River Gambia National Park Safari

The River Gambia National Park protects five river islands that are home to a long-running chimpanzee rehabilitation project, hippos, crocodiles and more than 200 bird species. This two-day trip from Janjanbureh gets you properly into it: boat safaris along the channels, a night under canvas at a riverside camp, and a chance to see the chimps of Baboon Island from the water, where they live wild and the islands themselves are off-limits to protect them. The package covers the boat safari, camping equipment, all meals, park fees and an expert local guide, for groups of four to twelve, and the moderate pace and overnight format suit travellers ready to leave the coast behind. Mornings and dusk on the river are the highlights, with hippos surfacing and birds everywhere. For the Gambia's most rewarding wildlife experience, it's worth the journey upcountry.