You will visit:
The journey begins in the vibrant Senegambia area, where we set off towards Banjul, the bustling capital of The Gambia. Upon arrival in Banjul, we will board a ferry to cross the Gambia River, offering you a truly local experience of public river transport. The ferry is a lively and hectic part of everyday life, where you’ll witness the hustle and bustle of local commuters, traders, and travelers making their way across the river.
After crossing to Barra, we hop into safari vehicles and head toward the border of Senegal. The drive itself is scenic, giving you glimpses of everyday rural life along the way. Once we arrive at Fathala Wildlife Reserve, the real adventure begins.
Fathala Wildlife Reserve spans approximately 6,000 hectares of preserved forest, allowing you to experience an authentic stretch of the African wilderness in its untouched form. This protected area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including graceful antelopes, zebras, majestic giraffes, bushpigs, and a single elusive rhino—spotting it requires a bit of luck! The reserve is also a haven for birdwatchers and primate lovers, with numerous bird species and playful monkeys inhabiting the forest.
As we embark on our safari ride through the park, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the stunning scenery and get up close to these incredible animals in their natural habitat. The serene beauty of the reserve, combined with the excitement of wildlife sightings, makes for an unforgettable experience in one of Senegal's most captivating natural landscapes.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Safari Jeep will be taking you around on the red dusty roads so we recommend you to avoid white clothes. Don't forget about sun protection, mosquito repellent, water and snacks if you get hungry fast.
This trip is suitable for kids older than 6 years.
The trip is easy to moderate. It will include some walking, but there will be no serious activity.
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.
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.