Rivers of West Africa - From Dakar to Dakar

Description

Into the Wild.. Discover Gambia and Senegal. Experience outstanding wildlife viewing on a yacht cruise along the West Africa Coast and upstream the Gambia River, deep inside the African continent. Discover the waterways of Senegal and Gambia with visits to no less than 4 Natural Reserves: Sine Saloun Delta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a birdwatcher’s paradise; Djiffere fishing village; River Gambia National Park; Wassu mysterious stone circles, another UNESCO World Heritage site; Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve and Kiang West National Park in Gambia. Our on board Gambian River Naturalist will assist you in discovering the amazing flora and fauna and will be at your side throughout this exciting voyage, unravelling the wonders of West Africa.

Trip Name

Rivers of West Africa - From Dakar to Dakar

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Motor Yacht Length: 54 m Passenger Capacity: 44 Built/Refurbished: 2001 / 2013 Imagine a place far from home that feels just like home, where the borders are delineated by the golden shores of the sea; and home is wherever the anchors drop. Imagine 177 feet of comfort, beauty, and safety classiﬁed by the latest International “Safety of Life at Sea” (SOLAS) standards. Imagine your ﬂoating home on board the sleek, contemporary state of the art Mega Yacht that sails the seas under the name HARMONY G, waving her Greek ﬂag through the wind. Discover the world by sea at 10 knots per hour, in her un-rushed pace, one island or seashore at a time. Harmony G loves to seduce her select 44 guests with her sleek lines and ample deck space redeﬁning what yachting was meant to be. A spacious lounge with ample space, dining areas decorated with warm colors, large windows offering pristine views of all destinations, shaded areas and outdoor bar and loungers are just some of the elements that deﬁne her essence. 360º views of unobstructed ocean are your eyes’ canvas painted with ocean blue and deep green mountains. Mingle with likeminded travelers in` our public areas, enjoy a moment to yourself in our ample deck space, or retreat to your upper or main deck cabin-sanctuary all offering windows or portholes connecting you with mother nature’s wonders. Harmony G’s experienced crew of 18 is trained with hospitality at heart to pamper her guests and guarantee the ultimate home away from home experience. Home at Sea Single seating dining Indoor & Outdoor Lounge - Bar, Indoor & Outdoor Restaurant, Audiovisual in Lounge, Mini library, Beach Towels, Snorkeling equipment, Kayak, Board Games, Swimming Platform, Wi-Fi Comfort Zone Windows: upper & main deck cabins, Portholes: lower deck cabins, Triple Occupancy cabins: Category C, Flat-Screen TV, Mini Safe, Mini Fridge, CD & DVD player, En suite bathroom with shower, Individually controlled A/C, Hairdryers, Telephone for internal use, Central music

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 | Saturday Dakar, Senegal

Late afternoon embarkation at 14:00-18:00. After dinner, we set sail southward towards the Saloun River Delta. Overnight at sea, south along the coast.

Day 2 - Day 2 | Sunday Djiffere, Senegal – Banjul, Gambia

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 such aquatic animals as marine turtles, dolphins, West African manatees and crocodiles. Our Joal Fadiout optional excursion starts at the 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.

Day 3 - Day 3 | Monday Banjul - Abuko Nature Reserves, Gambia

The morning in Banjul will give you the opportunity to take the optional 1/2 day excursions offered to Bakau with its crocodile "katchikaly", its Botanic Garden and a short Banjul Tour. Mid-afternoon, we leave Banjul and sail upstream to Tendaba. We reach Tendaba late into the evening.

Day 4 - Day 4 | Tuesday Tendaba, Gambia

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 Tendaba 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 the afternoon Tendaba 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 Tendaba.

Day 5 - Day 5 | Wednesday Gambia River – Kuntaur - River Gambia National Park, Gambia

Early morning we leave Tendaba and sail upstream on the Gambia River all morning to reach Kuntaur. 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 we board a large motor pirogue for a 3 hours optional excursion cruise on The Gambia River. First we head to the southernmost tip of Baboon Island, one of the five islands of The Gambia National Park. There a local national park ranger is joining us onboard in order to give more information about the park and its fauna & flora. Then we turn, the motor pirogue slows down and sails slowly back to Kuntaur following closely the shores of Baboon Island. This island is home of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project. If we are lucky from our motor pirogue we can closely observe the chimps with minimal intrusion. There is also the possibility of seeing hippos, crocodiles, Red Colobus, Green Vervet monkeys and also The Gambia’s famous birdlife.We return to Kuntaur where we are 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.Overnight docked in Kuntaur.

Day 6 - Day 6 | Thursday Kuntaur – Janjanbureh- Kaur, Gambia

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 of 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. In the evening we leave Kaur and sail downstream towards Banjul. Captains Farewell Dinner.

Day 7 - Day 7 | Friday Kunta Kinteh Island - Banjul, Gambia

This morning we 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 its bestseller book "Roots" and the story of a slave, called Kunta Kinteh. The island is now called and is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Optional walking tour: After disembarking by local tenders your local guide will tell you more about the history of James Island and afterwards you will have some time to explore this island by yourself. After lunch, we leave "Kunta Kinteh" to reach Banjul around 4pm. 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.

Day 8 - Day 8 | Saturday Dakar, Senegal

Early morning arrival in Dakar. Disembarkation after breakfast.

Day 9 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Children's' Film Festival: During our 7-night cruises in Senegal and the Gambia River, our guests visit the Gambian town of Kuntaur, and help the local community put on a weekly film festival event entitled THE KUNTAUR FILM FESTIVAL: a film screening in a beautiful open air cinema hand-crafted by Variety Cruises' guests, crew members and the locals. Children and families got to watch classic children films such as "the Lion King" and "The never ending story", while experiencing cinema with hand made popcorn.
The New York Times said: "The trip may be described as a leisurely week-long excursion that departs from Dakar, Senegal; sails south along its Atlantic coast; east into Gambia, an English-speaking sliver of land in the middle of Francophone West Africa; and up the Gambia River. It goes as far as is navigable by any boat larger than a pirogue, a long, wide canoe that is essential to travel here. This cruise can be loosely defined under prolific wildlife, the polar opposite of the typical big-ship cruise that stops at sophisticated ports of call. The African wildlife on view is a key attraction of this river cruise. "Crocodiles and Culture on a Cruise in West Africa" THE NEW YORK TIMES | March 14, 2014
And our guests shared: “Our experience on the as we cruised the Rivers of West Africa was a welcomed combination of education, exposure and entertainment.Our Gambian River guest lecturer, guided us through Gambia’s history,-bird and wild life, culture, traditions and village life. Thank you for our outstanding cruise experience into a destination which is hardly accessible otherwise." Tengemana T., 2014