Tour Itinerary
Day One - Friday
Arrive in The Gambia
Overnight stay at Kombo Beach Hotel.
Day Two - Saturday
Banjul-Kaolack-Tambaccounda-Wassadou
TOUR STARTS
Departing from Banjul at 6am we will stop for breakfast at Kaolack then drive for 475 km along an un-tarmacked road to Tambacounda where we will stop for lunch. Moving on to Wassadou we will be staying at a camp on the edge of the park overlooking the River Gambia. The amazing scenery and luxuriant vegetation will take our breath away. A nice walk along the banks of the river will take us to a banana plantation where we will be able to observe hippos as well as monkeys. We can enjoy a complimentary aperitif on the banks of the river whilst watching the sunset and the mischievous baboons. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day Three - Sunday
Niokolo Koba Safari Park
After an early wakeup call so we can enjoy the waking up of the wild life, we will then be driving towards Dar Salam, the gateway to the National Park of Niokolo Koba, and then along a track as far as the Mare De Simenti. Here we can monitor the wild life at the drinking hole from a viewing point on a bend the River Gambia in the Simenti Camp and enjoy a refreshment break. Lunch will then take place by the river where we will be able to observe the hippos in the water. We will carry on through the forest until Ba Foula Be crossing a monkey bridge above the gorges of Niokolo Koba where we can see baboons, monkeys, different types of antelope, warthogs, numerous birds, hippos, crocodiles…….. The last safari of the day will be in the direction of Gué de Damatan. From the viewpoint we can take in the magnificent scenery of Gambia as well as the varied birdlife and leopards in captivity before returning by road through the gateway of Dar Salam. Continuing on by road to Kédougou and arriving late at our hotel situated by the River Gambia. Accommodation will be in comfortable “Bassari” huts and dinner will be served overlooking the river.
Day Four - Monday
Ethouwar – Dindéfélo Waterfall - Kédougou
We’ll set off early in the morning along a track to Bandafassi, a Bédik camp, home to Léontine, a young man who is supported by Origin Africa’s aid programme. Our Bédik guide will take us on a climb of one hour to the village of Bédik d’Ethouwar perched high up and will explain to us the history and the customs of the Bédiks. From there we can mingle with the villagers and enjoy a magnificent view over the entire valley.
We head up a stony track towards the Dindéfélo waterfall on the border with Guinea. Here we will enjoy a picnic and can go swimming in the water hole at the foot of the waterfall.
In the afternoon we will visit the “Market of Kédougou”, a typical and colourful market of the area with many visitors from nearby Guinea. Later we can enjoy a relaxing time at the swimming pool or possibly a nice walk. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day Five - Tuesday
Gouloumbou – Bassé Santa Fu – Baboon Islands
We will set off early to cross through Niokolo Koba by road observing all the animals waking up. We will stop at Tambacounda and Gouloumbou which is well known for its cultivation of bananas then on the road again toward Gambia via Velingara and Bassé, the most eastern town, situated on the banks of the river. Lunch will be in this old colonial centre, which flourished as a commercial crossroads between Gambia, Senegal, Mali and Guinea, and it’s still possible to see many touches of its glorious strategic past. We will continue along the south bank road of the River Gambia crossing through the most beautiful Gambian forest to get to the Chimp Rehabilitation Project on the banks of the River Gambia. Here we will spend the night in a comfortable safari tent on the slopes with some amazing views across the river and Baboon Islands. Dinner will be in the dining room by the river and the night will be spent in this exclusive natural paradise.
Day Six - Wednesday
National Park of the River Gambia – Baboon Islands
The morning will be spent on a walk to discover the rich birdlife and fauna in this area of dense vegetation. After lunch at the camp, we will go an exceptional excursion by pirogue along the river to observe numerous animals, crocodiles, hippopotamus, baboons and most of all, the wild chimpanzees, which are protected by the Chimp Rehabilitation Project. We will then return to the camp for a second night in this natural paradise.
Day Seven - Thursday
Kantaur - Wassu
A pirogue will take us to meet up with our 4x4 at Kantaur. From here we will go on to discover the megalithic stone circles of Wassu then cross the marshes of Panchang. We continue on to Sitanunku Lodge where we can enjoy lunch before returning across the river to Banjul.
TOUR ENDS
Transfer to Kombo Beach Hotel.
Day Eight - Friday
Arrive in The Gambia
Free time in Banjul staying at Kombo Beach Hotel.
PLEASE NOTE
THAT THE ITINERARY MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DEPENDING ON WEATHER, TIME OF YEAR ETC.
