Volunteer in the Gambia

Make a difference and volunteer in the Gambia

Health, safety and support

How safe is the Gambia?

60,000 British visitors travel to the Gambia for holidays and bird watching each year and most visits are hassle free.

The volunteer group is well supported by an expert local team who are there to support you during your stay from volunteering to anything else you might need in your free time. The Gambia is a poor country and wages are low so it is not advisable to show off your wealth, so leave your valuables at the accommodation or tucked inside your day pack when out and about.

How can I look after my health?

Stick to bottled water, soft drinks or tea and coffee. Anti-malarials are required and need to be taken before travel. Speak to your doctor, travel nurse or a good pharmacist for advice. A mosquito net is advisable. The sun can be very strong so take the usual precautions and a wide rimmed sun hat will be a good idea when working in the sun.

What level of support is provided?

The local support team is made up of expert local conservationists and every day support at the volunteer house and base. The team is responsible for teaching all volunteers the basics in local conservation threats and solutions, organises the weekly schedule and accompanies the volunteer group to projects each day.

Getting there

Do I need a visa?

British passport holders do not currently require a visa to enter the Gambia for stays of up to 30 days. If you hold a different passport and require a visa to enter Gambia, we can provide you with a supporting letter of introduction to assist your visa application. Allow an extra 2 to 3 weeks to prepare this for you.

How do I get there?

The simplest way to travel to the Gambia is to fly to the capital Banjul. There are weekly flights from London and Europe from £350 return. An airport pick up is automatically organised for all volunteers flying to Banjul. There are no fixed start dates although an arrival between Monday and Wednesday allows plenty of time to settle in before the weekend when many volunteers travel, relax or explore. For the best flights visit the comparison website skyscanner.net .If travelling between October and April some of the best flights from the UK can be found with flythomascook from £250 return so if you are planning to make a visit between Autumn and Spring book this project now and get your flight as soon as you can to potentially save hundreds of pounds.

What happens on arrival?

On arrival the project's regular driver will be there to meet you holding a sign with your name on it. You won't miss them - just don't leave the airport, they will find you and they will also wait for delayed flights so you have no need to worry. From the airport volunteers are transferred directly to the volunteer house.

The conservation programme

Mangrove conservation

According to the World Wildlife Fund, 35% of the world's mangroves have already disappeared. The West African coastal mangroves provide the last and essential habitat for migratory birds and endangered species before the sahara desert to the north. With rapid human population growth and a poor economy, this has resulted in the mangroves being harvested informally for fire wood and construction materials. The goal is to recreate missing tracts of mangrove through planting and effective nursery management to provide greater volumes ready for planting.

Volunteers help with planting in the mangroves, establishing nurseries and working with existing nurseries to improve the speed of the reforestation programme.

It is the programme's aim to involve local people, but currently this is a challenge to leave full time employment to volunteer without income.

Monitoring habitats

Volunteers travel to sites of scientific interest throughout the country to record and observe wildlife. Visits are made to inland rivers, forest parks and turtle breeding beaches on the coast. On previous trips new bird, animal and plant species have been discovered and threats to habitat encountered with their possible solutions discussed and planned. A pair of binoculars will be a great asset for this area of the programme.

The mangroves which have been planted are also visited to check their progress.

Conservation awareness

Volunteers are invited into schools as a team to run workshops and fun activities related to local concerns that the next generation need to be aware of and on the work the volunteers are carrying out.

Can I choose which area to work in?

To get the most out of your time during your visit it is recommended to have a go at everything. The local team try to prepare a timetable which has a variety of different activities covering practical, monitoring and education. However if hands on work or education is your area of interest, the local team will organise some extra opportunities for you.

Do I have to teach conservation?

Not at all. Volunteers are free to opt out of any volunteering activity. Alternatively you may like to play an assisting role at the workshops or help in another way such as helping the volunteer team to prepare materials.

Meals

Are meals provided?

The Gambia volunteer programme is a self-catering project. Volunteers eat on their way to and from projects in a group each day so it could not be easier. You should allow between £15 and £25 per week for meals and snacks.

Social etiquette

What do I need to know?

The Gambia, despite appearances (for anyone who has already travelled to our other sub-saharan African destinations) is a Muslim country and clothing should be modest when away from the volunteer house. Shorts are the most practical clothing for some project work such as mangrove planting but a change of clothes is recommended for travel between projects to prevent offence or misunderstandings.

What language is spoken?

English is spoken in the Gambia which makes it easier to communicate with local people, conduct research and teach conservation ideas in the schools.

What to take

What do I need to take for conservation work?

A wide rimmed sun hat. UV sunglasses to protect the eyes for when working in exposed coastal environments. Strong gardening gloves for clearing vegetation. Trainers or waterproof boots which can get wet and dirty. Flip flops also always come in useful. Binoculars will aid your experience and ideally be a great donation for the children to put to practical use after your stay. A guidebook to the flora and fauna of West Africa will make a great addition to read up and get familiar on local wildlife. A strong day pack to hold everything you need. Shorts which can be easily washed out each day and that won't show the dirt too much will be a good idea in addition to loose comfortable clothes to travel to projects. For schools, loose trousers or long skirt, flip flops/sandals and t-shirt are recommended clothing.

What do I need to take for the children?

The best materials for conservation education are often those which are prepared by volunteers specifically for the class whilst in the Gambia. For this you may want to consider taking out coloured card, paper and craft tissue paper in a range of natural colours for the children to make posters and puppets. All the usual plain paper and pencils can be bought cheaply in the Gambia.

What essentials do I need to take for my stay?

You will need to bring either a summer weight sleeping bag or a single duvet cover to sleep inside and a small pillow and pillow case for comfort. A mosquito net is essential. Any type of net can be hooked up so do not worry about getting the right one. Rainy season is June to October so do bring an anorak or a foldable umbrella. Although most visitors to the Gambia will be drinking soft drinks, bottled water of tea and coffee, you might like to bring and some Berocca tablets for the taste.

A daypack is essential at all times to carry equipment and a drink to projects and a money belt under a t-shirt is practical to keep money safe. You should wear your daypack on your front in crowded areas.

Getting around

How will I get to the projects each day?

The volunteer group travels altogether to the day's project location either on public transport or the project's private vehicle.

50p to £1 is usually enough to reach projects close to the volunteer house and base. If travelling further afield, the costs are shared. Allow between £4 and £7 return. Fell free to opt out of an activity that requires a longer journey, but the experience of seeing more of the country should make up for the extra travelling time and cost.

Example schedule

Monday
Mangrove prep and planting

Tuesday
Mangrove prep and planting

Wednesday
Bird population monitoring and recording at project site

Thursday
Habitat monitoring and recording at project site

Friday
Visit to local primary school to deliver conservation workshop and activities

Saturday/Sunday
Free time. Spend the weekend on the beach or explore Banjul. Opportunity to go on safari or take river trip for wildlife spotting.

Free time

How much free time will I have?

The volunteer schedule is organised between Monday and Friday. Occasionally project work may be running at the weekend although these are optional activities.

Communication

How will I keep in touch with home?

It is a good idea to unlock your phone before travel and get a new SIM on arrival. There are telephone booths/internet cafes closeby so there is no excuse to keep your family updated with your trip. See Kate Russell's advice column using your phone abroad for more.

Getting back to the airport

How will I get back to the airport?

The local team will help organise a transfer back to the airport with the team's regular driver. Simply ask a couple of days before your departure.

Payment

How will I pay for my project?

An invoice will be sent by email shortly after we have received your flight. Click on Pay Now to see what the invoice covers and the dates. This is the easiest way to pay. Email us if you are travelling soon and have not received an invoice. And don't worry if you forget, if we have your flights already - we'll send you a reminder before you go!

Travel with others

How can I travel with other volunteers?

If you let us know at the time of booking (best to start contacting others early if you want to arrange flights together) we will Buddy you up with another volunteer so you can travel together. Even if you do travel alone, the local team are there and you will rarely be the only volunteer as new volunteers arrive every day or two. You can also:

• Add yourself to the Buddy List to meet other volunteers, travel together or simply find a familiar face when you arrive.
• Join the volunteer community on Facebook and like the page to connect with other volunteers, receive recent pictures, stories and updates.

What happens if I book with a friend?

If we know at the time of booking you are travelling with a friend we will make sure you are met on arrival and transferred together to the same volunteer house. If you find a travel Buddy closer to travel, please email us so we can make a note and inform the local team.