Jinack Excursion from Hotel
Visit Jinack island for the day!
Jinack Lodge Island Tour and Beach
Day trips direct from your mainland hotel.
There is so much to see and do in The Gambia and it would be a shame to spend all your holiday locked in your hotel grounds and not explore this wonderful country and all it has to offer! One of those amazing trips is a day out with us on Jinack Island and a day at the lodge away from it all! No hustle bustle here! No mither, no problems just relax!
Jinack island Excursion from Hotel
Jinack island Excursion from Hotel
Leave your hotel and explore Jinack with us.. We will pick you up and drop you back!
Leave your hotel and explore Jinack with us.. We will pick you up and drop you back!
The ferry is the busiest crossing point in the Gambia, and it is not uncommon that you will see herdsmen on top of open backed trucks carry, cows, goats, chickens, and various other livestock. Equally you will experience a typical Gambian morning, with children crossing for school, woman with their produce and items to sell at Barra market.
Jinack Island is also known by locals as 'Paradise Island and Coconut Island!
Jinack Island is also known by locals as 'Paradise Island and Coconut Island!
Trip itinerary
1/ Pick up from your hotel at 7:30.
2/ Board local ferry (usually 8:30) have breakfast.
4/ Arrive in Barra 9:30 approx.,
5/ Board jeep for Jinack Island, also known as ‘Coconut’ and ‘Paradise Island’
This is not before passing through the atmospheric, bustling, colourful, Barra Market, where you will see local traders buying and selling…
Barra is the busiest town in the ‘North Bank Region’ here you will witness the start of a customary Gambian morning, where traders from as far as Dakar and Kaolack (Senegal,) – to the border towns of Farafeni and Karang, all rushing to catch the early morning ferry to Banjul.
6/ Drive through ‘Numi National Park’ stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. The area is often frequented by troops of Red, Green Colobus and Pathrax monkeys.
Proceeding to the crossing point on the mangroves. There you will be met by a local boy from the island in a small dugout canoe, who will then ferry you across to the island (a small nominal fee/tip D50 is usually given for this service)
When reaching the Island, there are two options for getting to the lodge situated approximately 30 mins walk on the opposite side of the Island.
Option 1/ Take a 30min walk across the island passing through the village of Niggi experiencing a traditional way of village life that has survived through the ages.
Option 2/ Board our boat, take a 50min boat journey round the Island to the beach in front Jinack Lodge, passing the 3 villages of Kajatta, Jattako, and Barra (Jattako, being the oldest village on the Island, and is situated on the Senegalese side of the Island), a small history talk will be given as we travel, pointing out places of historical importance, and significance, and other places (newly built School and Clinic etc)
Either option takes you through or past local villages and lets you witness a typical village life style that has existed for decades.
For those who choose to walk will experience the Islands traditional mode of transport ‘The Donkey and Cart’.
On arrival at the lodge 9:30 – 10:30 where we will have drinks, and you can relax on the beach, swim, or swing in one of our hammocks situated around the lodge.
7/ A buffet style Lunch will be served at 2:00. After lunch, relax for half an hour, then proceed with the journey back to your hotel via the arrival route, catching the 5 o’clock Ferry, returning to your hotel between 6:00 – 7:00.
Note: there are optional return routes,
1/ 20 min jeep drive down the beach to Barra, to ferry terminal, but this is only possible at ‘Low Tide’
2/ Board the boat in front of the lodge; take a 30 – 45min boat journey straight to our pick-up point ‘City Wharf Restaurant’ Banjul, where you may be fortunate enough to spot dolphins swimming alongside the boat as you travel, usually Dec – Feb.
Other recommended excursion from the lodge