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Meet and greet and transfer from airport to hotel.
Relax in the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Fathala Reserve Park in Senegal. The Fathala Reserve Park is located at 12 kilometers of the north of The Gambian/Senegalese border in Senegal. You will be picked up early morning from your hotels to drive to Banjul, the capital city where we join the ferry to Barra. After approximately one hour cruising on The River Gambia, we reach Barra to continue driving by road to the Gambian & Senegalese Border for passport formalities. From there we enter Senegal to drive for approximately 30 minutes to reach the Fathala Park. At Fathala, a 4×4 ex- army truck will be waiting for us to start our 2 hours safari within the park. In the reserve, you can enjoy the natural environment of the bush and get the chance to spot animals as zebras, rhinoceros, giraffes, monkey, antelopes, warthogs and many more. After that you can enjoy a nice Pizza lunch of your choice and a drink before departing back to the boarders to catch the ferry to Banjul.
A relaxing day at the hotel to rest and time at disposal.
This is an exclusive and quality day on a 60ft modern Gambian styled pirogue. Departing from your hotel we head towards Banjul, where you will join your boat. Departing from Oyster Creek we travel up the main estuary to the River Gambia taking in the tributaries as we sail. The invaluable experience of the Captain always ensures the calmest possible waters, whilst being served with morning coffee. This very scenic route will enable you to take in some of the many species of bird and river life whilst soaking up the calm and relaxing atmosphere that this cruise offers. For the keen bird-spotter, binoculars and bird books are readily available. Lunch will be a ‘Buffet’ of superb standard and quality. You will have the opportunity of swimming, sunbathing or fishing during the afternoon period. Afternoon tea and biscuits will be served whilst returning along the sun-drenched creeks, where your transport back to your respective hotels awaits.
An early start is needed as the drive takes just under one hour to the Makasutu cultural forest. You will be picked up from your respective hotels around 08:00 AM. Makasutu is a palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the River Gambia (Madina Bolon), encompassing many different ecosystems including dense forest, savanna and mangrove regions. The environment encompassing this forest is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, 3 species of monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer, man goose to name but a few-and if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of migrating baboons, that make the forest their home for a number of months each year. Upon arrival at Makasutu you will have the chance for a tea or coffee or some other form of refreshment. A walk to the wildlife museum then follows where a small talk will be given on the work this particular museum is trying to do for the wildlife of the Gambia. During your day there are many different activities on offer- river trips on traditional “dug out” canoes, guided walks through the forest, bird watching and animal observation. You will take a trip down the river on “dug out” canoes while drifting down the waters seeing wildlife, fishermen and women collecting oysters from the mangrove.This is very relaxing and you will have wonderful view of the region. After the boat trip there is the opportunity to go on a “bush walk” where you can see some of the flora and fauna of the area plus a chance to see to the palm wine tapper climbing the palm tree with a traditional rope. A drive back to base camp then follows where lunch will be waiting for you.Lunch consists of some of the best Gambian dishes in this region, including Benechin, Domada and Yassa. While you enjoy your food you can watch traditional dancers and drum troupes perform on the natural stage, under the shade of the majestic Baobab tree.
A relaxing day at the hotel to rest and time at disposal
Step into 5 centuries of history tracing the origins of Kunta Kinteh- the Gambian who was taken to the Americas. This is another trip, which makes you meet fellow brothers and sisters from the Diaspora and also gives you a chance of visiting many historical sites.
You Depart Banjul ports on M/V Joven Antonio your cruise ship for the day where you will enjoy a lovely lunch while being transported to all the various sites on this Roots trip. Passing an Island called dog Island; you visit your first port of call, Albreda. Here you visit the freedom flag pole and also visit a slave museum. Albreda used to be a French trading post during the slavery era. There is also a church here, which was the first of its kind to be built in West Africa by the Portuguese. The essence of stopping here is to explain how the freedom flagpole came into being, which is nowadays one of our national monuments since 1970.
From here you proceed onto Juffureh, which is the home village of the famous slave who was forced into slavery in the mid seventeenth century: Kunta Kinteh. It is on whom, Alex Haley has based the history of his best seller Roots, which retraces the events of the transatlantic slave trade. You also pay a courtesy call to the chief, at the bantaba (meeting place), where the chieftaincy rule will be explained as well as how to become a chief in The Gambia. You then come to the main highlight of the roots trip, the visit of the Kinteh clan. On the way back to the boat a stop is made to the museum, which retraces more than 400 years of slave trade that contributed considerably to the depopulation of the continent. Following the walk to the boat we then all proceed for a 2- mile sea cruise to Kunta Kinteh Island (former James Island). This is an Island, which used to play a vital role during the slave trade, it is located about 3 KM away from the village Albreda. This tiny Island, which used to be six times bigger than its actual size, was used to keep slaves for
2 weeks maximum, before they were shipped to Goree Island. The most characteristic thing is the dungeon remaining on the Island, out of 14, which were washed away by the erosion or the gunpowder explosion, which occurred in the mid eighteen century. Those dungeons were used to punish slaves who used to rebel against the slave master; hands and legs chained, and served one meal a day in order to weaken them.
After the sights and information on this other historical landmark in The Gambia, you join your boat and cruise back to Banjul port where your vehicle will meet you and drop you back to your respective hotel.
This trip will last for about half the day, up till about 2-3 PM. It is a trip to Banjul, the capital of The Gambia and its environments. Like all countries in the world, the capital city is the center of activities. Our first stop brings us to Serrekunda, which is the largest town in the country. Upon arrival at Serrekunda you visit the tie and dye batik factory owned by a Gambian lady called MUSU KEBBA DRAMMEH who has been in this job for over 30 years. Here we witness a display of the production of the batik. An hour is given to everyone to look around if shopping is needed. Prices here are very reasonable and prices can be negotiated if buying a couple of items. 10 minutes’ drive will take us to the sacred crocodile pool in Bakau. Upon arrival, we have an inside visit of the traditional museum before walking around the pool. The local guides of the pool will give to you a briefed explanation of the existence of the pool and explain to you how local people benefits from it spiritually. Guests can stroke a crocodile but to be strictly supervised by a local guide. We head towards the capital Banjul, where the guide explains the history of the surrounding area and the city. The first stop in Banjul is the National Museum. Your stop here is for about 45 minutes so lots of information on the culture, traditions, customs and history of our great capital can be taken in. Proceeding into the capital we stop at St. Albert’s Market, which is a daily market that has clothes, crafts, food and many other Gambian souvenirs that can be bought at very reasonable prices. Lunch is served at the New Bacchus Restaurant where you will find some of the best Gambian dishes served buffet style! Enjoy while you are facing the beach with its breeze of the Atlantic Ocean. Have you ever seen a panoramic view of a city? Our last stop is at Arch 22. This Arch was erected in honour of the July 22nd Revolution. The 37m high Arch is spectacular and a view of the whole city can be seen and its daily activities. Refreshment is served at the Arch before joining your vehicle for your return journey to your respective hotels.
Relax in the hotel and drop off to the airport.
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