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This three-night Hiking adventure takes you into the cultural and historic town of Janjanbureh, and off the beaten track into the local culture and natural environment. Using comfortable tent accommodation, the trip includes a tour of Janjanbureh, a short boat trip and 24km of hiking over two days.
Depart the coast early to arrive in Janjanbureh around 1 pm. Meet your guide and enjoy lunch at a local bar/restaurant.
Check in to Hippo Bush Camp and spend the afternoon relaxing under the trees, swimming in the river or learning to cook African food with our chef, Lamin.
Accommodation will be in spacious, comfortable tents close to the river, and your evening meal will be served under the stars at our open-air dining tables.
We'll start the trip looking for the Green Vervet monkeys around Lamin Koto riverside, and then head East by small boat to Koli Bolong 'Mountain'. After enjoying the great views over the river, you'll hike through the bush, looking for baboons, red colobus monkeys and more. From there, the tracks take you through the traditional settlements of Kujew, Yonna, Kunting and Jarra Ji. Along the way, we'll meet with various members of the community to learn more about local life and visit a women's community garden. Then, continue South East to Tankong Kunda, where we will take lunch in a local compound. After lunch, we'll greet the village chief and head down to the riverside. We'll set up our tents at a small fisherman camp and head out for an evening walk in the forest. Your evening meal will be served at the riverside.
After breakfast, leave Tankong Kunda and head South to the village of Dobo, and from there, South East towards the River. The going starts to get a little tougher as we leave the tracks behind and weave our way through the trees, staying as close to the river as possible, using a cutlass to cut a path at some points.
There are no permanent settlements in this area, so the wildlife is as plentiful as anywhere in Gambia. We hope to see various primates, monitor lizards, mongoose and maybe bushpig, as well as great birdlife.
Arrive to Bushtown and cross the river in a small hand-paddled boat to the dusty town of Bansang. After a late lunch and a walk around the market, you'll take transport back to Janjanbureh and Hippo Bush Camp. Evening meal beneath the stars.
Leisurely breakfast by the river, before a guided tour of Janjanbureh Island. You'll explore the Colonial graveyard, Armitage High School and the Freedom Tree, as you learn about the town's unique role in the Colonisation of West Africa and the ending of the slave trade. You'll also visit the Kankurang Museum, a fascinating, UNESCO sponsored exhibition about the West African masquerade culture. This leaves time for lunch, before departing Janjanbureh around 2pm in order to reach the coast before dark.
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.
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