On this West African vacation, your vacation will take you to tropical English-influenced Gambia and exotic Francophile Senegal. Stroll through slow-moving French colonial towns, see abundant birdlife and discover some of the region's best national parks. Djoudj - Visit one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. River Gambia - Sleep on a boat on the mighty River Gambia and sail through rainforests, bamboo, rice paddies and mangrove forests. Saloum Delta - Explore the river delta in a traditional dugout boat passing through mangrove forests in search of a variety of waterfowl. The most important attractions of this holiday are: Djoudj - one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world, Gambia River - a two-day cruise on the mighty Gambia River through rainforests, bamboo groves, rice fields and mangroves, Saloum Delta - discovering the delta of the river in a traditional dugout through mangroves and waterfowl, Isle de Goree - a quiet island steeped in history and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fadiout - a picturesque fishing village made entirely of shells, Saint Louis - Visit the 19th century French colonial Caleche city, Wassu stone circles - ancient burial sites and megalithic circles.
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Travel plans
The first day
Arrival in Dakar - Senegal
Upon arrival at Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport, your guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will meet you and then drop you off at your hotel. Dakar is one of the main ports on the west coast of Africa and its name comes from the Wolof word for the tamarind tree. Bed and breakfast.
Day two
Goree Island
After breakfast, take the ferry to Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ferry crossing takes around 30 minutes and on arrival you will embark on a walking tour of Isle de Goree. Once a busy trading center in the 18th and 19th centuries, the island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Le Castel is located on a rocky plateau with fortifications dating from different periods. We will also visit an old slave house, originally built in 1786. Relax in the evening. Full diet
Day three
Visit to Rose Lake
This morning we take the ferry back to the mainland and go to Lac Rose - Pink Lake. This large shallow lagoon is extremely salty and is famous for its pink color due to the high concentration of minerals in the water. We will have a 30 minute walk around the lake followed by free time for a lunch break. The pink hues change from day to day and season to season, but no matter what time of year you can see the locals on the lake hard at work collecting the salt in baskets in their small boats. Then in the afternoon drive to St. Louis. St. Once the capital of France in West Africa, Louis is colorful, charming and full of culture. For dinner, you can try the local dish Thieboudienne, a mixture of fish, tomatoes, rice and vegetables created in St. Louis. Full diet
Day four
Djoudj ΞΊΞ±ΞΉ St Louis Bird Sanctuary
After breakfast, visit Djoudj National Park, considered one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. This national park provides the first major source of water for migratory birds after their long and exhausting flight over the Sahara. We sail by speedboat along a complex network of canals branching off the Senegal River. The number of birds reaches millions, some species prevail, such as pelicans - there are up to 15,000 of them in the park. About three million birds pass through the park annually, including 400 different species - including egrets, cormorants, spoonbills, jacanas, Egyptian geese, West African eagles and flamingos. You can also see crocodiles, wild pigs, monitor lizards and water pythons. In the early afternoon we return to Ag. Louis for lunch and some free time before exploring this wonderful old city by Calesh (horse-drawn carriage) with a local guide. Full of 19th century French colonial buildings, it was the first French settler in Africa and the seat of Senegambia (a term used to describe the entire region). At the end of the 18th century, St. Louis was a busy port and commercial center and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Full board
Thursday
Explore the Langue de Barbarie by motorized kayak
This day, we will start early in the morning and visit the Langue de Barbarie National Park, located on a thin spit at the mouth of the Senegal River and home to waterfowl such as flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, egrets, egrets and ducks. During the months of November to April, the national park also fills with many more migratory birds from Europe. We will cross the river by motorized canoe to reach the national park. Free time in the afternoon. You can optionally take a walk around town. The streets of Ag. Louis is narrow, dusty and easy to navigate, full of old French-style villas, some of which are slowly crumbling but still have a colonial charm with colorful shutters and iron balconies. Full diet
Day six
Drive to Georgetown (Gambia) via Toumba Mosque
This morning you will travel to The Gambia and spend most of the day traveling by vehicle. We will stop and visit the amazing Touba Mosque, the holy center of the Murid Islamic Brotherhood. Their founder Amadou Bamba, Senegal's most famous and important 'maraboute' (holy man), is buried here and pilgrims visit the town all year round. Continue through the town of Kaolack and enter The Gambia and head east along the river to Georgetown, which was an important administrative center during the colonial period. Our accommodation that night was a simple riverside camp with simple rodavels with basic bathroom amenities. There is no mains electricity, but limited solar power and hot water, but the fantastic location gives you the feeling of sleeping in nature, while monkeys and birds add to the wild scenery. Full diet
Day seven
Cruise along the Gambia River and visit an archaeological mystery - the stone circles of Wassau
The Gambia River runs the length of the country for 300 miles from east to west to the Atlantic Ocean. The river's banks have been inhabited since 2000 BC, and slave ships once plied its course, transporting slaves. We spend the next two days on this mighty waterway, cruising down it in a converted peanut boat, passing through rainforests, bamboo, rice paddies and mangrove swamps. Among the diverse fauna found in the area are monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and of course many species of birds. Early in the morning we will check into our home for the next two nights and begin our trip to The Gambia. On the way today we will visit the Wassu stone circles by bush taxi. There are several circles, each consisting of about 10 to 24 red-brown stones, one to 2.5 meters high and weighing several tons. These were once burial sites dating from 500 to 1000 AD, but little is known about the people buried here, and the stones remain a mystery to archaeologists. We spend a night on a motor cruiser. The ship's facilities are simple and include a western-style toilet, a kitchenette and a bar. At night we sleep in a communal upper deck layout on mattresses, and during the day you can spend time relaxing on the upper deck in the sun or on the lower deck with seating in the shade. Full diet
Day eight
Bird watching and wildlife spotting on a river cruise, arriving at Tendaba River Camp in the afternoon
This morning we continue our gentle river cruise, with time to observe the flora and wildlife along the river banks. The crew will prepare lunch on board before arriving in the late afternoon at the small settlement of Tendaba on the south coast of The Gambia. Upon arrival, we leave our boat and choose our rondavel-style accommodation, where we will spend the next two nights on the banks of the Gambia River. it is a great opportunity to explore the natural environment, swim in the pool and observe the birds that live there. Due to the rural location of the camp, electricity and hot water can be very limited and power outages may occur. Full diet
Day nine
Visits to Kiang West and Bao Bolong wetlands
This day we go to Kiang West National Park. One of The Gambia's largest protected areas, it has the largest and most diverse animal population in the country, among mangroves, grasslands and forests. We will be looking for baboons, kolobos, wild boars, swamp mongooses and bucks. We will return to camp for lunch. Later that afternoon, we will take another boat trip to explore the forests, salt marshes and mangroves of the nearby Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. A tributary of the Gambia River, Bao Bolong is best known for its poultry with more than 250 species in the area, including the impressive war eagle and kestrel. On your return, there will be time to relax and enjoy the sunset as the sun sets over the river. Full diet
Tenth day
Transfer to the Saloum Delta - Senegal
This morning, after breakfast, we start our journey back to Senegal. We drive for about 90 minutes to the river crossing where we will take the ferry to Farafenni before heading to the land border to cross the Senegalese border. Once through we will continue to Tubacuta, our home for tonight. The afternoon is at your disposal. or you will be able to join other guests on an optional boat trip.
Day eleven
Saolum Delta National Park
This morning we will sail north along the Sine-Saloum delta by motorized fiber optic boat. We cross a maze of wide channels, pass mangroves, open forests, sandy islands and villages built on islands made of oyster shells. We can also meet pelicans and flamingos. After preparing lunch on board, we will arrive in Ndangane, our destination for tonight, where the afternoon will be free. Ndangane is a small fishing village often used as a base along the Delta, the beach is lined with traditional dugouts and there are a small number of bars and craft shops along the main road. Full diet
Day twelve
Visit a giant baobab tree in Senegal, discover Fadiout Island and return to Dakar
This morning you will leave the Saloum Delta National Park and travel to Dakar. Stop on the way to see a giant baobab tree. Baobab trees are the national symbol of Senegal, some trees are 6,000 years old and can only be found in a few places around the world. Our next stop will be a walking tour of the Fadiout Islands. The area consists of oysters and clam shells and the inhabitants are Muslims and Christians who live together peacefully. The Christian and Muslim cemeteries are built on a huge ancient shell hill and our guide will take us on a journey to help us understand this unique community. Later that afternoon, we will continue our journey back to Dakar, arriving in time for dinner. Full diet.
Day thirteen
Dakar and departure
This morning after breakfast at a hotel in Dakar. the driver will take you to the airport according to your flight time.
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