Most visitors to The Gambia never leave the coastal resort strip — which is a shame, because the country's most rewarding experiences are upcountry. Janjanbureh, on a small island 300km up the River Gambia, is the natural base.
Why come here
The River Gambia National Park protects five river islands that are home to a chimpanzee rehabilitation project run by the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust since 1979. Over 100 chimps live wild on the islands, and you can see them from a respectful distance by boat.
The river itself is one of West Africa's great birding destinations — over 500 species recorded — and hippos and crocodiles are common.
Getting there
The road from the coast takes 5-6 hours. Many visitors do it as part of a guided 2-3 day upcountry tour with a stop in Tendaba camp on the way.