The Country - the whats and wheres

The Gambia is Africa's smallest mainland country, with a population of 1.7million.  It is a former British colony that strides the banks of the river Gambia. Apart from its 50-mile long Atlantic coast, the country is surrounded by the French speaking Senegal.

The capital is Banjul, a 6-hour flight from UK airports.  The country is English speaking and on the same time zone as the UK.  It is roughly the same latitude as the Canary Islands, with a similar climate.

The country's economy is dominated by farming (ground nuts, cassava and millet), fishing and tourism.

Map reproduced, courtesy of Lonely Planet

• The Country - the whats and wheres
• Education - who does what
• Tourism - when and how