Excursion Makasutu and tanji forest tour at Banjul

Adventure through the protected forests of The Gambia on this full-day (7.5 hours) walking excursion and discover an abundance of wildlife that make these diverse environments home.

Embark from the pier and board your coach for the drive Makasutu Cultural Forest (one hour), an ecotourism woodland that encompasses 1,000 acres. Upon arrival at Makasutu, your guide provides an introduction and refreshments are served. Then follow your guide for a walk through the palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the river Gambia (Madina Bolong). Continue the exploration through a variety of ecosystems that include dense forests, savannas, and mangrove regions. The forest is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, three species of monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer, and mongoose to name but a few. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of migrating baboons that make the forest their home for several months each year.

Next, climb aboard a dugout canoe and drift into the river waters as you keep your eyes keen for wildlife, local fishermen, and women collecting oysters from the mangroves. Relax as you take in the exceptional views all around you.

After the boat trip, there is the opportunity to go on a bush walk where you can see some of the flora and fauna of the area plus a chance to see some of the animals mentioned above.

Replenish your energy with a buffet lunch of traditional West African foods such as Chicken Yassa, Benachin rice, Domoda peanut stew along with fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits. Then reboard your coach for the 45-minute drive to another protected wilderness.

Arrive at the Tanji Bird Reserve, incorporating 1,510 acres of mangrove forest, dry woodland, coastal dune scrub woodland and lagoons. Experience the avian wonders of the Reserve, which has been declared a globally Important Bird Area with 300 recorded species of birds, including 82 of Paleartic migrants. Expand your birding life list, or simply be awed, as you try to espy Black-headed heron, white-fronted plover, Caspian tern, spur-winged plover, sanderling, Wester reef heron, royal tern, lesser black-back gulls and other reserve residents.

After an hour of so in this avian paradise, return to your coach for the one-hour drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Makasutu Cultural Forest, Tanji Bird Reserve

Note

Please note: This excursion is not recommended for guests with limited mobility as it involves about two hours of walking. Comfortable clothing and shoes, hats/caps, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended.