Cruising from Senegal to Gambia

Fly from London to Senegal, where you’ll arrive at Dakar Airport and transfer straight to the 4-star Pullman Teranga Hotel for the night.

Your day begins with a trip to Gorée Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just a 20-minute ferry ride from Dakar. Here, you’ll learn about the island’s slave trade history at the museum in Fort d’Estrées and the Maison des Esclaves, where captives were imprisoned before being shipped overseas. Pay your respects at the Mémorial Gorée Almadies, built to honour victims of the slave trade.

Afterwards, stroll through the island’s alleys lined with pastel-coloured buildings now home to a thriving arts community, then stop for lunch before getting the ferry back to Dakar. Embark on the Harmony V yacht in the afternoon and enjoy a welcome drink. After dinner on board, sail south along the coast towards the Sine-Saloum River Delta. 
(B, L, D)

This morning you’ll wake in Senegal’s Sine-Saloum Delta, a UNESCO biosphere reserve and an important birding area. The park is a haven for 36 mammal and 114 fish species, from marine turtles and dolphins to West African manatees and crocodiles.

Take an optional excursion from the fishing village of Djiffer to Joal Fadiouth, (bookable locally, approx. 146EUR) a town set on an island made of clam shells which are traditionally used in local crafts and architecture. Enjoy lunch overlooking the islands and then spend the afternoon sailing south to your port for the night in Gambia’s capital, Banjul, the gateway to the 700-mile-long Gambia River. 
(B, L, D) 

Today, your vessel will stay docked in Banjul so you can enjoy optional half-day excursion.(bookable locally, approx. 58EUR)

You’ll also get to tour Banjul city, which sits on an island home to colonial-era buildings. Take in the highlights, which include mid-19th-century Albert Market where stalls heave with fabrics, produce and household goods, and the National Museum, offering a glimpse into the country's history, culture and archaeology.

You’ll have the chance to visit nearby Bakau, home to the Kachikally Crocodile Pool which has sacred significance for Gambians, for whom crocodiles represent fertility. Spot dozens of Nile crocodiles lazing on the banks while locals pray; then stroll along the tranquil nature trail.

Mid-afternoon, you’ll set sail upstream, keep an eye out for playful dolphins riding the waves created by our vessel, adding a touch of magic to your journey. Dock next to the riverside village of Tendaba. 
(B, L, D) 

After breakfast, take an optional excursion by pirogue (motorised wooden canoe) to Tendaba, (bookable locally, approx. 55EUR) a predominately Muslim fishing village home to around 600 residents. Board a safari truck and continue to Batelling village, the entrance to Kiang West National Park which is a sanctuary for over 250 species of birds, as well as a host of animals, from Guinea baboons to bushbuck, marsh mongoose and warthogs.

Drive back to Tendaba, passing villages where you’ll glimpse daily Gambian life. After lunch on the yacht, you can take an excursion by pirogue to explore the nearby Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve, which features six major bolongs (creeks) that attract a remarkable array of rare and migratory birds including brown-necked parrots, Pel’s fishing owls and the African fin foot. With a bit of luck, you might even catch a glimpse of the majestic goliath heron, the largest heron species. Spend the night docked in Tendaba. 
(B, L, D) 

Spend the morning sailing up the Gambia River to Kuntaur, a serene village located on the northern bank of the river known for its tranquil charm and natural beauty. Kuntaur offers visitors a glimpse into the quiet life of rural Gambia.

In the afternoon, board a pirogue for an optional trip to the southernmost tip of River Gambia National Park, where you’ll find five islands which, combined, are home to over a hundred chimpanzees. You’ll be joined by a ranger who’ll tell you about the park’s fauna and flora as you sail. (bookable locally, approx. 110EUR)

Cruise slowly past the shores of Baboon Island, looking out for the resident chimps protected by the park’s Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project. Look closely and you might also spot hippos and red colobus and green vervet monkeys, as well as a variety of birdlife. When you arrive back in Kuntaur, you’ll be met at the pier with a performance by the Kankurang dance group, believed to have spiritual powers that ward off evil spirits. Dock here for the night. This evening, you’ll enjoy a captain’s farewell dinner. 
(B, L, D) 

After breakfast, join an optional excursion by bus and ferry across the Gambia River to Janjanbureh, (bookable locally, approx. 122EUR) also known by its former colonial name, Georgetown. Witness historical highlights like the Governor’s Residence, market, and Methodist church, thought to be the denomination’s oldest in sub-Saharan Africa. Next, continue to the UNESCO-listed Wassu National Monument, the country’s largest collection of megaliths, believed to be an ancient burial site. Learn about these mysterious stone circles before heading back to the ship for lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon sailing downstream to Banjul. 
(B, L, D) 

This morning you’ll sail to Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly known by the British occupiers as James Island. Strategically positioned near the mouth of the Gambia River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the island was ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch, French and then the British during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. In 1976, the island became famous as the setting for Alex Haley’s book Roots, which tells the harrowing story of an enslaved man, Kunta Kinte.

Take an optional walking tour with a guide to learn about the history of the island,(bookable locally, approx. 24EUR) now a UNESCO site, followed by time to explore independently. Visit the imposing fort with its eerie barracks and cells, which now stands as a memorial to the victims of slavery. Head back to the ship for lunch and then sail to Banjul. Overnight, you’ll sail north to Dakar. 
(B, L, D)

Today your west African adventure comes to an end. Your ship will reach Dakar in the early morning and after a final breakfast, say goodbye to the crew and disembark. You’ll be picked up from the port for a city tour of Dakar, which includes the capital’s highlights. Admire the Byzantine Cathedral of African Remembrance, the stately presidential palace and Independence Square.

You’ll also experience the modern side of the city and stop at markets like Sandaga, the Kermel flower market, and Soumbédioune for crafts and fabrics. Finally, have lunch at a local restaurant and savour free afternoon before your night-time flight.

Alternatively, you can extend your stay and relax at Saly’s beach at the 5-star Movenpick Lamantin Beach Hotel. 
(B, L)