English
DeutschThe Rivers of Gambia & Senegal, 7-night cruise sure to satisfy your curious minds. 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 Saloum 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.
Relax in Dakar prior your cruise.
Highlights include:
Dakar (Senegal) – Saloum and Gambia Rivers – Djiffere fishing village -Tendaba Nature reserve Banjul-Bakau
Price: From US$3,790 plus US$910.- port charges, double occupancy, cabin category C
Please inquire for exact price for date of cruise at time of your interest so we can include any specials on offer.
Date from/to Dakar: Jan 10, Jan 17, Jan 24, Feb 14, 2026; Jan 16and Jan 23, 2027
Inclusion: Hotel international Dakar on breakfast bases as per itinerary, Cruise on Harmony V on full board bases as per itinerary with welcome cocktail, local theme evening and captain’s dinner, coffee, tea and drinking water, fishing and snorkeling equipment, on board Gambian River Naturalist,
Exclusion: International flight to/from Dakar, Shore excursions, wifi (available at charge),
Day 1 – Arrive in Dakar where you will be expected and transferred to the International Hotel Dakar. Rest and relax.
Day 2 and 3 – Choose from optional activities:
Lac Rose and Noflaye Tortoise Park
Explore Dakar and Goree Island full day
DAY 4 – DAKAR, SENEGAL
Late afternoon embarkation at 3 to 4pm. After dinner, we set sail southward towards the Saloum
River Delta. Overnight at sea, south along the coast.
DAY 5 – DJIFFERE, SENEGAL– BANJUL, THE GAMBIA
This morning we reach the Sine – Saloum 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
Djiffer 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 Saloum 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.Dakar to Dakar on the Saloum and Gambia Rivers
DAY 6 – BANJUL – BAKAU– TENDABA, THE 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“ and a short Banjul Tour, including Royall Albert
Market & Historical Museum. Mid-afternoon, we leave Banjul and sail upstream to Tendaba. We
reach Tendaba late into the evening. African Night – Overnight at dock in Tendaba.
DAY 7 – TENDABA, THE 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 8 – GAMBIA RIVER – KUNTAUR – RIVER GAMBIA NATIONAL PARK
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 9 – KUNTAUR– JANJANBUREH – KAUR, THE 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 10 – KUNTA KINTEH ISLAND – BANJUL, THE 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 11 – DAKAR, SENEGAL
Early morning arrival in Dakar. Disembarkation at 9am after breakfast. Transfer to airport.
YOUR BOAT
M/Y HARMONY V
Mega Yacht
GENERAL INFORMATION
Length: 55 m
Launched: 2009 | Renovated: 2017
Cabins: 25
Capacity: 49 passengers
Crew: 16-18
The M/Y HARMONY V is a 183 ½ ft-wide elegant yacht and was rebuilt/launched
in July 2009. HARMONY V complies with EUROSOLAS safety regulations, ISPS
(International Ships Port Safety Code) ISM, (International Safety Management),
while its powerful engines, generators and state of the art stabilizers will allow for
safe and comfortable cruising.
Service on board is provided by your Captain, the Cruise Coordinator and your
experienced Marine and Hotel crew members. Service will be attentive or
unobtrusive according to your requirements and priority is always given to the
safety and comfort of passengers. Organized excursions are available for most
ports of call and can be pre-booked or reserved 24 hours in advance.
Note: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 passengers are disembarked at the advertised port of disembarkation on time for their flights.
