2-Day Gambia to Senegal Tour: Stone Circles & River Wildlife

Ancient stone circles, a working fishing village, and hippos on the Gambia River in two days

This 2-day tour explores Gambia's culture and history with a certified guide who has over 20 years of experience. You visit a local fishing village in Buting, the Senegambian Stone Circles (the world's largest group of megalithic monuments), take a boat tour on the Gambia River to spot wildlife, and explore Georgetown's historical sites including the Freedom Tree and an underground prison. The tour includes private transportation, all meals, and one night at The Island Hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Local Village and Boat Tour

• Visit local fishing village Buting
• Shop at local markets
• Explore Senegambian Stone Circles
• Take boat tour on Gambia River
• Relax at The Island Hotel

Day 2: Georgetown City Tour

• Visit the Freedom Tree
• Tour historical sites along Gambia River
• Visit underground prison

The experience

The Senegambian Stone Circles are the anchor of day one. Built between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD, these ancient megaliths mark sacred burial grounds for Gambian and Senegalese kings and chiefs, and they form the largest group of stone circles anywhere in the world. Your guide will walk you through the site and explain what these monuments meant to the people who built them. Before that, you'll spend time in Buting, a local fishing village on the North bank of the Gambia, where you can browse the markets or simply watch how daily life unfolds in a traditional African settlement.

The boat tour on the Gambia River is where the wildlife appears. Hippos and chimpanzees live along the river, and the tour gives you a real chance to spot them in their habitat. Beyond the animals, the river itself is the draw: mangrove forests line the banks, and the landscape shifts as you travel deeper into the park. After a full day, you'll overnight at The Island Hotel and rest before day two.

Day two centers on Georgetown and the weight of Gambian history. The Freedom Tree is a physical reminder of the slave trade: enslaved people who reached it and touched it were legally granted their freedom, and the tree still stands as a symbol of resilience. You'll also visit historical sites along the river, including an underground prison, and your guide will provide context for what you're seeing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included both days, along with bottled water and private transportation throughout.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the two days.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner both days.
• bottled water.
• one night accommodation at The Island Hotel.
• a certified English-speaking guide with over 20 years of experience.
• and fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Maca Jobe Kunda Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to combine wildlife spotting on the river with ancient history and sites tied to the slave trade. The two-day format gives you time for each without rushing between stops. The certified guide's 20 years of experience means you'll get real context for what you're seeing, not just a list of places.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6).

What will I actually see on the boat tour along the Gambia River?

The Gambia River boat tour takes you through River Gambia National Park, where hippos and chimpanzees live in the wild. You'll also see the mangrove forests and natural landscape that line the banks, though wildlife sightings depend on the time of day and season.

How old are the Senegambian Stone Circles, and why were they built?

The Senegambian Stone Circles were built between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD. They are megaliths that mark sacred burial grounds for ancient kings and chiefs, and they form the largest group of stone circles in the world.

What happens on day two of the tour?

Day two is a Georgetown city tour focused on Gambian history. You visit the Freedom Tree, a site central to the slave trade where enslaved people who reached it were legally granted freedom, and you explore historical sites along the Gambia River including an underground prison.

Is the guide English-speaking, and what is their background?

Your guide is certified and speaks English. He has over 20 years of experience and will provide detailed information about Gambian culture, history and heritage throughout the two days.

What meals and accommodation are included?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included both days. You'll spend one night at The Island Hotel, and bottled water is provided throughout the tour. Private transportation is included for all travel between sites.