9 independent reviews for Senegal and Gambia river cruise holiday
Reviews for Senegal and Gambia river cruise holiday
Sarah Jane Blunt review 27 Apr 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our wonderful guide Assan and driver Osman. Assan knowledge was fantastic and it was super to hear about the culture. Osman was a very safe driver and ensured our luggage was in the right place at the right time.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for long days of travel; it's worth it though.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes I felt we were putting cash into the local economy. We also got a chance to communicate with local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Karen Jennemann review 28 Mar 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The boat ride on the Gambia River was amazing.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be flexible and keep an open mind. You will travel where few people visit, and it is wonderful.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Shawna Turner review 15 Feb 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beginning our boat trip down the absolutely pristine Gambia River. No pollution and no other boats. We were totally alone, floating along and spotting birds. An amazing and unique experience.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Expect great tour leadership and beautiful scenery. Also, expect trash, a lot of plastic trash everywhere, particularly in Senegal. Enjoy your fellow travelers; there’s a lot to learn from everyone on the tour! Bring a water filter. Don’t drink bottled water!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Efforts were certainly made and I was very impressed with how the tip kitty was distributed in both countries. However, it’s very difficult to minimize the tour's impact when you have 16 people drinking bottled water for two weeks. I brought my own water filter. I used it everywhere, aside from the boat, and remained healthy the entire time. Filtering would significantly reduce the environmental impact of the tour.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Just excellent. The tour guide, Assan Saine, was easily one of the best guides I’ve ever had and made sure that each of us had the special experience we were hoping for. I would definitely return to The Gambia. Thanks to Responsible Travel for introducing this tour to me and indeed, all my tours!Arthur Lambie review 8 Jan 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Pelicans in the Djoudj bird reserve - amazing. Kites over Dakar in the evenings.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't book until the itinerary is improved. If the trip started in Dakar and ended in Banjul it would save on some very tedious road trips - even more gruelling for the driver. It seemed that people from the UK were booked on TAP, Iberia, etc. etc, meaning repeated airport trips for the staff - pointless. Does this actually save money?3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
My wife has commented on this ..... but the guide and driver were brilliant4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall 3 stars. The trip started at 18:00 on the 18th, we got there at 02:00 on the 19th. The trip ended at 09:00 on the 30th, we left at 02:35 on the 31st ... strange. The holiday was aimed 100% at birders, and frankly some of the boat trips got a little dull. The Gambia River is not as interesting as the Irrawaddy, or the Nile, or the Niger etc. etc. There is nothing going on on the banks other than another Darter, Egret, etc. Even the Ospreys failed to excite after No 20. Our cabin on the Bao Bolong was the pits, and by now has probably sunk into the waves. The Pink Lake ... is no longer pink .. at all. Not sure it was worth the stop over. We went on some boats ... none of them was a pirogue - disappointing. All the included food ( except at Ndagane ) was pretty poor. I've had better on a safari truck. Despite the above, I loved Senegal and Gambia. I just think you need to rethink the itinerary.Peter Lowles review 2 Jan 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The boat trips, and our excellent guide Assan2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a good bird guide book3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We even visited a poor homestead who had suffered crop failure, and brought gifts of food, soap, candles etc purchased from the group kitty.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Brilliant, seeing the real Africa away from the tourist places and seeing it through the eyes of our local guide Assan.Christine Miles review 1 Jan 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Loved seeing the bird wildlife of Senegal particularly in Djoudj National park. The coastal beauty of Senegal was wonderful and the views in the Delta so amazing. Partícularly enjoyed the hose and carriage tour around St. Louis. Enjoyed visiting a local family and doing a village tour.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you enjoy bird watching then you will enjoy this holiday. Other wildlife viewing was quite limited. The holiday is at quite a relaxing pace although one day there is a 12 hour drive. 4 nights of the accommodation is very rustic and in my opinion the places weren’t clean so come prepared with a sleep sheet, your own towel etc. Our guide and bus driver were very good and organised.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Our tip kitty was used to pay local guides and services so in this manner the local people benefited. Explore used a Gambian tour company and local guides to run the trip for them.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Personally I think that the itinerary could be improved to include more variety. Eg. City tour of Dakar, a night at the beach, a visit to one of the animal safari parks. The river cruise in The Gambia was nice only for a day. The second day consisted of just sitting in the boat for the whole day since the river is so wide wildlife viewing is limited. The great thing about the tour was that it was a safe and easy way to see a lot of Senegal and a bit of The Gambia. As a solo independent traveler I would have struggled to have done this itinerary alone and for this reason I am giving it a 4 star…however aspects of it were only worth 3 stars. The dirty basic accommodation in The Gambia is worthy of 1 star.Fiona Wilson review 31 Jan 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The birdlife was spectacular- high numbers and close views. Learning about the culture and seeing the people and landscape. The overnight river cruise was fabulous as expected. Accommodation much better standard than I expected. Our guide was excellent, being able to answer any questions about the place you might have and nothing was too much trouble, made the holiday very relaxing, felt safe at all times.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
There is some waiting around at times due to it being a group holiday and a couple of longish drives - use the time to people watch, its fascinating! Senegal does seem to be 2 pin round plugs as in Europe. Note 2 days without electricity. Note there is a small tips kitty to contribute to on arrival. Note no need to take Euros, pounds are changed fine. There is opportunity to change money on first morning. If you are vegetarian you will have enough to eat but it won't be exciting and may be odd combinations at times and meals can be late and very slow to arrive, I took some dried snacks with me. Be wary about using swimming pools which may not be clean.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we had a couple of unexpected trips to a school and to a local family, which were done respectfully and we were able to contribute to them if we wished. We were shown a well that had been put in for a women's cooperative garden and had a talk about the guide's charity work in education field.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A real break, great mix of birdwatching and culture and history, itinerary generally well planned and ran extremely smoothly.John Walford review 20 Nov 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Ferry crossing River Gambia.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don'expect too much.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All of these, to some extent.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had an excellent leader and driver. The birds we saw were great but apart from that, i don't think these two countries have much else to offer. I wonder if more locations in the east and south of Senegal might be worth exploring.Laura Palmucci review 3 Apr 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The overnight on the boat, sleeping under the stars with the mattresses and mosquito nets on the deck2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't forget repellant, binoculars and a torch light. Take with you some clothes to give away, they can be left for community projects.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, we slept in places managed by local people, we visited a local community school which can be helped and sponsored, I left the money I didn't spend to the guide who runs a local NGO4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would concentrate it a little more if I had to organize it myself because it's very relaxed and my opinion was shared by others in the group. Anyway it's an interesting trip, especially if you're interested in birds. Our guide Baba was absolutely exceptional.Holiday Reviews
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