Mainland Africa’s smallest nation is the perfect spring getaway, where rain is rare, temperatures soar and everyone speaks English. Unlike eastern and central Africa, March is relatively dry in this West African country with 80km of stunning forested coastline, which turns into a wiggling maze of rivers as you delve further inland.
It takes just six hours to fly there from London, and even though you stay in the same hemisphere and English is the official language, you’ll feel far from home as you walk off the plane into 34C heat in March. The Gambia, a small yet captivating country, is the perfect early spring escape where you can beach hop between the resort hubs of Bakau and Kololi, and explore stunning beaches, lush forest reserves, and serene mangroves teeming with migratory birds, hippos and crocodiles.
An important visit is the Unesco World Heritage Site of Kunta Kinteh Island along the forested Gambia River, where you will learn about the devastating history of the West African slave trade.
Gambia has its own version of Stonehenge, called the megalithic Wassu Stone Circles, made up of a collection of large stone circles that are thought to date back about 1,000 years.
If you want to dive into the culture, visit the Banjul market, which is bustling with all kinds of goods, perfect for picking up some unique souvenirs.
For nature lovers, visit the Chimp Rehabilitation Project, where orphaned and injured chimpanzees are cared for in the Gambia River National Park.
For foodies, make sure to try out local dishes like benachin, a one-pot rice dish with meat or fish; yassa, a tangy chicken or fish dish; or domoda, a peanut stew that’s a real local delicacy.
