Enjoy a harmonious balance between conventional cruising and private yachting, along with an exciting voyage of discovery, unravelling the wonders of West Africa. Spend 8-days cruising the waterways of Gambia, with visits to no less than four Natural Reserves. Highlights of this voyage include visits to Banjul, James Island, Tendaba, Kuntaur, Kaur, Dakar, Djiffere, and Saloum Delta River.
Highlights
Stop at Saint James Island, an important 15th century slave trading post
Observe Guinea baboons, bushbuck, warthogs and Senegal bushbaby
Head to the southernmost tip of Baboon Island for an open safari tour
Enjoy a Gambian night with Kora Instrument Concert
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Embark at 7-10 pm in Banjul. After accommodating yourself on board the Harmony G comfortable cabins, a safety drill and information by the crew is performed for your own security. Afterwards, you are invited for dinner and a Fishermen night. Overnight in Banjul.
This morning you have the opportunity to take the 1/2 day excursions offered to Bakau with its crocodile "katchikaly", its Botanic Garden and a short Banjul Tour. After lunch, leave Banjul and sail upstream. Stop at St. James Island in the middle of the Gambia River. The first settlers on the island arrived in 1651 and under the British rule it became an important slave trading post in The Gambia. In 1976 James island became famous due to the author Alex Haley and its bestseller book "Roots" and the story of a slave, called Kunta Kinteh. The island was recently renamed Kunta Kinteh Island and is now an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. After disembarking by local tenders your local guide tells you more about the history of James Island and afterwards you have some time to explore this island by yourself. Late on the afternoon, leave "Kunta Kinteh" and sail upstream to reach Tendaba. This evening enjoy a Mediterranean night in Africa. Overnight at dock in Tendaba.
From the ship take motor pirogues in order to reach Tendaba, located on the South Bank in the Lower River Division, your starting point of your morning optional excursion. It is a small fishing village of mainly Muslim faith with approximately 600 inhabitants whose main occupation is fishing. From there walk through to Batelling, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West National Park. The area boasts of over 250 species of birds; many of which are difficult to observe anywhere else. Other residents include Guinea baboons, bushbuck, warthogs, Senegal bushbaby and marsh mongoose. After a refreshing stop in Batelling, board an open safari truck which brings you back to Tendaba. On the way pass again local villages where you get an impression of local life in The Gambia. In the afternoon, be picked-up from the ship by motor pirogues for another optional excursion to the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. This reserve, lying across from Kiang West National Park features six major bolongs (creeks) that provide great birding and boating opportunities. Numerous rare and migratory birds also reside here including the Pel’s fishing owl, African fin foot and brown-necked parrot. Overnight docked in Tendaba.
Day 4: Gambia River | Kuntaur | River Gambia National Park
Leave Tendaba in the early morning and sail upstream on the Gambia River all morning to reach Kuntaur. Arrive to the bustling Gambian port town of Kuntaur, the last inland stop along the river that is navigable for ocean-going ships. Later in the afternoon board a large motor pirogue for a 3 hours optional excursion cruise on The Gambia River. First head to the southernmost tip of Baboon Island, one of the five islands of The Gambia National Park. There a local national park ranger is joining you onboard in order to give more information about the park and its fauna & flora. Then the motor pirogue slows down and sails slowly back to Kuntaur following closely the shores of Baboon Island. This island is home of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project. If you are lucky from your motor pirogue you can closely observe the chimps with minimal intrusion. There is also the possibility of seeing hippos, crocodiles, Red Colobus, Green Vervet monkeys and also The Gambia’s famous birdlife. Return to Kuntaur where you are met by the “Kankurang” and a local dance group on the pier. Believed to have spiritual powers the “Kankurang” dispenses justice and wards off evil spirits. Overnight docked in Kuntaur.
This morning, your optional excursion by bus takes you to the ferry station of Janjanbureh. There board the local ferry for a short cruise over The Gambia River to Janjanbureh. Continue your excursion with a visit of one of the oldest towns of The Gambia, formerly called Georgetown. During the walk you get an impression of this laidback town and see the residence of the governor, the market and the Methodist church with its school. Afterwards take the ferry back and re board the bus to reach Lamin Koto. Later in the morning stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. Visit the little museum of this archaeological site, an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. In the afternoon, after lunch, sail downstream to Kaur a small fishing village on the banks of the Gambia. Have the opportunity to walk around this small community and see how Gambians live today. This evening enjoy Captains Farewell Dinner. Overnight in Kaur.
Leave Kaur early in the morning and sail further downstream towards Banjul where dolphins and other animal life can be sighted. Arrive in Banjul around 4pm. After formalities, later in the evening, sail out of the Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean northwards to Dakar. This evening enjoy a Gambian night with Kora Instrument Concert. Overnight at sea to Dakar.
This morning join an optional excursion to Goree Island and Dakar city tour, an exploratory adventure of Dakar surroundings, inviting you to discover the traces of slave trading, and its transformation into today’s African modernity. The history makes room for the present development. Lunch outside, return to the ship in the late afternoon and prepare for dinner. After dinner, set sail southward towards the Saloun River Delta. Overnight at sea, cruising southwards along the coast.
Day 8: Djiffere | Banjul | Disembark
1 Breakfast
This morning reach the Sine – Saloum Delta in Senegal, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also an Important Birding Area, as designated by Birdlife International and natural habitat for many bird species but also such aquatic animals as marine turtles, dolphins, West African manatees and crocodiles. Your optional excursion starts at the primitive fishing village of Djiffere from where you reach the village of Joal Fadiouth, set on an island of clam shells that also are used in local buildings and crafts. In the afternoon, leave Senegal and the Saloum Delta River and sail south to Gambia to reach Banjul, the capital of Gambia and gateway to the 700-mile Gambia River.
Disembark upon arrival in Banjul and prepare for your return flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,990
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Category C
Lower deck cabins with one double bed or two twin beds. Cabins have bathroom with shower, individually controlled A/C, piped music, flat-screen TV, CD/DVD player, telephone for internal use, mini safe, mini-fridge, hairdryer, adapters (220V).
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Category B (Twin)
Main deck cabins with two twin beds. Cabins have bathroom with shower, individually controlled A/C, piped music, flat-screen TV, CD/DVD player, telephone for internal use, mini safe, mini-fridge, hairdryer, adapters (220V).
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Category A (Twin)
Main deck cabins with two twin beds. Cabins have bathroom with shower, individually controlled A/C, piped music, flat-screen TV, CD/DVD player, telephone for internal use, mini safe, mini-fridge, hairdryer, adapters (220V).
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Category P
Upper deck cabins with one double bed or two twin beds. Cabins have bathroom with shower, individually controlled A/C, piped music, flat-screen TV, CD/DVD player, telephone for internal use, mini safe, mini-fridge, hairdryer, adapters (220V).
Notes
- Please note that fares do not include port charges and possible fuel surcharges. Contact us for details.
- Please note that shore excursions are offered at additional costs.
- Child Discount:
Children between the ages of 7-10 sharing a cabin with two paying adults receive a 50% discount. Children between the ages of 10-16 sharing a cabin with two paying adults receive a 35% discount.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
