Gambia eSIM

Staying connected in the Gambia

The simplest way to get online in the Gambia is to install a travel eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land in Banjul. AirOva sells Gambia plans from $12.49. They are GB plans with a fixed amount of data, all data only, with no call minutes, SMS or local number. Gambia plans run on Comium; each plan card names its network and whether it is listed as 4G or 5G.

Which Gambia plan to choose

Gambia plans come only with a fixed amount of data, so pick the size by how you use your phone. Messaging, maps and booking apps take little data; video calls and uploading beach or birding photos take much more. Not sure? See how much data you need, and top up if you run low.

The Gambia's mobile operators

Africell launched in the Gambia in 2001, the year the company was founded, and has led the market by subscribers since 2006. It reports coverage of 93% of the country's territory. The Gambia has three other mobile operators: QCell, Gamcel and Comium.

Arriving at Banjul International

Banjul International (BJL), formerly Yundum International, is the country's only airport and stands at Yundum. Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before you fly. After landing, turn off airplane mode, switch the eSIM line on, choose it for mobile data and enable Data Roaming for that line; the data is prepaid, so roaming adds no charge. Keep roaming off on your home SIM.

Up the river and into Senegal

The Gambia is a narrow country, less than 50 km wide at its widest point, that follows the Gambia River inland from the Atlantic. Senegal surrounds it on three sides, so any trip into Senegal crosses a border. A Gambia plan covers the Gambia only unless its card says otherwise, so buy a Senegal plan in advance and install it over Wi-Fi before you cross.

Tip: download offline maps before a river trip upcountry, and send large uploads over hotel Wi-Fi to make a GB plan last. Keep your home SIM in for bank codes with its roaming off.