This gerbil lives in Sahelo-Sudanian savannas and agricultural landscapes. It is nocturnal and terrestrial, digging multi-entrance burrows in sandy-soil savannas and also using fallows and traditional fields. The pool spells the name gambiana; this article follows the current MDD spelling gambianus.
It is a medium-to-large gerbil with a rather dull gray-brown back, paler sides, and a white to off-white underside sharply separated from the flanks. Its hairy tail is usually slightly shorter than or close to the body length and lacks a distinct terminal tuft.
It is nocturnal and terrestrial. The species account associates it with shrub and wooded savannas containing Combretaceae on sandy-leaning soils, as well as fallows and traditionally cultivated fields. It digs complex burrows averaging about 30 cm deep with several entrances.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.