Review: Lazy Day Cruise Excursion

Drift along through the mangrove creeks, sipping a cool Julbrew while keeping one eye out for spoonbills or even a Goliath Heron...

There's something so relaxing about whiling away the time, floating along the tributaries of the River Gambia, although as a person who likes to keep active (you won't find me chilling out on a beach all day), I did wonder if the Lazy Day Cruise would be a little boring. I'm pleased to see that I it wasn't.

We met our boat, a 60ft traditional pirogue, at Denton Bridge and were welcomed onboard with coffee and biscuits. A dash of brandy in your drink was optional.

Sun worshippers immediately made their way up top and settled in for some serious sunbathing. With the breeze over the water the power of sun can be deceptive and their were more than a few red faces by the end of the day.

I stayed downstairs in the shade and lapped up the view, chatting to my fellow passengers. It wasn't long at all until we had the waterways all to ourselves - just us and the occasional heron.

Spoonbills, Sacred Ibis and a Goliath heron were just a few of the birds we spotted as we drifted along. At one point we were able to come really close to a sand bank for an excellent view of the aquatic bird life - perfect for photographers.

above: Spoonbills, a Yellow-billed Stork with a pair of Sacred Ibis and below: Sacred Ibis (taken from the boat that day)

Bubbly and orange juice came next and then we moored up, with time for a swim before lunch.

While the lunch was fairly basic, it was good and there was plenty of it. The staff onboard were very welcoming and friendly. A reasonably priced bar was open all day but what with the free coffee and bubbly I didn't need to buy many drinks.

After lunch we had the opportunity to do a spot of fishing before we made a leisurely return to Denton Bridge, with afternoon tea thrown in.

The Details

This full day excursion runs throughout the year, costs £44 per person and includes transport from your hotel to and from Denton Bridge, morning coffee, a glass of fizz, lunch and afternoon tea.

 

Final Thoughts…

A great trip, both in the winter or summer when, even if you get a spot of rain, there is plenty of cover and it will no doubt soon pass. While I found the day very relaxing I certainly didn't get bored and really enjoyed chatting with everyone and at times just quietly watching the river banks slip by. Everyone was very friendly and I enjoyed getting to know my fellow passengers. Joining an excursion is a good way to meet people, especially if you are travelling on your own.

Find out more about this and other excursions on our website.