Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent guide, even if you are just going the Gambia Coast Comment: Luckily I wasn't totally put off by your previous reviewer who complained bitterly about the mis-reference to Timbuctu and I bought the book!
I had previously purchased the 2nd edition of this guide and wasn't too impressed by it. However, this third edition is by a new author who has lived in Senegal and it has been completely revised. It is full of useful practical and background information for the curious traveller, even for those that have only booked a package to the Gambian Coastal resorts. Armchair travellers should find it an interesting read as well.
I am shortly going on a 14 day escorted adventure tour to Senegal and Gambia, and if the Amazon review system allows a second bite at the cherry, I hope to report on how useful and accurate the book is when I return.
Given the paucity of accurate information about either country available elsewhere, this book has certainly given me a good insight of what to expect. Customer Rating: Summary: Guesswork, maps were Okay. Comment: I gave up as soon the Authours suggested that the Phrase "going to Timbuctu" was in use in the 13 century in the U.K. ! as the City was founded in the 9th & was a Trading Place by then. They had no evidense just guess work. (Just because you think it sounds good doesn't make it True, my guess would be after 1860) I just assumed from then on the rest of the book was Guesswork. I was staying in a resort & did not need any information from the book but after a mistake like that I would have double checked every detail. I won't buy anyother Lonely Planet book if there is another Option. I paid £13 for Guesswork. I'm not even sure they have been to Gambia.
