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Gambia/Senegal

A West Africa Voyage: Wildlife, National Parks & Human History

Program No. 25256RJ
Set sail on the M/Y Harmony V for a voyage along the Gambia River to discover the ecosystems, national parks and villages of West Africa.
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Small ShipAdventures Afloat Study CruiseAnimals & WildlifeNew
Length
11 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
5,499

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Itinerary
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All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
26 meals ( 9B, 8L, 9D )
8 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Check-in available from 3:00 p.m. There is a lot of traffic in Dakar, transfer from the airport to the hotel could take up to 2 hours.
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel, check-in and take some time to unpack and relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel, get to know your fellow participants with a welcome meal.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Please pack your passport and any medications in your hand luggage today. Getting on/off a bus with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain. Transportation is basic.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning attend an orientation meeting. Your Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Check out of the hotel and transfer our luggage to the motorcoach before departing for our Field Trip. We will set out via motorcoach for a morning discovery of Dakar. The capital of Senegal, the Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Discover the Medina quarter, home to the Grande Mosque marked by a towering minaret with a local expert.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will transfer to the port in Dakar to embark our ship in the late afternoon for the cruise portion of our program. Once aboard, we will have a welcome drink to meet the ship's crew and staff, followed by a safety orientation before we depart. Please also note that your departure is part of our Adventures Afloat programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.
Dinner:
Aboard the ship, dinners will be eaten in the open seating dining room. Most will be buffets, with choices of salads, vegetarian and meat or seafood entrees, dessert, and coffee, tea, and water. The first and last dinners on board will include a glass of wine, with other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to leave Dakar on our journey to Djiffere, Senegal.
Activity Note
Getting on/off local pirogues (small boat like a canoe). Very steep steps from pirogue to pier. Walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain.Walking on muddy, dusty terrain. Souvenirs are available in the village, bring a small amount of CFA Francs with you, which is available to exchange in Dakar.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we reach the Sine – Saloum Delta in Senegal, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, board our coach and ride to the fishing village of Djiffer from where we will reach the village of Joal Fadiouth. Joal Fadiouth is set on an island of clam shells, the local people use these clam shells in local buildings and for crafts. We will explore this island with a local expert.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The ship will leave Senegal and the Saloum Delta and sail south to Gambia to reach Banjul, the capital of Gambia and gateway to the 700-mile Gambia River. Free time aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus with 2-4 steps up/down. Walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain. Transportation is basic.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will board our bus and head to Banjul, discover the Royal Albert Market and Historical Museum with a local expert.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Mid-afternoon, we leave Banjul and sail upstream to Tendaba. Free time aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship is scheduled to reach Tendaba late this evening and will remain in port overnight.
Activity Note
Getting on/off local pirogues (small boat like a canoe), Steep steps once out of the pirogues. Walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain, getting on/off an open 4 x 4 safari truck. NOTE: Restrooms not available during both the morning and afternoon Field Trips. Transportation is very basic.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
From the ship, we will take motor pirogues (small boat like a canoe) to port. Once we reach port, we will walk to Batelling with a local expert, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West National Park. We will discover this park that boasts over 250 species of birds, many of which are difficult to observe anywhere else. Other residents include Guinea baboons, bushbuck, warthogs, Senegal bushbaby and marsh mongoose. After a refreshing stop in Batelling, we will board an open safari truck which brings us back to Tendaba. On the way we pass again local villages and get an impression of local life in The Gambia. Return to the ship for lunch.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we will be picked up from the ship by motor pirogues and head to the the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. This reserve, lying across from Kiang West National Park features six major bolongs (creeks) that provide great birding and boating opportunities. Numerous rare and migratory birds also reside here including the Pel’s fishing owl, African fin foot and brown-necked parrot.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity Note
Getting on/off local pirogues (small boat like a canoe). Transportation is basic. Getting off the pirogue on the river bank, stepping over tree roots. Restroom facilities not available on the pirogue for the cruise on the Gambia River.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Free time aboard ship as we sail upstream on the Gambia River to reach Kuntaur.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Early afternoon arrival to the bustling Gambian port town of Kuntaur, the last inland stop along the river that is navigable for ocean-going ships. Later in the afternoon, board a large motor pirogue for a cruise on the Gambia River. We will first head to the southernmost tip of Baboon Island, one of the five islands of The Gambia National Park. A local national park ranger, will join us onboard to give more information about the park and its fauna & flora. After our cruise on the river, return to Kuntaur where we will be met by the “Kankurang” and a local dance group on the pier. Believed to have spiritual powers the “Kankurang” dispenses justice and wards off evil spirits.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Activity Note
Getting on/off local pirogues (small boat like a canoe). Transportation is basic. Getting on/off a local ferry, walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain.Today we are scheduded to visit a local school, donations of school supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, erasers) are accepted.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
We will board our coach and head to the ferry station of Janjanbureh. Board a local ferry for a short cruise over The Gambia River to Janjanbureh. Visit one of the oldest towns of The Gambia, formerly called Georgetown. Discover this town with a local expert by foot, see the residence of the governor, the market and the Methodist church with its school. Visit the local school, donations of school supplies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and erasers are accepted. Afterwards, stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. Visit the little museum of this archaeological site, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The ship will sail downstream to Kaur a small fishing village on the banks of the Gambia. Enjoy free time to walk around this small community and see how Gambians live today.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship will leave Kaur and sail downstream towards Banjul.
Activity Note
Getting on/off local pirogues (small boat like a canoe). walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain. Transportation is basic.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning the ship will anchor at St. James Island in the middle of the Gambia River, which was an important slave trading post under the British rule in The Gambia. In 1976 James Island became famous due to the author Alex Haley and his bestseller book "Roots" , the story about a slave called Kunta Kinteh. After disembarking using local pirogues, we'll discover this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site with a local expert on a walking excursion. Learn more about the history of St. James Island and afterwards have some free time to explore on your own.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The ship will leave "Kunta Kinteh" to reach Banjul around 4p.m. Free time aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure. The ship will sail out of the Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean northwards to Dakar.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus with 2-4 steps up/down.Getting on/off a local ferry, walking up to 3 miles; varied terrain.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Disembarkation in Dakar will follow after breakfast. We will board our coach and head to the ferry station to Goree Island. Lying off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar, Goree Island was the largest slave trading center on the African coast from the 15th to the 19th century. We will explore this UNESCO World Heritage site with a local expert, see the contrast between the grim slave quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconcilation. We'll take the ferry back to Dakar and head to Lake Retba (Lac Rose)- The Pink Lake of Senegal. The lake has a very high salt content and gets it color from the micro-algae dunaliella salina that give the lake its impressive color.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Head to our hotel where we will check in. Later in the afternoon, we will have a wrap up meeting.
Dinner:
Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check out tomorrow morning.
Activity Note
Check out by 12:00 p.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!





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