2-day Georgetown tour: Baboon Island and slave history

Traverse Stone Circles and slave history, then boat to where hippos and chimpanzees live

A 2-day Georgetown tour that combines Gambian history and wildlife in one overnight trip. Day 1 takes you by Land Rover through rural Gambia to the Stone Circles, then to Georgetown Island to explore the underground slave house, Freedom Tree, and slave warehouse before a boat ride to Baboon Island in River Gambia National Park, where you watch for chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, baboons and birds. You sleep at a local camp on the island with all meals provided. Day 2 brings breakfast, a morning on the island, and a return journey with stops at a local village. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Stone Circles, Georgetown, Baboon Island

• Drive through rural Gambia
• Visit Stone Circles UNESCO site
• Explore Georgetown Island historical sites
• Tour underground slave house and Freedom Tree
• Visit slave warehouse
• Boat trip to Baboon Island
• Wildlife watching: chimpanzees, hippos, birds
• Overnight at local camp on Georgetown Island

Day 2: Breakfast, Village Visit, Return

• Breakfast at camp
• Enjoy morning tranquility on island
• Visit local village
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour opens with a drive through rural Gambia toward the Stone Circles, a UNESCO World Heritage site that marks the ancient past of the region. From there you reach Georgetown Island, where the physical remnants of Gambia's role in the transatlantic slave trade stand: the underground slave house, the Freedom Tree, the old wooden house, and the slave warehouse. These are not museum pieces behind glass. They are the actual structures on the island, and the guide walks you through what each one represents.

In the afternoon, you board a boat to Baboon Island, part of River Gambia National Park. The island sits in the river itself, and the wildlife there (chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, baboons, monkeys, and bird species) moves through its own habitat while you watch from the water. You return to the camp on Georgetown Island in the evening, where dinner and a night's accommodation wait. Breakfast and lunch are included both days, and the local cuisine is part of the experience.

Day 2 starts with breakfast at the camp and a final morning on the island before the return journey. On the way back to your hotel, the route includes stops at a local village, giving a different angle on Gambian life than the historical sites of Day 1. The Land Rover and guide stay with you throughout. Hotel pickup and drop-off bracket the whole trip.

What’s included

• Private Land Rover transport throughout the 2 days.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• guided city tour of Georgetown Island with visits to the underground slave house, Freedom Tree, old wooden house, and slave warehouse.
• boat trip to Baboon Island in River Gambia National Park.
• overnight accommodation at a local camp on Georgetown Island.
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner both days.
• non-alcoholic beverages.
• live guide in English, Spanish, French, or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 23 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Black & White Safari

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the starting point. The overnight camp on the island settles the question of where to stay if you're visiting Georgetown without your own accommodation. The tour handles both the travel and the lodging in one booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

What wildlife might I see on the boat trip to Baboon Island?

Baboon Island in River Gambia National Park is home to chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles, baboons, monkeys, and a variety of bird species. You watch them from the boat in their natural habitats.

What are the historical sites on Georgetown Island?

Georgetown Island holds the underground slave house, the Freedom Tree, an old wooden house, and a slave warehouse: structures that document Gambia's history in the transatlantic slave trade. The guide explains the significance of each one.

Where do I sleep, and what meals are provided?

You stay overnight at a local camp on Georgetown Island. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all included both days, with local cuisine served and vegetarian options available if you request them when booking.

Does the tour include the Stone Circles?

Yes. Day 1 begins with a scenic drive through rural Gambia to the Stone Circles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before continuing to Georgetown Island.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, and you travel throughout in a Land Rover with the guide.