Creek fishing, day excursion on Sundays, about 40 Euro per person.
Discover the amazing (under)water world of The Gambia. You leave your hotel for Denton Bridge in the morning, to go fishing on a piroque, a typically (Portuguese) African wooden ship. Rods and bait are on the ship. This is also a fun excursion for people who don't usually go fishing: the bait is put on and the fish is taken off the hook for you. Also, the mangrove area is worth a visit, also if you just want to go for a boat trip. Lunch is served on board.
Overview of other excursions:
Safari - every Monday - about 50 Euros p.p.
Fun safari trip to the south of The Gambia
Visit to a local market in Sukuta. See how palm wine is won and try its taste at "Uncle John's" in Yuna. Visit a school and learn more about the scholastic system in The Gambia in the village of Sanyang. After a short trip we arrive at "Paradise Beach" for a magnificent lunch. Here, you have time to relax, take a swim or sunbathe. After lunch we leave for Tanji, where we visit the Tanji Village Museum. Here, you will be told the way of life and living in the past and now. After this museum, we visit the Tanji beach, which is a hectic business of fishing that you have to experience. Fishermen pass on their catch of the day to the women. Also, you will long remember the smell of smoked fish. On the way back to the hotel, we hope to spot some monkeys and some beautiful exotic birds.
Lazy Day Cruise - every Thursday - E 45 p.p.
Lovely lazy day on board of a "modern" piroque.
With this typically African wooden ship, you sail through the mangroves and branches of the river Gambia. Departure is from Denton Bridge. After coffee and tea, you sail through this beautiful nature in a very relaxed manner.
You will see women collecting oisters in their dugout canoos, we'll meet fishermen who are busy with their nets, but above all we'll enjoy gorgeous nature, and see very special and exotic bird species. There will be various short stops to swim, relax and wish. Lunch is served on board (included) and in the afternoon we have tea with biscuits. You can purchase (cooled) drinks against reasonable prices in the bar on board. In short: everything you need for a wonderful memorable day of relaxing.
Roots - every Sunday - E 60 p.p.
A historical trip, 200 years back to Alex Haley's "Roots"
Hopefully accompanied by dolphins swimming along, this impressive day excursions starts with a 2,5 h trip on the river Gambia, from Banjul to what used to be the French tradesettlement of Albreda (Albradarr). After a 15 minute walk you will reach the village of Juffureh, better known as the place of birth of Kunta Kinteh, the protagonist of the famous book "Roots" by Alex Haley. We visit the Museum of Slavery and the house of Alex Haley's great-great-grandfather Kunta Kinteh, where family still resides.
Enjoy a lunch buffet on board, and we'll move on to James Island, once the trade centre of slaves. Take a halt by the remains of the fortress where slaves stayed before they were transported to America. A black past, between 16th and 19th century, and a sad fate of an estimated 12 million people!
On our return to Banjul, we'll have coffee or tea to finish an impressive day with, before you are brought back to your hotel.
Creek fishing - every Friday - E 40 p.p.
Relaxing and fishing in the calm water of the bolongs and in between the mangroves.
Experienced fisher or new to the activity: our helpful crew will teach you the ins and outs. If you want, they can put your bait on the hook and take off the caught fish. From your hotel, you go to Denton Bridge for an exciting discovery of the (under)water world of The Gambia and you will sail on a typically African piroque. Also, the mangrove area is worth a visit, also if you just want to go for a boat trip and see nature, birds and the local fishermen. Rods and bait are available. Lunch is included and you can purchase cooled drinks for reasonable prices on board. A fun excursion for young and old, experienced or not!
Nature Explorer - every Thursday - E 47 p.p.
Enjoy sunrise and bird watching in aquatic fairytale surroundings: only for early birds!
We pick you up at approximately 5.30 a.m., after which we drive to Lamin Lodge for coffee or tea. Then we sail through the creeks with a Gambian canoo (about 1 h), to witness a gorgeous sunrise and spot various bird species. After this boat trip we head back to the Lamin Lodge for breakfast, and continue our trip to the "Abuko Nature Reserve" for a walk. This nature reserve has a varied plant- and wildlife; many bird species, apes, snakes, crocodiles, hippos and antelopes live here. After this walk, the bus will take you back to your hotel, so you will be back around lunch time. Do not forget your binoculars!
Gambia Highlights - every Wednesday - E 60 p.p.
Everything in a day: crocodiles, market, people, water, museum, drive, walk, sail.
Visit "The Katchikally Crocodile Pool" in Bakau. Especially with children, we really recommend you see or maybe even touch crocodiles. The pool has existed for over 100 years and has a history that you can explore in the mini museum. After this, we drive via the "Arch 22" to capitol Banjul to visit the "Albert Market", the busiest market of the country. We continue our tour to Denton Bridge, which connects the island with the main land. A boat will be waiting to sail us via the Oister Creeks to Lamin Lodge. Lunch is served on board. Then, the bus will take us to the "Good Farm" in Yundum, where you will learn more about working the land. This is a project of The Travel Foundation, which teaches women and adolescents to work the land.
Ndakabi Afternoon - Every Saturday (afternoon) - E 25 p.p.
The ideal trip to acclimatize to and get a general impression of The Gambia.
We drive through Serrekunda, the largest and busiest city of the country where you can experience every day life, and visit the batik factory where mrs. Drammeh has ruled for the past 30 years. Of course you can have a look around and perhaps buy souvenirs. Then, we drive to Bakau to visit the "Holy Crocodile Pool of Katchikally", and visit the local crafts market.
Georgetown, 2 days - every Monday - E 135 p.p.
This excursion takes you 300 km further to the inland and provides the opportunity to see the "real" Gambia.
After an early pick-up at the hotel, we go to Banjul for a ferry trip to Barra, on the North bank. You will drive to the east through villages and rice fields, and will get a good impression of the inlands of The Gambia.
We stop at the Wassu Stone Circles, where you will be told the history of this natural phenomenon. After this visit we arrive at the Jangjangburreh River Camp (the place of your nightly stay), a traditional African stay with African huts, no electricity - pure Africa!! In the late afternoon you visit the former governmental city of Georgetown. Local music and dance will be performed during the dinner at the Jangjangburreh River Camp. On the second day after breakfast, you will go on a boat to make a beautiful 2 hour trip. This will take you back to the bus, which takes you to Barra for the ferry to Banjul, and back to your hotel.
Fathala (Senegal) - every Tuesday - E 75 p.p.
Excellent opportunity to visit neighbouring country Senegal.
This trip will be memorable for the cross by ferry from Banjul to Barra, and crossing the border alone! In Senegal, we visit the Fathala Game Reserve, where you will get a good impression of what Western African wilderness used to look like. Here, you may see several animal species that you will not find in The Gambia, such as antelopes and maybe the "Western Giant Moose".
Jeep safari - every Friday - E 45 p.p.
Adventurous explorer trip along the coast in southern direction to the border with Senegal.
You will explore an authentic part of The Gambia in a 4 wheel drive (on bush tracks, partly unpaved). Experience and enjoy the untouched landscape, the locals, various bird species and wild monkeys. Visit a town school and enjoy the sea at the beach of Sanyang. Lunch included.
Experience The Gambia on a mountainbike - daily - E 35 p.p.
You can explore the beautiful coast and the area on a mountainbike in a fun and active way! The landscape is flat, the distances short and you will find unique places with gorgeous nature that you cannot reach by car.
We cycle on (sandy-) roads in good condition, and at low tide on the stretching untouched sandy beaches. The trips are fun for everyone that likes exercise and nature, and who wants to go besides the usual tracks.
Experiencing The Gambia is our first goal, so it is definitely not a race to be home first.
TravelPoort has made 2 fun routes that are guided by an experienced Dutch speaking guide between 1 December 2008 and 31 March 2009.
Route 1: Bakau, app. 30 km (every Tuesdag)
We cycle close to the coast via Fajara to Bakau, on quiet roads, with a stop at the Bakau market. You simply will not be able to resist the various colourful stands! We will buy some fruit and continue to the coast where we take a break at a beach bar.
With our feet in the sand and our eyes at the horizon we use lunch, or even take a swim in the sea.
On our way back (on paved and unpaved roads) we visit the Africa museum.
The last part, we cycle by the waterline, where we enjoy a pleasant and cooling sea breeze.
Route 2: Bijilo - Sukuta - Brufut, app. 30 km (every Thursday)
We cycle to Bijilo and exchange the paved roads for an unforgettable trip on a sandy plain along the coast. We have a rest at the beach bar.
Then we continue past baobabs, palm trees and termite heaps, to Sukuta. We cycle on sandy and paved roads in good condition, and return to the coast for lunch. Of course, there is also time to take a swim in the sea. We return past the waterline and enjoy a pleasant, cooling breeze.
Registration: until 1 day before departure
Departure: at 10 o'clock at the TravelPoort office
Participants: minimum of 3 people, maximum of 10.
Price: E 35 p.p.
Included: mountainbike, Dutch speaking guide.
Take along: swimming gear, sunburn protection, lunch and drinks (you can purchase lunch and drinks on the way as well).
Bike rental: you can rent the mountainbikes separately for E 7,50 per day (morning or afternoon: E5,-), or E 45 per week.
Aid to Gambian health care
A unique way to familiarize with the health care system in The Gambia. Thea Mom (our TravelPoort colleague in The Gambia) will take you to a local hospital in Brufut. One of the highlights is a visit to Marie Joof, a nurse and midwife. Other than her work at the hospital in Brufut, she runs a small clinic in her own home (compound). Here, she helps the people that cannot afford health care, because her motto is: "I have to help my people".
Thea helps Marie to buy medicine thanks to the donations of the guests that accompany Thea. This is a very special way to meet the locals and you can aid them personally and directly!
Please call Thea to gather more information or to make an appointment: 990 30 42
Micro cretis: financial aid for the self-employed
Come and see with your own eyes how very small loans (micro credits) can very successfully help especially women in and around Gunjur (in the south of The Gambia). Linda Wenzel, former TravelPoort colleague, will take you to various current projects that are sponsored by her and her guests (through donations). You will visit women in their compounds, see how they run their business and support their family with the help of micro credit.
Let Linda take you to the typical Gambian country life, meet various families in person, feel welcomed in their compounds, see various current projects for yourself, and see how your help can directly make a change!
Please call Linda for more information or for an appointment: 770 58 70.
Excursions in The Gambia, Tips for Trips
The welcoming and always smiling people are The Gambia's biggest attraction.
An organised excursion is a good way to see a lot of the country in a relatively short time. Of course, you can do it individually and perhaps less expensive. So, take your time to campare and contrast various excursions to see if, and if so, which excursion is best for you. The excursions we offer are guided by qualified guides, using excellent materials, and well insured.
The Gambian tour operator, and not TravelPoort, is fully responsible for the execution of the excursion.
The trips below are only a sample of the many possibilities we offer for you to experience everything that is typically Gambian. On your request, we can make a private selection of excursions that satisfies your individual wishes.
The people, animals, nature and culture might not be spectacular; the interaction of all these is what makes this small country so special.
We hope that these excursions bring you closer to the country and its people, and ask for your attention for the following:
Children often do not pay attention and deserve all our respect, so do not throw candy at them, but give them via your guide.
Photographing is by some tribes perceived as "stealing the soul". If you notice any discomfort from their side, please put your camera away. Do not photograph ambassies or police officers.
Take a bottle of mineral water per person with you at all times, and perhaps a snack, some sun cream and/or sun hat and mosquito oil.
Enjoy discovering The Smiling Coast!