Hiking around Up-River Gambia

A walking holiday with a difference

A Gambia hiking trails adventure with FairPlay Gambia is a unique way to experience the majestic landscapes, ancient culture, remote villages and fascinating wildlife to be found around the Central and Upper River Regions.

We offer a range of day treks from your lodge in Janjanbureh or Lamin Koto, as well as multi-night expeditions deep into the surrounding communities. 

Our multi-night adventures are flexible around your time and interests. Combining days of travelling by kayak, bicycle, walking and by boat. Accommodation is a combination of tents, local homestays and riverside lodges.

Because we specialise in taking small groups and solo travellers to areas unspoiled by commercialisation, your experience will be an entirely authentic one. You will have the chance to chat with the people you meet along the way and to learn about traditional lifestyles and the uses of the local flora and fauna.

Sample Gambia Hiking Trails

We offer a number of different local hikes from Lamin Koto or Janjanbureh. Here are a few of our favourites:

Lamin Koto, West to Penguin Island, via Lamin Koto Stone Circle, Koli Kunda and Sotokoi.

Starting from Lamin Koto, we’ll hope to see the Green Vervet monkeys around the riverside before heading North through the village to the enigmatic Lamin Koto Stone Circle. From there we’ll head West and pass through the communities of Koli Kunda and Sotokoi before reaching Penguin Island. There’s a small dusty road onto the Island where you will hope to see the endangered Temminck’s Red Colobus monkeys and have the chance to swim in the river. Join our small boat to look for hippos around the end of the island, before the short cruise back to Lamin Koto riverside. Alternatively, hike back via local gardens and riverside.

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Lamin Koto, East to Koli Bolong ‘Mountain’ and Konko Duma.

We’ll start the trip looking for the Green Vervet monkeys around the riverside, and then head through the bush to Koli Bolong ‘Mountain’. After enjoying the great views over the river we’ll visit the tiny Fula village of Konko Duma. From there, back to Koli Bolong and have the chance to cool down in the river if you wish. Join our small boat to look for hippos around the end of the island, before the short cruise back to Lamin Koto riverside. Alternatively, hike back via the village of Banni.

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Janjanbureh, West to the end of the Island via the local market, Armitage School, Colonial Graveyard & Bird Safari Camp.

Starting with a chance to visit the colourful Janjanbureh Market, these Gambia hiking trails take you deep into the history of the Island. First, a visit to the Methodist School and Church, established in 1825, then to the Freedom Tree, where formerly enslaved people were registered as liberated. After that, on to Armitage, The Gambia’s first high school, built for the sons (and later, daughters) of chiefs. From there, you’ll continue West towards Bird Safari Camp, hoping to see Red Colobus and Green Vervet monkeys, where you will be able to take a swim in the river.  Join our small boat to look for hippos around the end of the island, before the short cruise back to Janjanbureh town. Alternatively, hike back via UNESCO’s Kankurang Museum and the ceremonial grounds of Tinyansita.

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Overnight Hiking Adventures

If you really want to get off the beaten track, try one of our overnight Gambia hiking trail adventures. Designed around your fitness levels and your schedule, we can offer a range of different experiences. 

Sample Itinerary 1 – Two days, Two nights

Lamin Koto to Bansang via Tankong Kunda.

This is one of our more challenging routes but definitely worth the effort. Experience the naturally warm welcome of the villages, the beautiful landscaping and the excellent wildlife. If 19km sounds ambitious for you, we offer the alternative of starting the day with a boat trip from Lamin Koto to Koli Bolong ‘Mountain’, looking for hippos before picking up the hiking route from there.

Day 1: 19km (13km if using the boat trip option)

We’ll start the trip looking for the Green Vervet monkeys around Lamin Koto riverside, then head East through the bush to Koli Bolong ‘Mountain’. After enjoying a late breakfast with great views over the river you’ll have the chance to cool down with a swim if you wish. From there, we’ll hike through the traditional settlements of Kujew, Yonna, Kunting and Jarra Ji. Along the way, we’ll meet with various members of the community to learn more about local life and visit a women’s community garden. From there, we’ll continue South East to Tankong Kunda, where we will take lunch in a local compound. After lunch, we’ll greet the village chief and head down to the riverside. We’ll set up our tents at a small fisherman camp and head out for an evening walk in the forest. Your evening meal will be cooked on a fire at the riverside. 

Day 2: 11.5km

After breakfast, leave Tankong Kunda and head South West to the village of Dobo. Depart Dobo and head South East to the river. From there, the going is a little tougher as we leave the tracks behind and weave our way through the trees as close to the river as possible, using a cutlass to cut a path at some points.

There are no permanent settlements in this area, so the wildlife is as plentiful as anywhere in the Gambia. We expect to see more than one large troop of baboons, red colobus monkeys, green vervet monkeys, mongoose and possibly even bushpig. This area is also home to a great range of bird life including various species of kingfishers, bee-eaters and ibis. Arrive in Bushtown and cross the river in a small hand-paddled boat to the dusty town of Bansang where you will spend the night in a local riverside lodge.

Day 3:

After breakfast, you can explore the colourful Bansang market before departing to your onward destination.