09 December 2011 - Kent Messenger - Nicola Fairhurst
THE roar of the Atlantic welcomed me to the Coco Ocean resort & Spa on the Gambian coast. After a relatively short journey from London – the flight is six hours – you can be sipping a sundowner in the West African heat by tea-time, leaving the British winter well and truly behind you.
Gambia has emerged as a winter destination to rival traditional out of season hotspots but it offers more than just sun, sea and sand. The Gambia is one of Africa’s smallest countries, sandwiched in the middle of Senegal and divided by the River Gambia which first attracted the British to its shores. It’s coastline is a sliver of golden sand, lined with palm trees and lush vegetation, the air filled with the sound of exotic birds and the call of monkeys.
My short break was arranged by The Gambia Experience who have been showing visitors the delights of West Africa for 25 years. Their choice of hotels and lodges cater for all tastes and budgets but also bring guests closer to the real Gambia. I was staying at the Coco Ocean, considered the most luxurious hotel in The Gambia. The opulent Moroccan-inspired architecture, with domes, whitewashed walls, and tiered gardens sloping toward the sea, offers guests peace and tranquillity. And if the beach-side cabanas aren’t enough to help you unwind, the spa offers a range of treatments to tempt you away from your sunbed. As it wasn’t my first visit to Africa, I was not surprised that the suites were a little rough round the edges but the facilities, service and enthusiastic staff justify the five-star rating.
The one thing that sets The Gambia apart from its rivals are the people, who are friendly and seem to want to personally welcome every visitor to their country. My tour guide Mucki, with a passion for all things Gambian, was keen to boast of all of the country’s many hidden secrets, from the many species of butterfly, to the rare Western red colobus monkey only found in this part of Africa. We dropped in for lunch at the Mandina Lodges after floating upstream in a hollowed-out canoe and found an oasis in the African bush and a world away from the cold and rain at home. Hidden in the midst of Makasutu Forest, guests are assigned a guide for the duration of their stay to explore the tributaries of the River Gambia by canoe or wander through the forest to spot their nearest neighbours – a troop of baboons.
The following day after my jungle adventure, I travelled by catamaran to Sitanunku Lodge on the north bank of the River Gambia. The simple lodges are nestled under Baobab trees and surrounded by vibrant pink and red flowers, with views of the river. While away an afternoon in the plunge pool, or take to the water as I did on a kayak and paddle around the headland. After working up an appetite on the river, I tucked into seafood tapas and beautifully grilled butterfish. On the return journey down river, dolphins danced under the bows of the boat as the sun set on another day in paradise.
So the secret is out, The Gambia offers more than just winter sun and will be the perfect place to start your African adventure.
Factfile
The Gambia Experience is a trade name of Serenity Holidays, established for 24 years. They are the UK’s only specialist and biggest tour operator to The Gambia, operating year round from Gatwick. Contact: The Gambia Experience Reservations - phone 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk
Coco Ocean Resort & Spa www.gambia.co.uk/cocoocean is exclusive to UK visitors throughThe Gambia Experience. Prices for a seven-night stay start from £1,035 per person (November 28- Dec 11) or £1,097 (April 13-30). Prices include flights, hotel transfers and airport taxes.
Daytime flights with Monarch fly from Gatwick departing on Tuesdays and Fridays during winter 2011/12. All excursions can be booked locally through your representative at the hotel and are operated by West African Tours. The day trip to Sitanunku by catamaran costs £55 per person and includes a BBQ lunch.
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