The Gambia

We left the uninspiring Kaolack just as the sun was rising and in time to strike the ‘traffic jams’. Sad to be saying goodbye to the hotel but happy to be on our way to The Gambia, the place that bought me to this part of the world. 

The drive was uninspiring to say the least with main item of interest being the piles of rubbish on the sides of the road. 

Arriving at the Gambia/Senegal border we quickly got stamped out of Senegal, drove for a bit then stopped to give our passports to The Gambia immigration officials housed in tiny offices off the main square. Mine went into the no visa required pile, as a Citizen of a Commonwealth country kiwis are visa exempt (and also visa fee exempt) or so their website says. 

It wasn’t long before I was summonsed to pay the fee to be able to get my visa. I argued that I didn’t need one (as per the website) and was told that the website was hacked and it was wrong. The official showed me the words New Zealand listed in the section that said visas were required. It had New Zealand listed under Australia (which is exempt) together with a pile of countries that certainly in our neck of the woods. Out of frustration I paid the money and after a very long wait got my visa for 28 days. Those that were visa exempt only got a 7 day allowance. 

Thank goodness that was over and done with and we drove away from the statue sellers, the cashew nit sellers and the immigration officials over an hour after we arrived. 

Our trip took us down a very bumpy, very sandy unsealed road for a couple of hours till we arrived at Jufureh. By this stage we were all starving so our programme was changed to give us a chance for lunch. If we had gone looking we would have never found this restaurant but here it was in the middle of nowhere with great food and great English spoken service. Fish baked in tinfoil for 4 minutes and 7 seconds, perfectly seasoned and accompanied with fries was a bit yumm and worth waiting for. 

Jurufeh was made famous by the book “Roots”, written by Alex Hayley. There is very little there; the restaurant, a few statues in memory of those lost to the slave trade, a tiny museum, the wharf (with the alluminium handy man’s ladder) and lots of sand. 

We barely had time to swallow the last morsel of our lunch when we were whisked off to board our komore by way of a stepladder, partially extended and held together with string. Ok then. 

The boat took us half way across the river to Kunta Kinteh island (formerly James’ Island) an island where slaves were help prior to their extradition to the US in 1767.  Once there were shown around the remnants of the slaves quarters which were still in reasonable condition.

It was so hot I couldn’t wait to leave. 

Getting back on the boat was a bit easier as there were concrete steps leading most the way down. One of the locals bought his drum along and played music as we went. It was fun but even more fun when we got back and had to climb the ladder again. 

Next stop a museum which I didnt even go in to.  It was hot, the museum full of kids and I was over the day!!!!!

Another two hour drive along terrible roads and we arrive at the ferry stop and waited, and waited, and waited. We waited over an hour, stuck in the bus which fluctuated hot and cold, then mosquitos and sweat. Apparently the ferry we were waiting for was not stabilised so we had to wait and wait. 

We eventually boarded more than twelve hours after we had left Kaolack this morning and other than about an hour on the island trip we have been sat in this bloody bus. Ok we coukdnt help the delay for the ferry but the trip had obviously not been recced to see how long it took, where we should turn off and where we shouldn’t or whether it was worth such a long day. G-Adventures you have a lot to learn and you wont be practising on me again. Pissed off is not the words I would usually used but this is a family blog so I have kept it polite.  

Yay, it is 8:30pm and we have just driven off the ferry to now find our hotel. We are tired, smelly and hanging out for a beer and food. 

Ha ha ha. The beer flowed quickly but the only food available was a buffet and there was no way I was partaking. After a few harsh words a lovely lady came to my rescue and made me a divine omelet with some fresh fries   Yipee. It was even netter when she only charged me $6 for the privilege.