Gambia ethical lodge holiday
Click here to enquire or book this holiday!
Basic information
Location: The Gambia, Gunjur.
Date: 29th March to 5th April 2010.
Duration: Eight days and seven nights.
Group size: From six to twelve people.
Price: From £458, based on two sharing. Including transport, activities and accommodation (fullboard). Flight excluded.
What will I be doing on this trip?
Take a few days away from the tourist areas to enjoy some days in a Gambian village. Experience Gunjur and their responsible projects. Gunjur is located on the coast about 45 minutes drive from central Gambia. You will stay at Footsteps Eco-Lodge, a lodge that cares about the local community and surrounding environment. They have taken responsibility thereafter.
My holiday itinerary...
Day 1: Arrive Gunjur and Footsteps Eco-Lodge.
Pick up from the airport and travel by car to Footsteps Eco lodge. Enjoy a welcome buffet evening meal followed by drumming and dancing with Jama Njie.
Day 2: Visit to Gunjur Village
After a breakfast walk into the nearby village of Gunjur with your guide for the day, Sarani. Visit the Abubaka Sidique foundation, a school which caters for orphaned children, there you will meet Abubaka and his 213 children and spend the morning playing and learning with them.
In the afternoon enjoy a short walk to the local market which provides the village with most of its produce and where you will buy your ingredients for your evening meal. You will also visit a local compound to see how the villagers live on a daily basis.
Day 3: Birdwatching
Spend your entire day with Alex with whom you will visit various locations exploring Gambia’s bird life and nature, you will see over 100 species of bird in this day alone so please take your camera.
Day 4: Reptile Farm and Gunjur Fishing Village
After breakfast visit the Reptile Farm, a charity founded by a Frenchman named Nuru (Luke), to educate local people about the reptiles indigenous to West Africa. Here you will learn which species are dangerous and which are not, how they fit in to Gambia’s Ecosystem and even have the opportunity to hold some of the less aggressive snakes and reptiles.
In the afternoon visit Gunjur fishing village, here you will see local fishermen arriving with their daily catch and the women unloading the boats and drying the fish. Sarani will take you on a tour of the facility and will also buy the fish for the dinner.
This evening Daouda from ASSET (Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism) will come and talk to you about their organisation and Responsible Tourism in The Gambia.
Day 5: Explore Footsteps Eco-Lodge
The entire day will be spent at Footsteps Eco Lodge, you will be taken on a guided information tour around The Lodge and its grounds and learn how its use of solar power, composting toilets and fresh water filtered pool contribute towards the sustainability of Gunjur Village.
After lunch see and experience for yourselves local Batik making, artistry, silver craft carried out in a time honoured way using only fire, goatskin bellows and a hammer (the silver is available for purchase at the end of the day). You can also help Mary, the staff cook in the traditional staff kitchen. If you still have some energy left why not have some drumming tuition with Jama Njie our resident Senegalese master Djembe Drummer and maker? (tuition not included in the price)
Day 6: Day at own leisure
Enjoy this day as you please. Go to the beach, go fishing, go exploring the area or simply relax.
Day 7: Nature and Bee Keeping Day
Spend this morning with Badara Bajo founder of the first Turtle rescue centre in The Gambia and visit the local Bolong (water estuary). Here you will learn about many of the local tree’s, plants and maybe see a Crocodile or Python or two on your way through (Wear good boots for this trip). You will learn about the efforts made to protect this fragile piece of environment.
In the afternoon visit the Gunjur Bee Keeping Association, here you will learn how the bee’s are kept and the honey is harvested, taste the different varieties of honey and if you like it, purchase some to take home. You will also learn how this project helps to support the community.
It's your last night, so put on your party hats and enjoy the rythms of traditional music! Dancing is compulsary!
Day 8: Departure
This is your last morning. Relax until the departure and travel back home with new memories and knowledge about responsible tourism.
Location: The Gambia, Gunjur.
Date: 29th March to 5th April 2010.
Duration: Eight days and seven nights.
Group size: From six to twelve people.
Price: From £458, based on two sharing. Including transport, activities and accommodation (fullboard). Flight excluded.
What will I be doing on this trip?
Take a few days away from the tourist areas to enjoy some days in a Gambian village. Experience Gunjur and their responsible projects. Gunjur is located on the coast about 45 minutes drive from central Gambia. You will stay at Footsteps Eco-Lodge, a lodge that cares about the local community and surrounding environment. They have taken responsibility thereafter.
My holiday itinerary...
Day 1: Arrive Gunjur and Footsteps Eco-Lodge.
Pick up from the airport and travel by car to Footsteps Eco lodge. Enjoy a welcome buffet evening meal followed by drumming and dancing with Jama Njie.
Day 2: Visit to Gunjur Village
After a breakfast walk into the nearby village of Gunjur with your guide for the day, Sarani. Visit the Abubaka Sidique foundation, a school which caters for orphaned children, there you will meet Abubaka and his 213 children and spend the morning playing and learning with them.
In the afternoon enjoy a short walk to the local market which provides the village with most of its produce and where you will buy your ingredients for your evening meal. You will also visit a local compound to see how the villagers live on a daily basis.
Day 3: Birdwatching
Spend your entire day with Alex with whom you will visit various locations exploring Gambia’s bird life and nature, you will see over 100 species of bird in this day alone so please take your camera.
Day 4: Reptile Farm and Gunjur Fishing Village
After breakfast visit the Reptile Farm, a charity founded by a Frenchman named Nuru (Luke), to educate local people about the reptiles indigenous to West Africa. Here you will learn which species are dangerous and which are not, how they fit in to Gambia’s Ecosystem and even have the opportunity to hold some of the less aggressive snakes and reptiles.
In the afternoon visit Gunjur fishing village, here you will see local fishermen arriving with their daily catch and the women unloading the boats and drying the fish. Sarani will take you on a tour of the facility and will also buy the fish for the dinner.
This evening Daouda from ASSET (Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism) will come and talk to you about their organisation and Responsible Tourism in The Gambia.
Day 5: Explore Footsteps Eco-Lodge
The entire day will be spent at Footsteps Eco Lodge, you will be taken on a guided information tour around The Lodge and its grounds and learn how its use of solar power, composting toilets and fresh water filtered pool contribute towards the sustainability of Gunjur Village.
After lunch see and experience for yourselves local Batik making, artistry, silver craft carried out in a time honoured way using only fire, goatskin bellows and a hammer (the silver is available for purchase at the end of the day). You can also help Mary, the staff cook in the traditional staff kitchen. If you still have some energy left why not have some drumming tuition with Jama Njie our resident Senegalese master Djembe Drummer and maker? (tuition not included in the price)
Day 6: Day at own leisure
Enjoy this day as you please. Go to the beach, go fishing, go exploring the area or simply relax.
Day 7: Nature and Bee Keeping Day
Spend this morning with Badara Bajo founder of the first Turtle rescue centre in The Gambia and visit the local Bolong (water estuary). Here you will learn about many of the local tree’s, plants and maybe see a Crocodile or Python or two on your way through (Wear good boots for this trip). You will learn about the efforts made to protect this fragile piece of environment.
In the afternoon visit the Gunjur Bee Keeping Association, here you will learn how the bee’s are kept and the honey is harvested, taste the different varieties of honey and if you like it, purchase some to take home. You will also learn how this project helps to support the community.
It's your last night, so put on your party hats and enjoy the rythms of traditional music! Dancing is compulsary!
Day 8: Departure
This is your last morning. Relax until the departure and travel back home with new memories and knowledge about responsible tourism.
How does this holiday make a difference?
You will benefit the local community by visiting local projects that create local economic growth; sharing culture and tradition, supporting sustainable solutions to poverty reduction and conserving the environment. In addition you will be staying at an eco-lodge which uses solar power and has a natural filtered pool, greywater filtration system and composting toilets to mention but a few of their initiatives.
You will benefit the local community by visiting local projects that create local economic growth; sharing culture and tradition, supporting sustainable solutions to poverty reduction and conserving the environment. In addition you will be staying at an eco-lodge which uses solar power and has a natural filtered pool, greywater filtration system and composting toilets to mention but a few of their initiatives.
Path through the forest
Where is it?
Click here to enquire or book this holiday!
To view other Gambia Responsible Tourism holidays, click here
Home - Trips - Responsible Tourism - Who are we? - Gallery - Blog - Links
West Africa Map - Disclaimer - Contact us
West Africa Map - Disclaimer - Contact us