Rivers of West Africa - Gambia & Senegal Cruise - From Banjul

Embarkation 3 to 4 pm. We leave Banjul and sail upstream to Tendaba. We reach Tendaba late into the evening. African Night - Overnight at dock in Tendaba.

From the ship, we take motor pirogues to reach Tendaba, located on the South Bank in the Lower River Division, our starting point for the Tendaba morning optional excursion. It is a small fishing village of mainly Muslim faith with approximately 600 inhabitants whose main occupation is fishing. From there, we will walk to Batelling, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West National Park. The area boasts 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, we will board an open safari truck which brings us back to Tendaba. On the way, we pass local villages where you get an impression of local life in The Gambia. In the afternoon, we are picked up from the ship by motor pirogues for the afternoon Tendaba 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.

Early morning, we leave Tendaba and sail upstream on the Gambia River all morning to reach Kuntaur. Early afternoon arrival 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, we board a large motor pirogue for a 3-hour optional excursion cruise on The Gambia River. First, we head to the southernmost tip of Baboon Island, one of the five islands of The Gambia National Park. A local national park ranger joins us onboard to give more information about the park and its fauna and flora. Then we turn, and the motor pirogue slows down, sailing slowly back to Kuntaur, following the shores of Baboon Island. This island is home to the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project. If we are lucky, we may closely observe the chimps with minimal intrusion from our motor pirogue. There is also the possibility of seeing hippos, crocodiles, Red Colobus, Green Vervet monkeys, and The Gambia’s famous birdlife. We return to Kuntaur where we 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, our optional excursion by bus takes us to the ferry station of Janjanbureh. There, we board the local ferry for a short cruise over The Gambia River to Janjanbureh. We continue our excursion with a visit to one of the oldest towns of The Gambia, formerly called Georgetown. During the walk, you get an impression of this laid-back town and see the residence of the governor, the market, and the Methodist church with its school. Afterwards, we take the ferry back and reboard the bus to reach Lamin Koto. Through the generosity of Variety Cruises and many of its clients, a new school building is being built. Later in the morning, we stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. You will visit the little museum of this archaeological site, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. In the afternoon, after lunch, we sail downstream to Kaur, a small fishing village on the banks of the Gambia. You will have the opportunity to walk around this small community and see how Gambians live today. In the evening, we leave Kaur and sail downstream towards Banjul. Farewell Dinner.

This morning we anchor at St. James Island in the middle of the Gambia River, which was an important slave trading post under British rule in The Gambia. In 1976, James Island became famous due to the author Alex Haley and his bestseller book "Roots" and the story of a slave called Kunta Kinteh. The island is now called Kunta Kinteh and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Optional walking tour: After disembarking by local tenders, your local guide will tell you more about the history of James Island, and afterwards, you will have some time to explore the island by yourself. After lunch, we leave Kunta Kinteh to reach Banjul around 4 pm. After formalities, later in the evening, we will sail out of the Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean northwards to Dakar. Gambian Night with Kora instrument Concert - Overnight at sea to Dakar.

Early morning arrival in Dakar. After breakfast, we will take you on 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 the ship. Returning to the ship in the late afternoon and preparing for dinner. After dinner, we set sail southward towards the Saloum River Delta. Overnight at sea, cruising southwards along the coast.

This morning we reach the Sine – Saloum Delta in Senegal, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also an Important Birding Area, as designated by Birdlife International and natural habitat for many bird species as well as aquatic animals such as marine turtles, dolphins, West African manatees, and crocodiles. Our optional excursion starts at the fishing village of Djiffer from where we reach the village of Joal Fadiouth, set on an island of clam shells that are also used in local buildings and crafts. In the afternoon, we leave Senegal and the Saloum Delta and sail south to Gambia to reach Banjul, the capital of Gambia and gateway to the 700-mile Gambia River. Fishermen Night. Overnight in Banjul.

Disembarkation at 9:00 am after breakfast.

Itineraries are subject to change.