Senegal & the Gambia tour
Solo travellers can join an existing small group. Can depart any day of the year.
Description of Senegal & the Gambia tour
If you’ve always wanted to explore west Africa, this trip gives you two of its most biodiverse countries at once. You’ll get swept away by Senegal, learning its interesting history. Then it’s on to little Gambia for two nights, to enjoy a wildlife haven centred around its eponymous river.
Senegal’s cities are a great introduction to the country’s culture. You’ll start this trip in the capital Dakar, where you can move between grand mosques and bustling markets, before heading on to colonial St Louis in the north and the holy city of Touba.
You’ll also visit Senegal’s smaller villages and towns, to get a taste of local life. Different ethnic groups in the region live very differently, and you’ll spend time among nomadic Fula herders and Fulani, Wolof and Serere villages, as well as setting foot on Fadiouth, an island made entirely out of seashells.
You’ll visit Senegal’s historical sites: the monolithic stones at Sine Ngayene, stone circles that are astounding in their scale, and UNESCO listed. You’ll also stop at Goree Island, outside Dakar, to see the place where millions of West Africans also came, before they passed into the Atlantic slave trade.
Senegal’s natural wonders range from deserts to a pink lake in which you can swim and take unbelievable photographs. And no trip to this area is complete without a short safari. In Senegal’s Bandia National Park there are rhinos, giraffes and gazelles among the stunning baobab trees.
Gambia is an unusual country, in that it is completely surrounded by another: Senegal. After five days in Senegal, you’ll take the ferry over the mouth of the Gambia River to the country’s capital, Banjul. Here you’ll find its busy markets brimming with Batik prints, groceries and livestock. From here, visit the Abuko Nature Reserve to see where the country really comes into its own: as a haven for birdlife.
This is a small group tour with an expert guide and driver, so you can get to know both countries really well and share your experiences with your group. Meeting village leaders and enjoying local markets along the way gives you a unique perspective of each place.
Price information
Solo travellers can join an existing small group. Can depart any day of the year.
Departure information
Travel guides
Holiday information
Reviews
1 Reviews of Senegal & the Gambia tour
Reviewed on 20 Dec 2022 by Sandra Akacem
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
They were wonderful! Our driver and guide were very attenntive.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Just enjoy.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I would like to believe it did.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb, and I have traveled all over the planet.
Read the operator's response here:
Thanks for taking your holiday tour with us. It was with pleasure to make this trip truly memorable. We are working our best to ensure that our tours always benefit the local people, reduce environmental impacts, and support conversation. We hope your future travels bring you back to West Africa.
Kind regards,
Responsible Travel
Planet
Our guides and drivers are trained in waste handling, respectful behaviour at religious and village sites, and responsible wildlife viewing.We work with locally owned accommodation providers and partner with local guides, artisans and merchants wherever possible.
We provide drinking water for travelers throughout the tour. We also provide reusable, longer-lasting bags instead of plastic bags when shopping for groceries. Where appropriate, biodegradable food waste is separated from other waste, and we use gas rather than wood for cooking on our trips where facilities allow.
Travelers are encouraged to use rechargeable batteries for items such as cameras, which can be charged from mains supplies or on our vehicles while travelling.
People
We use smaller, locally owned businesses wherever possible, including hotels, campgrounds and activity providers. Travelers also have opportunities to spend money with local guides, drivers, cooks, market traders and craftspeople during the tour.We participate in community projects in some of the destinations we visit. Where we support these projects, our involvement is intended to provide practical assistance to local communities. For example, we have supported efforts to provide drinking water in communities where access to potable water is limited.
We also include activities that give travelers opportunities to learn about local cultures and meet people in the communities they visit, such as visiting local markets and meeting village leaders and community members.
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