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The Gambia Birding Group | |
August 2006 The north bank road is still your best
option if travelling up river.
 A ferry not to be missed
Vehicle hire up river We found Karafa Minteh reliable in December 2003. He has a comfortable minibus and would charge 2,000 dalasies per day for a trip up to Basse/Georgetown of three or more days duration. This includes driver and petrol but you would need to provide accommodation and food. If you want to make a two day dash then he would charge 9,000 dalasies - not as mad as it seems if you consider the state of the road and the wear and tear on the vehicle. He can be contacted on 912540
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To and From The Gambia Charter Flights from the UK
www.gambia.co.uk Email: holidays@gambia.co.uk For details of special deals telephone 0238073 0888. UK address 38 Massetts Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 7D Telephone 01293 822922 Fax 01293 531056. Around
The Gambia
Public transport is very good value but tends not to suit birders who want to stop en-route. We beleive public buses still run to Basse on the road on the south side road, but we understand the express buses have been withdrawn. Tourist taxis and car hire are not cheap (unless you are comparing with London prices). You should check that the driver's licence and insurance are up to date. The prices of tourist taxis are fixed so your trip isn't spoilt by the prospect of the lively and probably noisy negotiations when it comes to settling up. However, if you feel confident about dealing with this you can flag down a town taxi. Bush Taxis are usually minibuses travelling on fixed routes. They depart when full - guessing which one will leave next is impossible - just try and pick the fullest (but this means you get the least comfortable seat). For longer independent trips most birders tend to use a taxi driver they have already met, whose driving and car they feel comfortable with for a long journey on bad roads. You do need to check that they are properly insured and should recognise that there will be sites that you will be unable to reach in an ordinary taxi. The most secure option, with proper public liability insurance is to hire a vehicle and driver from one of the tour companies. West Africa Tours offer a package of 4 WD vehicle, driver and guide, petrol included, around the peninsular area including Marikissa, with your being responsible for petrol beyond this. This arrangement ensures that you don't miss out on birding if the vehicle does suffer damage on the rather exciting roads - if it is not immediately repairable West African Tours will get another vehicle out to you asap - particularly important if you are travelling up river. Contact West African Tours Tel + 220 495258 fax +220 496118 email:watours@gamtel.gm.www.westafricantours.com. They can also book accommodation for you and all services can be prepaid in the UK. Birdfinders
can also arrange for a vehicle with guide from Habitat Africa, based
on a Gambia Experience package booked through them. For more
information click here Vaughan
Ashby, Westbank, Cheselbourne, Dorset, DT2 7NW, UK. Telephone/fax
(01258) 839066.
Habitat Africa can arrange vehicle and guide together with accommodation upriver. Telephone (++220) 907694 or email habitatafrica@hotmail.com Car hire. The general advice for travelling up-country is bear in mind that car hire is expensive, the conditions of roads and vehicles make it important that you should be confident driving on dirt roads and have some basic mechanical knowledge, including wheel changing skills. Flight/accommodation packages together with transport for birding trips can be booked through Birdfinders - for more information click here |