Day 1: Gunjur – Bintang
In the morning, we will travel inland. We will take a road in good condition where the breeze of the coast will give way to the heat of the interior. We will leave the West Coast to enter the Central Region of Gambia. A change in the landscape where, after crossing the Kiang highlands, red soil with magnificent tree remains is left behind to enter an area closer to bolongs, wetlands, mangroves, and farmland.
Day 2: Bintang
Once we have had breakfast we will dedicate the day to getting to know the surroundings of the village of Bintang, with its local life and its traditional activities. We will enjoy a traditional meal and relax on the banks of the Gambia River. Then we will take a boat tour through the mangroves of Bintang to learn about the diversity of fauna and flora that inhabits this small West African country where we will see crocodiles, birds with colorful plumage, and other native animals.
Day 3: Bintang – Soma – Fathala
We will get up very early to cross the border with Senegal again and make the journey to the Fathala Wildlife Reserve. We will head to Soma, capital of the central region of Gambia where we will visit a Recovery and Nutrition Education Center. We will have lunch in Soma and follow the route to cross the Gambia River by a bridge to the nature reserve. Once we arrive in Fathala we will spend the day on a safari through the reserve filled with all the major wild animals in sub-Saharan Africa. This “Photographic Safari” lasts about three hours when we will have the opportunity to see the starts of the large African mammals such as giraffes, white rhino, African buffalo, and antelopes. We will have lunch and then start out to the Sine-Saloum Delta, formed by the mouth to the Atlantic Ocean of the Sine and Saloum Rivers.
Day 4: Toubacouta – Sine-Saloum Delta
The Sine-Saloum Delta is a large wetland dotted with bunches of reeds, lagoons, mangroves, and wetlands and was declared Sine-Saloum Delta National Park in 1976 as well as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. It was also recognized as a Biosphere Reserve in 1980 and ranked as a Ramsar site in 1984. We will spend the day boating around to view the flora and fauna native to the area as well as the small villages along the Sine River and its tributaries. We will also visit the village of Sippo, to learn about this isolated population that still lives on an island far from civilization.
Day 5: Toubacouta– Barra – Gunjur
Early in the day we will trace our steps back to Gambia, identifying the different ethnicities and landscapes that we have discovered during our time in Senegal. We will arrive at the Atlantic coast to visit the traditional port of Tanji, where we will see the explosion of colors and activities of the boats reaching the beach. Then we will head to Sanyang to enjoy dinner on an unspoiled beach.
Day 6: Gunjur
We will spend the day relaxing in the ecolodge, enjoying the beach and the great outdoors, in a quiet setting. We will enjoy local food from the local community’s farms.
*Optional trip to Banjul or surrounding area after consulting the guides.
Day 7: Gunjur
We will spend the day relaxing in the ecolodge, enjoying the beach and the great outdoors, in a quiet setting. We will enjoy local food from the local community’s farms. And we’ll head for the airport to say farewell to this trip.
PRICE INCLUDES
Transportation by private vehicle except on September 13 and 14.
Guide everyday except September 13 and 14.
Detailed activities on the itinerary.
Full board accommodations.
Transfer to the airport.
River transport.
Accommodations in double room with full board.
A Spanish and Catalan-speaking guide who speaks local languages fluently (Wolof, Diola, Mandinka) and knowledgeable about the region.
