Hello,

i'm looking at planning a group/family vacation and would love to hear info/advice about tours/places to see in some of the countries below

Gambia, Cape verde, Spain or any other country u could suggest for a grp of at most 10 people

its has to be a combination of adventure and lots of pampering

does anyone live in these countries?

please share
thanks

I think there is indeed a lot of stuff and places in Spain that you can go I preferably like Barcelona coz of its gothic style structures as well as traditions and colorful festivities.

does anyone else have info abt these countries

Hey Salsera

The Gambia offers a veriety of accomodation, from luxury hotels, self-catering apartments, and guesthouses to upcountry lodges. There are four main resort areas in what is referred to as the palm-fringed coastline, with long stretches of golden sands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Accomodation is often booked up in the winter season (November to May) and individual travellers should seek comfirmation with advance booking.

Most of the hotels are self contained complexes set in spacious gardens and will generally cater to the needs of most tourists. Rooms will not always be air conditioned and visitors who require this service should be sure to request this.

There are also dozens of camps, lodges and motels in the rural areas which provide basic but comfortable accomodation and food for tourists on excursions or other visitors wishing to discover the real Gambia.

Coastal Excursions (Half-day Orientation Tours)
There are many variations of this trip but it is generally a half day tour of Banjul and surrounding area, covering visits to the National Museum, Banjul Market, Arch 22, Serrekunda Market, the batik and tie-and-dye factory in Serrekunda, Bakau Craft Markets and the legendary Katchikally Crocodile Pool.


The Abuko Nature Reserve & Brikama Wood Carving Centre

Walk through the jungle of Abuko Nature Reserve to see the hyenas and other animals in the nursery, crocodiles in the pond and the monkeys and birds in the trees. You will need at least two hours for a visit. Then proceed to the Brikama Wood Carving Centre to observe craftsmen at work. Lunch may be at the picturesque Lamin Lodge.


Creek Tours / River Trips / Fishing Trips

"Birds and Breakfast"

A peaceful and relaxing day out on the creeks or around bolongs (river tributaries) of the River Gambia is not to be missed. Most creek tours and fishing trips start off from Denton Bridge or Lamin Lodge, but local camps in the rural areas along the river also organize such tours. The sundeck of your pirogue will give you a good view of the mangrove swamps; the birds and the women who are often seen harvesting oyster from their dug out canoes. You may also catch fish large enough to be listed in the Guinness Book of Records! Enjoy the sun and the tranquil waters of this great and historic river.
Find Your "Roots"
This is a popular excursion, inspired by the historic epic, based on the classic novel of the tragedy of the slave trade and triumph of freedom, a full circle, inspired by Alex Haley’s bestseller and movie “Roots”.

The long and drawn out saga commenced in rural Gambia, in a village called Juffureh, and tracks almost five generations across the mighty Atlantic Ocean to the USA, and back. The Gambia’s little known continuation is steeped in this true story of survival, love of country, people and freedom immersed in strong linkages of tradition and culture still seen today. Although slavery has long been abolished, the ancestors and direct descendants of the hero and of many other extracted Africans in the Diaspora can be found today. Kunta Kinteh’s trail can still be followed from his birthplace in rural Gambia.
A converted yacht takes you on a three and a half hour journey to Albreda – a former French trading post. Then a 15 minute walk to the village of Juffureh – Haley’s ancestral home where you will meet a descendant of the Kinteh family. You will see a slavery exhibition in the museum before reboarding your boat and the continuing journey to the former slave fortress of James Island. On the return journey, you may be allowed to swim with the dolphins!


Bush and Beach Safaris / South Gambia
Different operators have different names for this full day tour using 4-wheel drive land rovers or mini-trucks. You will visit small fishing villages and experience life in the rural areas. This is a good opportunity to see monkeys and the rich bird life of The Gambia. Several hours are spent on the beach where a picnic lunch is taken before returning to your hotel. Drive back tracking the stunning African sunset.


[size=18pt]Rural Excursions[/size]
There are safari style camps located up country throughout The Gambia, mostly along the river or one of its tributaries. These camps provide good, basic accomodation and an excellent base to explore the country.

Tendaba Camp
This camp located nearly 165 kilometres from Banjul is one of the first tourist camps in rural Gambia. It is situated on the banks of the river that meanders in front of woodlands, which have plenty of birds, bush hogs
Boabab trees near Tendaba camp
and other wildlife. Tendaba offers bush safaris, river trips, village tours and entertainment. Rooms are comfortable with cooling fans, a generator, two bars and a restaurant. There is also a swimming pool within the camp, conference facilities for meetings. There is even a crocodile pit, where one can see these ancient animals in their slumber. Do not miss the Bamboo Bar at night.
Janjangbureh
Formerly called ‘Georgetown’, this is one of the oldest towns of The Gambia. The old ‘second’ city of colonial days is the administrative headquarters of the Central River Division.
The stone circles
It is situated on the island of Janjangbureh, which still has relics of The Gambia’s colonial past. There are a number of camps around the island and visits normally include a trip to the prehistoric Wassu Stone Circles – a megalithic site believed to be a burial ground thousands of years ago. The trip sometimes includes a journey by river from Sapu or Kudang to Janjangbureh where hippos can be seen wallowing in the river and on the muddy banks.


Food in the Gambia is varied, fresh, delicious and often spicy. Gambia has a selection of excellent local dishes, usually with rice, meat and vegetables, including Chicken or Fish Yassa, Benechin and Domoda (ground nut sauce). Fresh seafood is caught daily and prepared to delight in restaurants along the coast. There are many great restaurants offerring all types of international cuisine and usually a selection of Gambian food.

Snack on locally grown, fresh seasonal fruit which is amazingly sweet and often made into mixed or individual juices at vendors along the beach including mangos, papayas, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple and watermelon. Also find sorrelflower juice (locally called "Wonjo" with its unique taste.

A good selection of imported spirits, beers and wines are available. The local beer, Julbrew, manufactured in the Gambia by Banjul Breweries can be found everywhere.

Getting Around

Taxis
Tour operators use comfortable air-conditioned coaches for their transfers and 4-wheel drives for their excursions. For those wishing to adventure out on their own or in small groups, there are three different taxi services in The Gambia.

Tourist Taxis
These are mostly painted green and have a "tourist taxi" sign on their cars. These taxis are licensed by the Gambia Tourism Authority and dedicated to serve tourists and other visitors. They are normally parked outside the hotels in the resort areas. They operate on a queue system and have a published tariff for all distances within The Gambia and outside. However, we recommend you to check this with the driver before departure. It is normal to tip these drivers.

Yellow and Green Taxis
These are mainly 4-passenger saloon cars painted in these colours, which run a shared taxi service between short distances or parked at the roadside for individual hire (also called a "town trip".

Collective (Bush) Taxis
The most common way of travelling in The Gambia for locals is by collective taxis otherwise called "Bush" taxis. These are mainly 7-passenger cars, vans, minibuses and busses. They do not have a single colour and they operate a shared service between both short and long distances. They have a set fare. Please ask for the fare before you board the vehicle. They can make several stops on the way to allow passengers to board or disembark.

Car Rentals
There are several car rental companies in The Gambia. Check with your hotel receptionist or at the airport for details. Visitors wishing to rent a self-drive should possess either an International Driving Permit, which is accepted for a period of three months or a UK driving license, which can be used for a short visit.

get more from this site . . . hope it helps
http://visitthegambia.gm/

@mukina2

thanks for the info

i've actually looked found some hotels through tour sites(sunbeach hotel) but how does one pay for booking
can it be paid for when one arrives cos they dont seem to have their own websites
what's the exchange rate?

Hi salsera,
Murthia and Algeciras in spain are the places i will reccomend for pampering.try mar menor golf and spa in murthia. For adventure, art , wine and cuisine-barcelona as someone has previously advised. You would most likely get lots of adventure from gambia and capeverde then you can head to spain for the rest.
I would reccomend lisbon also if you really want some luxury.
cheers

@shushu


thanks

do you live in spain? what are the weather conditions like

salsera:

@mukina2

thanks for the information

i've actually looked found some hotels through tour sites(sunbeach hotel) but how does one pay for booking
can it be paid for when one arrives cos they dont seem to have their own websites
what's the exchange rate?

I guess you pay when you get there, the rates are not stable