Treasures of Senegal & Gambia - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrive and check into your hotel. Later this evening you will have the chance to meet your tour leader and the other members of the tour. (No meals.)

A morning city tour followed by a visit to Goree Island. We take a ferry ride to the first port on the West African coast from where thousands of slaves were sent to the Americas. The afternoon is spent at a traditional wrestling match – one of the highlights of Senegalese culture. Approx. 1 hr driving. (B) Note: The wrestling season doesn't start until November. When it is not possible to see the wrestling an alternative visit will be made.

Visit the extraordinary Pink Lake where we have an opportunity to swim in this natural wonder. We pass through landscapes of baobab trees and fields of millet and cassava before entering the semi-desert of St Louis. (B) Approx. 5 hrs driving.

Visit Djoudj National Park, where millions of migratory birds turn up to nest during the winter season. Afternoon tour of the old French colonial city of Saint Louis by horse drawn carriage. (B)

We cross the ‘peanut basin’ and visit a number of small rural villages as well as the Mosque of Touba, one of the biggest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Continue to Kaolack, an old harbour town on the Saloum River which was famous for peanut processing during the colonial era. The market here sells brightly coloured fabrics, spices, amulets and gold. Approx. 5 hours driving. (B)

Travel to Simenti, located in the Niokolo Koba National Park, the only park in Senegal still to contain large mammals. En route we stop at the bizarre megaliths of Koungheul. Approx. 10 hours driving. (B)

We spend the morning exploring the park, one of the largest in West Africa, where you have the opportunity to spot gazelles, antelopes, jackals, lions, hippos, crocodiles and a wide variety of birds. We then continue to Kedougou, a city on the ancient gold road that traversed this part of Africa. Approx. 4 hours driving. (BD)

Just outside Kedougou are the rugged highlands of the Fouta Djalon. We visit the Dindifellou waterfalls in a green valley on the border with Guinea. Approx. 2 hrs driving. (BD)

We spend the morning hiking through wonderful scenery to the hilltop animist village of Iwol. We then travel to Tambacounda, crossing the Niokolo Koba National Park, and take a tour around the city and its market on arrival. Approx. 5 hrs driving. (BD)

We drive towards the Gambian border, visiting a number of small villages along the way. After crossing the border we continue to Georgetown, one of the old centres of the slave trade, situated on an island on the River Gambia. Free afternoon to explore the town. Aprox. 5 hours driving. (BD)

A full day boat trip along the Gambia River, with opportunities to spot crocodiles and hippos. The boat moors at Kuntaur, then by road we travel to Farafenny where we take a boat to Tendaba, a typical village on the banks of the river. (B) Please note that due to current water conditions, it may be necessary to travel by boat from Tendaba to Kuntaur and then drive for an hour to Farafenny before resuming the boat journey to Tendaba.

We visit a number of Diola villages and a large local market before heading for the coast. After a stop at the sacred crocodile pool at Kathakally, we continue to Banjul, the vibrant Gambian capital. We spend the night in Banjul on the coast. Approx 4 hours driving (BD)

We enjoy a city tour before crossing the border back into Senegal. We then travel to Saloum island, a beautifully preserved wetland area that we explore by boat. We spend the night in Kaolack. Approx 5 hours driving (B)

Departure for Fatick, a small town on the Sine River, for a visit to traditional healers. We then continue to Fadiouth, the native village of the poet and ex-president Senghor. There is time to explore this friendly fishing village before we return to Dakar. Approx 6 hours driving. (B)

Tour ends. (B)