When I left for The Gambia I had 4 goals:
-get to know my friend’s country;
-visit his children, mother and family;
-a visit to Sotokoi, my friend’s home village that we support with the help of donations;
AND
-orienting myself on the possibility of organizing yoga trips together with Frosch Sportreisen.
And I can now say that all goals, even the last one, have been achieved (see previous blogs).
The manager of Frosch thought that The Gambia is an interesting destination and agreed with my plans.
After my return I have been busy putting together a travel program.
It looks like this (for more information visit Frosch’s website):
Day 1 Arrival, introduction, walk to the beach
Friday (20.01 , 03.02)
Arrival at airport at 01:05.
10.30 Breakfast, introduction and on a discovery tour in the lodge.
Then a walk to and along the beach.
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 2 Visit to Gunjur
Saturday (21.01 , 04.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
10.30 After breakfast we walk through the forest to the nearby village of Gunjur. We visit the market, the school and the mosque. Then we take the bus to the historical museum, where, in addition to viewing historical artifacts, we also have lunch. Throughout the day a local guide will accompany us and explain what we see. The bus takes us back to Footsteps Ecolodge.
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 3 Beach walk to the Rainbow Beach Bar in Sanyang
Sunday (22.01 , 05.02 )
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
10.00 After breakfast we walk today about 2 hours along the sea to the Rainbow Beach Bar in Sanyang, a place that is especially popular on Sundays when the traditional wrestling matches are held in the afternoon. We will relax, swim and enjoy lunch. We can return to Footsteps Ecolodge on foot or by taxi (taxi not included).
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 4 Visit to the capital Banjul
Monday (23.01 , 06.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
After breakfast we leave at 10.00 o’clock by bus to the capital Banjul, a bustling center that is home to the port of Gambia, the national museum and also the Albert Market, the largest market in the country where everything from herbs to fine tailoring can be found.
The (late) lunch we will have in Calypso Bar and Restaurant on the Cape Point beach. If we are lucky, we will see crocodiles in the waterpond and monkeys in the trees.
Yoga session on the beach.
In the evening there is the possibility of a small snack in Footsteps Ecolodge.
Day 5 Ocean Blue Beach Bar
Tuesday (24.01 , 07.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
After breakfast there is the possibility to use the activities* in Footsteps Ecolodge, such as a massage or a workshop weaving. The silversmith and the woodcarving artist can also explain their refined handicrafts.
After an optional lunch at Footsteps Ecolodge we leave at 13.00 by bus to Brufut, to the Ocean Blue Beach Bar and Restaurant. There we can swim, enjoy the sun and Alasana will provide a Djembé-drumming workshop. Dinner will take place at sunset. Then it’s time for campfire on the beach. Back to Footsteps Ecolodge at 21:00.
Day 6 Lamin’s “Walk and Talk” and bird watching
Wednesday (25.01 , 08.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
After breakfast, our guide Lamin takes us to the nearby wetlands through the Koonfung Protected Forest. Here we discover plants and trees used in The Gambia’s traditional medicines, see the local gardens and meet some locals. We have lunch on Footsteps and in the afternoon we can enjoy some beautiful birds that gather around the purpose-built shaded lookout hut.
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 7 Visit to Tanji village museum and Mama Africa
Thursday (26.01 , 09.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
After breakfast we leave at 10.00 am by bus to the fascinating Tanji Village Museum. At the heart of the various exhibits is the reconstruction of a traditional Mandinka settlement, which shows how people lived here more than 100 years ago.
Then we walk to nearby Mama Africa, an art gallery with a beautiful garden where we will have lunch.
We stroll back to Tanji along local gardens and the beach. We will pass the fishing center and the local market.
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 8 Yoga, breakfast and canoe trip at sunrise
Friday (27.01 , 10.02)
Today we get up early and drive the bus to the south, where we do a short yoga session on the riverbank of Kartong before we have breakfast with the rising sun at Doudou’s. Afterwards, a relaxing canoe trip on the river awaits us. If we are lucky, we will see the pelicans and we can set foot on Senegalese soil. On the way back we visit a project that has been set up to inform the locals about the value of snakes and everything that is reptilian. On this reptile farm we will have lunch.
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 9 Beach walk along the fishing center and mosque of Gunjur
Saturday (28.01 , 11.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
10.00 After breakfast we will take a walk on the beach passing the fishing center and the mosque of Gunjur. At the Nemascu Beach Bar we have lunch. We can walk back along the beach to Footsteps Ecolodge. For those who want to stay a little longer, it is possible to take a taxi back (not included).
18.00-19.15 Yoga in the shala
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 10 Boat trip on the River Gambia
Sunday (29.01 , 12.02)
Today an early breakfast. At 7.00 am we are picked up to go north by bus. At the Denton Bridge we will take the boat across the river to a part of The Gambia that was of great importance in the time of the slave trade: Juffureh and James Island with his impressive ruins. If we are lucky, we will spot dolphins and exotic birds along the way. Lunch will be served on the boat. Back at Footsteps at about 19.00 pm.
20.00 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
Day 11 Santosha Beach Bar
Monday (30.01 , 13.02)
7.30-8.45 Yoga in the shala
After breakfast in the morning there is the possibility to use the activities* in Footsteps Ecolodge, such as a massage or a workshop weaving.
After lunch at Footsteps Ecolodge we leave at 14.00 by bus to Santosha Beach Bar. There we can relax, swim and enjoy the sun. We do a yoga session on the beach and dinner will take place at sunset.Then it’s time for drumming and dancing by the campfire. Back to Footsteps Ecolodge at 21:00.
Day 12 Visit to the crafts market in Brikama
Tuesday (31.01 , 14.02)
7.30-8.45 Last Yoga session in the shala
Today we have the opportunity to get our hands on the last souvenirs at the Brikama craft market where the most beautiful wood carvings are sold. The Gambians are excellent craftsmen in this field and you can see them at work there, often using no more than a knife and some sandpaper.
We have lunch on the way back to Footsteps Ecolodge.
Once there, there is an opportunity to pack your bags and possibly have a drink together.
19.30 Dinner at the round table of Footsteps Ecolodge
22.00 Say goodbye and departure to the airport