Rules for overlanding in Gambia

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 6 July 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An Italian licence is valid for three months. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance at the border — Third-party liability cover has to be taken out at the frontier.
Carnet de passages — A carnet de passages en douane is required for a vehicle imported temporarily.
Roads and tracks — There are about 2,700 km of roads and tracks, of which 956 km are paved. Surfaces can be badly deteriorated, especially in the wet season.
Frequent checkpoints — Roadblocks are frequent and sometimes poorly signposted.
Disorderly traffic — Traffic is generally disorganised and calls for cautious driving, particularly at night and in poor visibility.

What catches travellers out

Cash country — Few businesses have ATMs or take cards, so carry enough cash — but not a thick wallet in your pocket. Amounts over 10,000 dollars or the equivalent must be declared to customs on arrival.
Drugs — Possessing or using narcotics is punished with prison, including the locally grown weed offered to tourists and even in small amounts. Proven dealing in other substances is punished more severely, with sentences of several years.
Photography — Do not photograph the airport, government buildings or military installations.
If police stop you — Cooperate fully and stay calm. Court proceedings can be very complex and drag on, as can pre-trial detention, whose conditions are extremely poor, and there have been cases where consular staff were not given access to foreign detainees.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 6 July 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Gambia before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 6 July 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.