MY TRAVEL PLANACCOMMODATIONtrips & activitiesevents

Exploring the South

Home
>
Trips & Activities
>
Exploring the South
from
120€
REQUEST QUOTE

ABOUT Exploring the South

If you are interested in having an insight into the daily life of locals, animals, history, nature, religion, culture and love good food, then this is a perfect trip for you. This excursion is part of our responsible tours. All people contributing to your experience on this trip make earnings directly on the spot.
culture
boat ride
nature
responsible travel

Itinerary

Start of the trip

  • The starting point is at Senegambia.
  • Pick-up at your location can be arranged for an additional cost.
  • Accommodation before the tour start can be arranged for an additional cost.

You will visit: 

Kartong

Senegambia Oyster Women Association

Visit the harvesting area with oysters' women with the local boat on the Halahin river and participate in the activity.

While men fish, this industry is entirely dominated by women who, besides harvesting the oysters, are also involved in conservation efforts. Women go to the river to harvest oysters, boil them, and sell them. The shells are burned to produce white lime, which they later sell for construction use.

One of the oldest villages in The Gambia, Kartong is in the extreme south of the country, tucked inland just beyond the reaches of the lapping waters of the Atlantic. Beyond Kartong, there is only an immigration post, a small hamlet and a fishing centre before the Halahin River and Casamance in southern Senegal. Kartong is a pleasant town which has always been famous amongst Gambians because of its sacred crocodile pool. Today it is also the centre of the sand-mining industry in The Gambia.

Kartong

The Gambian Reptile Farm

The Gambian Reptiles Farm (locally known as snake farm) is located near Kartong. Inside a well-preserved forest, you will see various Gambian reptiles such as puff adders, rock pythons, royal pythons, sand snakes, beauty snakes, herald snakes, spitting cobras, wolf snakes, night adders, geckos, Agama lizards, Nile monitor lizard, African mud turtle, African helmeted turtle, bell's hinged back turtle, crocodiles, Senegalese chameleons, geckos, as well as non-reptiles such as centipedes.

Some are extremely dangerous, some are not, and some have been tamed. If you want, you will be able to touch some of them and take a photo with them. The dangerous reptiles are kept at a safe distance.

The Gambia Reptile Farm is set up not as a zoo but as a research centre to collect more information about reptiles and educate local people about the benefits of snakes in their local environment, for example, keeping the mice and rat population under control. The Reptile Farm encourages people to get rather closer to snakes than they might normally choose.

Gunjur

Sacred Sand Dunes Mosque

The magnificent mosque has a fascinating history and is visited by Muslims and scholars on pilgrimage from all over The Gambia and West Africa. The mosque, associated grounds, buildings and rocks are all considered sacred because the site provided a sojourn for the Kalifat'ul Tijanniyya Sheikh Umar Taal (Leader of the Tijaaniyya Sect in West Africa) during his Islamisation mission in West Africa.

People visit the Sand Dune Mosque to pray for life-changing situations ranging from marital status to reversing the plight of barren women for childbearing.

Gunjur

Dwarf Coconut Planting

This is a great opportunity for all who want to give back on their holidays in The Gambia. You can help restore and protect the country's coastline against coastal erosion.

The importance of planting coconuts along the shoreline cannot be overemphasised. Coconut trees provide much-needed shade and stabilise the soil against wind and water erosion. Besides, coconut trees provide food, beautify tourist resorts, and help to protect the coastal communities from windstorms.

Plant your own coconut tree, which will be taken care of by members of the local NGO for environmental protection. You are most welcome to check on the growth whenever you revisit Gunjur.

Gunjur

Gunjur Village Museum

This charming little museum is a real gem and gives a wonderful insight into the traditions, nature, history and local life in The Gambia.

Owned and run by Lamin Bojang, the museum is a real labour of love. Lamin is a naturalist and bird guide who, over time, became aware that the history of his people was being lost, along with the historical objects from olden times. He built the museum by hand, opening it in 2017.

Lamin was born and raised in Gunjur, a community where life is still very traditional, although ways are changing.

The museum offers a warm welcome in a beautiful forest garden, where you can rest in the bantaba while Lamin explains all about the museum and forest garden. Take a tour around the museum and garden with Lamin or Mr Touray, a retired history teacher with a wealth of knowledge that he loves to share.

Gunjur

Gunjur Women Garden Project

The project, based on sustainability, is providing women and girls of the nearby villages with skills and a place where they can learn how to, and generate extra income. In the skills centre, young girls are being trained to become professional tailors to make their income and help support their families. The skilled tailors have a credit program that enables them to buy sewing machines over six months.

In the garden project, there are 210 women involved. Women must pay D75 to start the garden project and receive a plot of land for a lifetime. The area of 3 hectares is divided into many fields. A yearly fee of GMD 100 (approx. 1,80€) is payable to cover the maintenance and salary of the watchman.

Take a tour around, and if you are lucky, you might get some fresh fruits straight from the fruit garden.

Tanji

Tanji Village Museum

Tanji Village Museum is located at Tanji, 2km south of the fishing village along the Kombo coastal road. The museum is the first privately operated museum that was founded in 1997 by Mr Abdoulie Bayo. Mr Bayo was the former curator of The National Museum in Banjul. When he retired to his community, he decided to set up a museum with a unique setting.

The museum is a natural history and ethnographic museum, divided into different galleries which exhibit the authentic Gambia. Part of the museum is open-air, portraying the traditional Gambian compound and nature trail. When you walk into the museum, every piece of information is self-explanatory and easy to understand as everything is written in English and detailed. You will be led through by an excellent guide with many years of experience and passion for cultural preservation.

Tanji

Mama Africa Residence & Art Center

"Mama Africa" is a little paradise next to the fishing village of Tanji. International renowned artist Isha Fofana has created a charming ambience: spacious artistic guesthouses, an exotic garden together with her unique gallery. Be inspired by arts and culture, meet people and enjoy nature, relax and taste the fresh cuisine. Feel the energy and appreciate the tranquillity.

At the same time, Mama Africa is a non-profit association that actively cares for and successfully supports women and girls. For Isha, it is important to empower and help women cope with everyday life's problems so they can master the future independently. The key is to ensure an environment for economic self-determination.

Enjoy the exhibitions of the African arts and relax while enjoying delicious food in the garden or rooftop restaurant.

Tanji

Tanji Fishing Village

The colourful, coastal fishing village where you can enjoy the beaches and birdwatching. It is a very special experience to see the hectic, noisy, colourful scene of a Gambian fishing community at work. When the fishing boats land with the day's catch in the late afternoon, people descend on the beach in their hundreds, briefly transforming a tranquil fishing village into a loud, colourful marketplace. Ladies are running into the water, shouting to barter for the fish—a perfect place to try out your negotiation skills.

End of the trip

  • Finishing point is at the pick up location, Senegambia.
  • Accommodation after the tour can be arranged for additional cost.
  • Drop off at your location can be arranged for additional cost.

RATES

Prices are per person. Please note the minimum number of travellers for the tour. Your departure is 100% guaranteed once the minimum number of travellers book the tour. Rates are per person and might vary depending on the availability, requests for changes and number of travellers. For more information, send an inquiry.
You can also book a private and completely customized tour, where the minimum number of guests is not required. For an exact quotation for the number of travellers, please send an inquiry.

PRICES

Group tour - departures every week (*min. 4 travellers)
140€
Group tour - departures every week (*min. 10 travellers)
120€

inclusions

What is included

  • All means of transport and road taxes
  • Lunch
  • All entrance fees
  • All activities
  • Professional guide
  • Guide tips
  • Community contributions

What is excluded

  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Costs of Pick-up and Drop-off at your selected location
  • Some meals (breakfast and dinner)
  • Personal items (souvenirs, drinks with meal, travel insurance, visa fees)
  • International flights to and from The Gambia
Private or Group Tour
You can attend this tour as a closed group or individual.
Customization Option
You can request minor changes to the tour.
Can start any day
Depending on availability, the tour can start in any day of the week.
Family Friendly
Tour is suitable for families with kids more than 3 years old.
1 day trip
This is a one day trip.
Activity type: Light - Moderate
This trip requires light to moderate activity.
REQUEST QUOTE

FAQ

How demanding is the trip?

The trip is easy to moderate. The most activity expected from you is when you have to board a boat (and climb off to the river to collect the oysters, if you decide to). It will include some walking, but there will be no serious activity. If you decide to go for all activities possible the trip is quite long. 

What should I bring with me?

We recommend to bring sun protection (headwear, long lightweight clothes, sunglasses, sun cream) and mosquito repellents. Make sure you bring enough water (you can also buy it on the way) and some snacks if you get hungry quickly. If you decide to go into the water to collect oysters with the ladies, you might want to bring water-insensitive sandals and spare pair of clothes. 

Can I adjust the trip?

Private trips can be organised completely by your preference. You select the activities in the itinerary and the place for lunch. We take care of all the rest. 

Learn more about Mama Africa

Mama Africa is a name we have heard a thousand times. Art Residence & Art Center Gambia in Tanji is a location we wanted to visit for quite some time. While traveling to Gunjur on several different occasions in the past three months, a sign near the road kept reminding us to book a visit. And we finally did. We contacted Mrs. Isha Fofana, known as Mama Africa, and set up an interview. Mama Africa Art center is truly a piece of art itself. The breathtaking gallery greeted us upon arrival, and we were admiring all the decoration and details of the lodge.
REQUEST QUOTE

GET A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR ADVENTURE

Learn more about Tanji Village Museum
READ MORE

LET'S PLAN YOUR ACTIVITY TOGETHER

MAKE A RESERVATION

Trips and Activities Contact Form (#11)

How it works?

Fill-in the contact form on your left and your personal assistant from My Gambia team will:
    • Get in touch with our partners.
    • Respond to you in 24 hours with the rates and availability.
    • Once you confirm the offer, we will ensure everything will be set for your trip or activity.

Do you need more than just adventure?

Run through our questionaire and we will prepare the wholesome experience that suits your travelling character.
Let's plan your trip together

OFFERED BY

ITTOG & NNE

The trip is organised by the Insitute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) in collaboration with Ninki Nanka Encounters (NNE).

ITTOG specialises in hands-on training mainly in the Travel and Tourism sectors with special emphasis on travel agency, tour operations, tour guiding, ground operations, events management, entrepreneurship/business skills development, responsible/sustainable tourism, community-based tourism, and general tourism business management.

NNE Foundation is a small, new Gambian charity and UK community interest company (CIC) working towards the responsible development of the Ninki Nanka Trail as a community-based tourist destination.

They work on projects with communities, tourism businesses and local government to develop experiences, products and community-based tourism designed to create inspiring, cultural interaction between travellers and local people and use tourism to create livelihood opportunities for host communities along The River Gambia.

Most popular trips

We do believe it's time for another adventure. Don't spend all of your time in The Gambia in one place. Go out and explore! There are so many beautiful experiences waiting for you. Let us help you pick one - and take care of all the rest. 

Ninki Nanka Trail - Classic

The trail is a much-needed contrast to ‘sun, sand and sea’ package tourism that builds on the untapped potential of the River Gambia. Aimed largely at the adventure traveller and special interest ...
READ MORE

Ninki Nanka Trail - Casamance | 2 days

Tree fetishes that make your wishes come true, colourful fruits in different shapes and sizes waiting to be picked and a peaceful boat ride along the creeks while the sun is setting and the heat of th...
READ MORE

Exploring the South

If you are interested in having an insight into the daily life of locals, animals, history, nature, religion, culture and love good food, then this is a perfect trip for you. This excursion is part ...
READ MORE

Quad Biking on Sanyang Beach

Jatta Easy Quad's base is located in Kayanco, Sanyang, where they welcome their guests for excursions and allow them to ride on their tracks to get familiar with the bikes. You can decide on a beachsi...
READ MORE

Ninki Nanka Trail - Classic

The trail is a much-needed contrast to ‘sun, sand and sea’ package tourism that builds on the untapped potential of the River Gambia. Aimed largely at the adventure traveller and special interest ...
READ MORE

Ninki Nanka Trail - Casamance | 2 days

Tree fetishes that make your wishes come true, colourful fruits in different shapes and sizes waiting to be picked and a peaceful boat ride along the creeks while the sun is setting and the heat of th...
READ MORE

Exploring the South

If you are interested in having an insight into the daily life of locals, animals, history, nature, religion, culture and love good food, then this is a perfect trip for you. This excursion is part ...
READ MORE

Quad Biking on Sanyang Beach

Jatta Easy Quad's base is located in Kayanco, Sanyang, where they welcome their guests for excursions and allow them to ride on their tracks to get familiar with the bikes. You can decide on a beachsi...
READ MORE
©MyGambia 2023
Developed by Marklab
error: Alert: Our content is protected!

My Gambia Team

Typically replies within 30 minutes

We will be back soon.

Hey there 👋
We are here to help. What can I do for you?
Start Chat with us
chat