Niokolo-Bedik villages

Day 1: Dakar - Tambacounda
8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Departure. On the way, quick stops at either, Ndiass, Sindia, Nguekhokh, Mbour, Ndiosmone, or Fatick.
11:30/12:00 am arrival in Kaolack. We take a City tour with a stop at West Africas’ biggest indoor market.
12:30/1:00 pm lunch
2:00/2:30 pm departure. We make quick stops at Kaffrine and Khoumpentoum on the way. 
6:30 pm (approx) we arrive in Tambacounda. We have time to relax in the swimming pool.
7:30 dinner

Day 2: Tambacounda – Niokolo Koba

7.30 am Breakfast

From now time is not run the same, and no precise schedule can be established. Welcome into Deep Africa.

We depart early for the Park Niokolo Koba. Taking about an hour by road from Tambacounda, passing by rural villages and open countryside.

Arriving at the entrance of the reserve, we commence our discovery of the real African Bush of this region. We drive 35km off road to reach the remote hotel, ideally situated beside the River Gambia.

For those who want to walk around, there is the Mare Simenti only minutes away where you can relax and observe the animals at the waters’ edge. If you prefer, you can relax on the terrace overlooking the river, or take a swim in the pool.

Lunch/Dinner and night hotel based.

Day 3: Safari Day

7.00 am Breakfast

We take a morning drive taking in mares, bamboo forest, open plain, rivers and gorges. At any time an unexpected animal coming into view around the next bend. This is nature in the raw so we never what we are going to see next.

By mid morning it starts to get hot so we head back to the Hotel for midday and lunch.

After lunch we can relax around the hotel or take a walk. Later in the afternoon we have the opportunity to take a boat on the River Gambia where we get a close-up view of the Crocodiles and the birdlife and if we are lucky we see the Hippo family. They play their game with us, always submerging just as we are ready to take the picture.

Dinner/night hotel based.

Day 4: Transfer to Bandafassi

7.30 am Breakfast

Leaving the Reserve via Dar Salam, (the roads and river crossings are closed at this time of the year) we take the National road through the Reserve towards Kedougou.

We make a short visit into the market and lunch.

Leaving the road to go by track towards the Peul village called Bandafassi.

We settle in and take a look round the locality, meeting the people.

This village is at the foot of the mountains where we will be climbing to be placed in the Bedik villages which are situated in the mountains.

Dinner/night lodge based.

Day 5:

7.00 am Breakfast.

7.30 am In this region the day starts hot and it gets hotter so we will be starting our climb early morning to avoid the direct sun. It is strenuous but acceptable for the average person.

Walking through the village outskirts into the forest and into the mountains with their valleys and pastures, we see African nature all around. We will arrive in various villages that are well hidden and in certain places; the people are employed in making clay pots or spinning cotton.

On the way round we will be placing you with your family.

The evening should be passed the local way. Sitting, talking and sharing experiences.

Lunch/Dinner/night family based. If any clients are totally against staying with a family they will be able to stay in the lodge.

Day 6:

Breakfast.

The timing of breakfast and everything through the rest of the day will depend on the family you are working with. You will have the opportunity of preparing the meal with the woman of the house, working with the man engaged in his work, (whatever that is), or going for a walk with the young of the family to discover the landscape.

Lunch family based.

Late afternoon/evening we will be making our way back to the lodge where we will have a group dinner and discussion about the experiences.

Dinner/night lodge based.

Day 7:

Breakfast.

Second day spent with the family. We will do a group walk today to go as far as the frontier with Guinea and look at the countryside beyond the village. We will learn what the villagers have to do in the rainy season to get food. It cannot be further from our “luxury” life.

Some people will keep these memories for the rest of their life, with differing results.

Lunch family based.

Late afternoon we will be making the descent back to the lodge where we will pass an evening together and have a group discussion about our experiences.

Dinner/night lodge based.

Day 8:

7.30 am Breakfast.

Leaving to start the return journey we pass by Kedougou and we make an optional stop (depending on timing) in a village where they do traditional gold mining. They dig a hole like a well and descend to search for gold.

Around midday making a stop on the way at Mako, to look at the splendour and the use of the River Gambia by the locals; a real beauty spot.

Lunch

Continue on our way back to Tambacounda and the hotel.

Day 9: Off again.

7.30 am. Breakfast.

An early departure back to Dakar or onto the next option.

Cancellations occurring less than 15 days before check-in will be charged 50% of total amount.

Cancellations less than 3 days before check-in will be charged 100%.