2012/13 - The Rivers of West Africa

Late afternoon embarkation. After dinner, we set sail southward towards the Saloun River Delta. Overnight at sea, south along the coast.

This morning we reach the Sine Saloun Delta in Senegal, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also an Important Birding Area, as designated by Birdlife International and natural habitat for many bird species but also for aquatic animals such as marine turtles, dolphins, West African manatees and crocodiles. 

Our optional excursion starts at the primitive fishing village of Djiffere from where we reach the village of Joal Fadiouth, set on an island of clam shells that also are used in local buildings and crafts. In the afternoon, we leave Senegal and the Saloun Delta and sail south to Gambia to reach Banjul, the capital of Gambia and gateway to the 700 mile Gambia river. Fishermen night. Overnight in Banjul.

The morning in Banjul will give you the opportunity to take the excursion to Bakau with its crocodile "katchikaly", its botanic garden and a short Banjul tour. After lunch, we leave Banjul and sail upstream. We stop at St. James island in the middle of the Gambia river. The first settlers on the island arrived in 1651 and under the british rule it became an important slave trading post in the Gambia. In 1976 James island became famous due to the author Alex Haley and its bestseller book "Roots" and the story of a slave, called Kunta Kinteh. The island was recently renamed Kunta Kinteh island and is now a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

From the ship we take motor pirogues in order to reach Tendaba, located on the South Bank in the lower river division, our starting point of our morning optional excursion. It is a small fishing village of mainly muslim faith with approximately 600 inhabitants whose main occupation is fishing. From there we will walk through to Batelling, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West national park. The area boasts of 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 where you get an impression of local life in the Gambia. In the afternoon, we are picked up from the ship by motor pirogues for another optional excursion to 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. Overnight docked in Tedaba.

This morning, our optional excursion by bus takes us to the ferry station of Janjanbureh. There we board the local ferry for a short cruise over the Gambia river to Janjanbureh. We continue our excursion with a visit to one of the oldest towns of the Gambia, formerly called Georgetown. During the walk you get an impression of this laidback town and see the residence of the governor, the market and the Methodist church with its school. Afterwards we take the ferry back and re-board the bus to reach Lamin Koto.

Through the generosity of Variety Cruises and of many of its clients, a new school building is being built. Later in the morning we stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. You will visit the little museum of this archaeological site, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. In the afternoon, after lunch, we sail downstream to Kaur a small fishing village on the banks of the Gambia. You will have the opportunity to walk around this small community and see how Gambians live today. Captains farewell dinner. Overnight in Kaur.

We leave Kaur early in the morning and sail further downstream towards Banjul. Dolphins and other animal life will be sighted. Arrival in Banjul around 4 pm. After formalities, later in the evening, we will sail out of the Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean northwards to Dakar. Gambian night with Kora instrument concert. Overnight at sea to Dakar.

Early morning arrival in Dakar. Disembarkation after breakfast.