Hear about travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jenna Fletcher from LifeKineticTravel.com about her quest to see baby sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau.
Why should you go to West Africa?
Jenna says, “It is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful: green, flowers, animals. It is one of those spots that is definitely less explored by Western tourists. I think it gives you a different perspective on some of the history that you’ve learned about throughout school. And so I really enjoyed learning about the horrors of slavery while in Western Africa, and also a different perspective on colonialism.”
Itinerary
Jenna’s recommended route is a two-week itinerary starting in The Gambia, continuing into Senegal, and ending in Guinea-Bissau, arranged partly around the fixed dates she could get for Orango National Park.
Days 1-3: The Gambia
- Base yourselves near Banjul, at Majula Boutique Hotel
- Day 1: Gambia river cruise with Bushwhacker Tours, a relaxed day on the river through the mangroves
- Day 2: Roots tour to Kunta Kinteh Island, exploring the history of the slave trade and the former British slaving fort
- Day 3: Hire a driver to explore Banjul, including Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool, Gambia National Museum, and Albert Market
Days 4-5: Dakar, Senegal
Travel from The Gambia to Dakar
Stay at the Accor Pullman Hotel
- Day 4: Visit Bandia Reserve, then have dinner at La Pointe des Almadies near the westernmost lighthouse on mainland Africa
- Day 5: Take a day trip to the Island of Gorée (UNESCO) to learn about the French side of the slave trade history
With more time, she says she also would have liked to visit the Museum of Black Civilisations, Île de Ngor, and Saint-Louis, Senegal
Days 6-7: Ziguinchor and the Casamance
Because of flight changes, Jenna switched from flying to taking the overnight ferry from Dakar to Ziguinchor
She says the ferry became a highlight of the trip
In the Casamance region, Scoot West Africa – Trips, Tours And Tips For Your Adventure helped arrange visas and a 12 km bike tour through local villages, a cashew farm, temples, memorials, and sacred drums
Overnight in Ziguinchor at Hôtel Kadiandoumagne, Ziguinchor
Days 8-9: Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Travel overland from Ziguinchor to Bissau
Stay at Bissau Royal Hotel
Jenna recommends keeping Bissau fairly short, using it more as a gateway than a destination
She mentions eating at Hotel No Kau, Casa Dora / No Kau, and visiting the craft market
Days 10-13: Orango National Park
This was the focal point of her whole trip
From Bissau, travel by road and then by boat to Orango National Park
Stay at Hotel Orango in Guinea-Bissau
Activities included:
- visiting the local village
- a boat-and-walk excursion to see hippos
- The turtle beach excursion, where she hoped to see hatchlings and eventually did
Jenna says four nights is the right amount of time here because of the remoteness, tides, and boat logistics
Day 14+: Return
Retrace the route back from Orango to Bissau
Fly out of Bissau, with Jenna flying onward via Lisbon
Sponsors
This month, Amateur Traveler is supported by Smart Travel, a new podcast from Nerd Wallet that helps you travel smarter and spend less.
Upgrade your wardrobe with high-quality essentials and get free shipping and 365-day returns at Quince.com/TRAVELER.
Save 50% on Unlimited premium wireless plans starting at $15/month at MintMobile.com/traveler.
Become a Fora Advisor today at foratravel.com/TRAVELER.
subscribe: rss feed | Apple podcasts
right click here to download (mp3)
Show Notes
Life Kinetic Travel
West Africa – 2 Weeks in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau
The Gambia
Senegal
Bushwhacker Tours
Gambia river cruise
Roots tour to Kunta Kinteh Island
Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool
Gambia National Museum
Albert Market
Majula Boutique Hotel
Dakar
Acor Pullman Hotel
Bandia Reserve
Lion Walk in Fathala Reserve
Pointe des Almadies
La Pointe des Almadies
Island of Gorée (UNESCO)
Museum of Black Civilisations
Île de Ngor
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Scoot West Africa – Trips, Tours And Tips For Your Adventure
Ziguinchor
Hôtel Kadiandoumagne, Ziguinchor
Bissau
Bissau Royal Hotel
Hotel No Kau, Casa Dora
Orango National Park
Hotel Orango en Guinea Bissau
Community
Give me your feedback on the show at AmateurTraveler.com/1000
Amateur Traveler Trips
On the Hidden Gems of London – Episode 988:
Loved your last two episodes. Would not mind more hidden gems episodes!
The tip about the National Trust membership is great! I did something similar in France with the Centre De Monuments pass. This got my travel companion and me into many of the sites we wanted to see. But even more importantly, we were able to use the member entrance or line, which saved us hours of waiting in line.
When we breezed past the line for the Arc de Triomphe, we felt like royalty.
Cheers! Jacque
Hi Chris
I really enjoyed your recent episode on London’s Hidden Gems – I lived in London for 20 years and wasn’t aware of some of those gems myself.
However, I wonder if your listeners might be interested in a couple of other suggestions:-
Southwark Cathedral seems very central these days, as it stands right by the south side of the River Thames, just off London Bridge. But it has a lot of history, with some fascinating American connections. In the Cathedral graveyard is a memorial to Mahomet Weyonomon, a Native American Chief who came to London in 1735 to reclaim lands the English had taken off his people. He died of smallpox while in London, but because he was a foreigner, he could not be buried within the boundaries of the City of London (just over the London Bridge) so they placed him in the cemetery of Southwark Cathedral.
This cathedral is also the place where the founder of Harvard University was baptised in 1607, so there is a memorial plaque inside the church for him, too.
As for afternoon tea, can I recommend St Ermin’s Hotel, not far from Westminster? This was well-known from the 1930s as the place members of the UK’s secret services would meet, but it also became the place where the famous Cambridge Five Spy Ring would meet to pass on secrets to the KGB over a cup of tea. The hotel displays all sorts of spy paraphernalia, including a waistcoat (vest) with messages cleverly sewn into the lining, which was apparently left in the men’s rest rooms downstairs.
Thanks for your great work and I look forward to your next episode.
Simon
