senegal which almost surrounds it. The area is often referred to as Senegambia. Little archaeological evidence exists of the early settlements, but it was among these that the variety of religions developed, but many of these have been lost but there are still sacred crocodile pools to be found. Some evidence of early iron working has been found.

Europeans were late arrivals in The Gambia which was the scene of much fighting as it was an important area for the slave trade. Britain rule the country from 1821 until it independence in 1965, a fact which accounts for the widespread use of the English language, especially in the schools.