West Africa 2027

Thursday 04 February

Depart Auckland on Emirates Airlines. Arrive Dubai and change planes.

Friday 05 February

Late afternoon arrive in Dakar. Transfer to hotel for a three-night stay.

Saturday 06 February

After breakfast, join the hustle and bustle of the ferry terminal in Dakar for the 30-minute
ride to Goree Island – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the epicentre of the West African slave trade, this island now consists of peaceful lanes and red ochre houses adorned by bougainvillea. Visit the slaves’ house, St Charles church and the museum.

Walk an alley to a painter’s workshop. After lunch return to Dakar and relax before dinner at the hotel.

Sunday 07 February

Begin your day with a drive to Lake Retba – tucked between ocean and dunes, this salt lake will amaze with its hues of pink and purple. At 40% salt concentration, this lake cannot sustain animal life but it supports an extensive salt industry – the locals’ main occupation. Enjoy a canoe trip on the lake before lunch in a local village. Return to Dakar for an evening at your leisure.

Monday 08 February

This morning, depart Dakar and journey to Eden Lodge in the Lompoul Desert. After lunch, experience a camel ride through the dunes as the sun sets, before settling in for the night in traditional desert safari tents.

Tuesday 09 February

After breakfast travel to the city of SaintLouis, the former capital of Senegal. Rich in history and culture and now cloaked in a slightly dilapidated grandeur. With its narrow streets with brightly coloured colonial-era architecture and elaborately dressed people, it’s a photographers dream and a place that will surely charm. This afternoon is a horse drawn carriage ride through the old city and fishing district. Dinner at the hotel tonight.

Wednesday 10 February

Today visit Langue de Barbarie National Park, an orthinological reserve rich with wildlife including many bird species, hawksbill sea turtle, pata monkeys and various other animal species. Tour the reserve and embark on a boat trip on the Senegal River. Transfer back to the hotel this afternoon and evening free.

Thursday 11 February

Today’s journey visits the holy town of Touba with its magnificent mosque. This is the most influential Muslim centre of Senegal. See rural markets and the city of Touba before traveling onto the coastal beach resort of Saly with dinner at the hotel.

Friday 12 February

Today visit the Bandia Wildlife Reserve – a protected forest of baobab trees. Here you may see giraffe, zebra, warthog, monkeys, ostrich, crocodile and buffalo. After lunch return back to Saly.

Saturday 13 February

After breakfast, depart to Lagune of Somone for a canoe trip and lunch before continuing onto Dakar for a late afternoon embarkation onto MY Harmony V. This evening, set sail southward towards the Saloum River Delta.

Sunday 14 February

Reach the Sine – Saloum Delta in Senegal, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Take an offshore excursion to village of Joal Fadiout, set on an island of clam shells that are also used in local buildings and crafts. In the afternoon,
sail south to reach Banjul, (capital of The Gambia) and the gateway of the 700 km Gambia River.

Monday 15 February

From Banjul enjoy a 1/2 day excursion to Bakau with its sacred crocodile “katchikaly” pool, its Botanic Garden and a short Banjul Tour. Mid-afternoon sail upstream to Tendaba, arriving late into the evening.

Tuesday 16 February

Today choose from two off-shore excursions:

Option 1: Kiang West National Park (half day morning)
From the ship take motor pirogues to Tendaba a small 600 inhabitant fishing village of mainly Muslim, the starting point of our morning excursion. Walk to Batelling, the entrance to Kiang West National Park, an area that boasts over 250 species of birds; many difficult to observe anywhere else, plus Guinea baboons, bushbuck, warthog and marsh mongoose. Return to Tendaba by open safari truck.

Option 2: Bao Bolong Reserve (half day afternoon)
From the ship take motor pirogues for a trip to Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve which features six major Bolongs (creeks) that provide great birding and boating opportunities.

Wednesday 17 February

An early morning sail upstream to arrive early afternoon in Kuntaur. This afternoon board a large motor pirogue with a local national park ranger for a three hour river cruise excursion to learn more about the park and its fauna and flora – the chance to see chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys and birdlife. Return to Kuntaur and be met by the “Kankurang” believed to have spiritual powers and a local dance group on the pier.

Thursday 18 February

Today, an excursion by bus takes you to the ferry station for a short cruise to visit Janjanbureh one of the oldest towns of The Gambia, formerly called Georgetown. Afterwards take the ferry back and re board the bus to reach Lamin Koto. Through the generosity of Variety Cruises and of many of its clients, a new school building is being built. Later in the morning stop at the mysterious stone circles in Wassu, a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. In the afternoon, sail downstream to Kaur a small fishing village. Continue sailing downstream tonight. Tonight is a Captains Farewell Dinner.

Friday 19 February

This morning anchor mid-river at St. James Island, once an important slave trading post under British rule, now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The Island became famous due to the author Alex Haley and his bestseller book ‘Roots’, the story of a slave, called Kunta Kinteh. A walking tour by your local guide will tell you more about the history of James Island and afterwards you will have some time to explore this island by yourself. This afternoon sail to reach Banjul around 4pm. Formalities complete, sail out of The Gambia estuary into the Atlantic Ocean northwards to Dakar. Tonight, take in a Kora instrument concert.

Saturday 20 February

Early morning arrival in Dakar. Disembark after breakfast for a city tour including visits to The Independence Square, The Presidential Palace and The Statue of the Renaissance. Dinner at the hotel tonight.

Sunday 21 February

Enjoy a late morning visit to the Black Civilisation Museum. In the afternoon a transfer to the airport for an evening Emirates flight to Dubai.

Monday 22 February

Arrive Dubai, change planes and continue to Auckland.

Tuesday 23 February