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RIVERS OF WEST AFRICA
WEST AFRICA
THE RIVERS OF WEST AFRICA
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YOUR CRUISE AT A GLANCE
ON BOARD HARMONY V
Ship: M/Y Harmony V Dates: January - February 2020, January - February 2021 Accommodating: 49 guests in 25 oceanview cabins Embarkation: Saturdays roundtrip from Dakar, Senegal and Mondays roundtrip from Banjul, the Gambia Duration: 8 days / 7 nights Optional Excursions: • Djiffere • Bakau • Tendaba • Batelling • Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve • the Gambia River • Janjanbureh • St. James Island • Wassu Stone Circles
Sunset View, Gambia River
FROM € 1.600 +PORT CHARGES
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UNESCO ART BIRDWATCHERS SPIRITUAL
FROM BANJUL TO BANJUL (MONDAY DEPARTURES)
Day 1: BANJUL -TENDABA, THE GAMBIA Day 2: TENDABA, THE GAMBIA Day 3: GAMBIA RIVER – KUNTAUR, THE GAMBIA Day 4: KUNTAUR – JANJANBUREH – KAUR, THE GAMBIA Day 5: KUNTA KINTEH/ST. JAMES ISLAND – BANJUL, THE GAMBIA Day 6: DAKAR, SENEGAL Day 7: DJIFFERE, SENEGAL – BANJUL, THE GAMBIA Day 8: BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
Unleash your inner explorer
ABOUT MY VOYAGE
> Full-Board: Buffet breakfast & Lunch & Dinner > Naturalist on Board > Housewarming Cocktails > Unesco World Heritage Sites > Captain’s Honor Night > Host/ Cruise Director (*English speaking) > Shore Excursions (*optional) > Gambian Night with Kora instrument Concert
Cruise up the Gambia River Souvenirs from local markets Experience Africa
Day 1 | Saturday: DAKAR, SENEGAL
Embarkation at 2 – 6 pm. After dinner, sail towards the Saloun River Delta. Overnight at sea.
Day 2 | Sunday: DJIFFERE, SENEGAL – BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
We reach the Sine – Saloun Delta in Senegal, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and important Birding Area. Our 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. Afternoon sail south to Banjul, gateway to the 700-mile Gambia River. Fishermen Night. Overnight in Banjul.
Day 3 | Monday: BANJUL – TENDABA, THE GAMBIA
Optional half day excursion to Bakau with its crocodile “katchikaly”, its Botanic Garden and a short Banjul Tour. Mid-afternoon, we leave Banjul and sail upstream to Tendaba. Overnight in Tendaba.
DAY BY DAY
Day 4 | Tuesday: TENDABA, THE GAMBIA
In the morning we join traditional motor pirogues towards Tendaba, starting point of our morning optional excursion. We will walk through to Batelling, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West National Park boasting over 250 species of birds, Guinea baboons, bushbuck, warthogs, Senegal bushbaby and marsh mongoose. Board an open safari truck back to Tendaba. Afternoon optional excursion to the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. Overnight docked in Tendaba.
Day 5 | Wednesday: GAMBIA RIVER – KUNTAUR, THE GAMBIA
Sail upstream on the Gambia River to reach Kuntaur. We board a large motor pirogue for a 3 hours optional excursion cruise on The Gambia River. We are joined on board by a local national park ranger on Baboon Island, one of the five islands of The Gambia National Park. This island is home of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project. Return to Kuntaur and meet the “Kankurang” local dance group on the pier. Believed to have spiritual powers the “Kankurang” dispenses justice and wards off evil spirits. Overnight in Kuntaur.
Day 6 | Thursday: KUNTAUR – JANJANBUREH – KAUR, THE GAMBIA
Optional excursion by bus to board the local ferry to Janjanbureh and then back to reach Lamin Koto School, an ongoing project initiative that came to life thanks to Variety Cruises’ guests and staff. We then stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Afternoon sail to Kaur small fishing village to walk around this small community. Sail downstream towards Kuntah Kinteh Island.
Day 7 | Friday: KUNTA KINTEH/ST. JAMES ISLAND – BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
This morning we anchor at St. James Island, an important slave trading post and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Optional walking tour. Sail to Banjul and after formalities we will sail out of the Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean to Dakar. As you prepare to bid farewell to the smiling coast of Africa, enjoy a Gambian Night on board and a Kora Instrument Concert. Overnight at sea to Dakar.
Day 8 | Saturday: DAKAR, SENEGAL Disembarkation after breakfast at 9am.
Itineraries can be changed at the discretion of Variety Cruises and of the Vessel’s Captain in case of adverse weather conditions - winds of 6/7 beaufort or more depending on the vessel - on port authorities not allowing a vessel to leave port or in case of other extraordinary conditions. Such itinerary changes do not automatically entitle passengers to any refunds but Variety Cruises guarantees that disembarkation of passengers shall take place at the advertised port of disembarkation on time for guests flights.
