Power Outages or power cuts occur almost daily in one part of
the Gambia or another, though to a lesser extent since 2007. Most
hotels in Gambia as well as many
businesses have generators, but these aren’t always reliable due
to the high cost of fuel to power them as well as intermittent
breakdowns. In addition, it often takes several minutes to turn
on after an outage.
If power is out for an extended period of time, some hotels will
save money by running the generator only between dusk and midnight.
Always plan ahead and never take for granted that you'll have
electricity when you need it.
Save often when using a computer, use a UPS and plan on charging
batteries for phones, computers, cameras, etc. well before you
need to use them.
Try and buy a small rechargeable lantern and pocket torchlight.
If you are going off the beaten track then there are for sale
rechargeable solar powerbanks for mobiles as well as lanterns.
Background:
Regular power cuts
began in around 1977 and it followed the Sahelian droughts 1968-1974
which saw a significant rural-urban drift of people from the villages
and into the towns. The population of these areas suddenly swelled
to breaking point and the demand for electricity and water
escalated. In trying to cope, the utilities corporation suffered
a series of serious mechanical break-downs that has crippled the
energy sector for many decades
with frequent power cuts and load shedding which lasted for the
next 30 years.
Present Situation:
Currently in the urban areas and hotel resorts
of Greater Banjul in the West Coast, power outages have become
more of an aberration rather than the norm.
The rural areas have yet to benefit fully from the Rural
Electrification Project.
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Travel & Tourism
Advice 