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Arrive in Janjanbureh in time for lunch before taking a tour of the Island's cultural and historic sites. Learn the fascinating history of this town, which played such an important role in the abolition of slavery in West Africa, as you tour the Methodist Church, the Freedom Tree and Armitage High School. From there, you will visit the sacred ceremonial site of Tinyansita and UNESCO's Kankurang Museum, which showcases the area's ancient masquerade culture.
Travel by public transport to Bansang and leave your belongings at your riverside lodge before taking a walk around this dusty trading town and its busy market. Adventurous guests, you might enjoy the chance to visit Bansang's only local bar to meet some of the town's more colourful characters. Other people may prefer to sit at the lodge with a cold drink, looking over the river and watching the sunset.
After breakfast, leave Bansang and take a small boat or the hand-pulled ferry across the river to Bushtown. Heading North, we'll hike through the forest, staying as close to the river as possible to maximise our chances of meeting the wildlife. There are no permanent settlements in this area, and the paths are sometimes overgrown (or even non-existent), so at some points, we'll use a cutlass to clear our route. On the way, we'll hope to meet baboons, red colobus and green vervet monkeys, bushpigs, mongoose and plentiful bird life, including various kinds of kingfishers, herons, bee-eaters and ibis. We will take our time, stopping at some of the watering holes to see what passes by.
Lunch will be in the small Mandinka settlement of Dobo, after which we will head to a camp by the riverside at Tankong Kunda, which is used by the Malian fishermen who work in the area. We'll set up our tents, take a swim in the river and relax under the trees until the sun starts to set. Before your guide cooks your evening meal, we'll take a short sunset stroll in the forest looking for the troop of endangered red colobus monkeys that sometimes inhabit the area.
From the camp, it's a short walk to the village of Tankong Kunda, where we will have breakfast in a local Fula compound. From there, we head North West through the tiny village of Jarra Ji and on to Kunting, Yonna and Kujew, meeting and greeting members of the community on the way through, visiting a women's community garden and stopping somewhere for a packed lunch.
Heading southwest out of Kujew, we'll visit Koli Bolong 'Mountain', which offers a great view over the end of Janjanbureh Island with Kunkiling Forest Park in the background. If you'd like to cool off, you'll have the chance to swim in the river before joining our small boat to go searching for hippos and then returning to Janjanbureh Island. Your evening meal can be served either at Musa's Garden riverside lodge, where you will be staying or at a nearby local restaurant.
After a leisurely breakfast, Chris, your kayaking guide, will meet you at the riverside for a short briefing and for you to try out your kayak. In your own time, you will depart Westward from Janjanbureh Island and head to Manna Sandbanks. Take a short break under the mango trees and enjoy a delicious packed lunch by the river. Continue West to a group of river islands known locally as Six Junctions. You will often find one or more families of hippos in this area. From here to Barajally, a small settlement with a ferry and a crossing point for small boats. After setting up your tents and taking a stroll into the local village, your guide will cook your evening meal on fire at the riverside as you relax under the stars.
After a traditional Gambian breakfast from the local village, you will paddle onto the beautiful River Gambia National Park (aka Baboon Islands). At around 3 p.m., you will see the chimpanzees when they come to the riverside for daily feeding by the park rangers. Afterwards, you'll continue on towards Kuntaur, stopping on the way for a short walk up Last Elephant Hill. Famous as the place from which Gambia's last elephant fell to its death, the hill gives fantastic views over the river, and you may encounter both the endangered red colobus monkeys and a troop of Guinea baboons. You will spend the night and take your evening meal at Kairoh Garden riverside lodge in Kuntaur.
Breakfast will be served by the river, and then you will hike (approx. 3.5km) to Wassu Stone Circles, a mysterious UNESCO World Heritage site of standing stones. Onward transport can be found in Wassu.
All of our trips are designed around your fitness levels and your schedule. Longer or shorter distances can be arranged on request. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
It is moderately challenging, with the hiking covering around 12km each day. The first day is through the gallery forest, which offers a great opportunity for wildlife encounters. The second day is through open farmland and small villages rarely visited by Western travellers.
The kayaking is suitable for most paddlers, covering a distance of around 18km per day (with the current) and passing through the River Gambia National Park. It offers the chance to see the river's most fascinating wildlife, including chimps, hippos, baboons and other primates, crocodiles, monitor lizards and turtles.
We recommend bringing sun protection (headwear, long, lightweight sport/trekking clothes, sunglasses, sun cream) and mosquito repellents. Make sure you bring enough water and some snacks if you get hungry quickly. Pack everything you need for a five nights stay. We recommend comfortable wear and hiking footwear.
With hiking, you will cover around 12km each day. There are two days of intensive hiking in the itinerary.
With kayaking, you will cover around 18km each day. There are two days of intensive kayaking in the itinerary.
Based in Janjanbureh, we specialise in providing tailor-made, authentically African experiences for solo travellers and small groups looking to get off the beaten track.
We visit areas where the traditional culture is still strong and modernisation has not changed lifestyles.
Our guides are from the local community and they are always happy to share their traditional knowledge of the river, the bush and the villages with you.
And because we are a social enterprise business, you can enjoy your trip safe in the knowledge that you’re making a valuable contribution to sustainable development.
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.