Full-Day Safari in Senegal from Banjul: Fathala Wildlife Reserve

Cross into Senegal and track wildlife across the Fathala reserve in a single day.

A full-day safari tour from Banjul that crosses the Banjul to Barra ferry into Senegal, then enters Fathala wildlife reserve by land rover to search for rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, antelope and ostrich. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a local guide, lunch and bottled water. A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required. Children from age 3 are welcome when accompanied by paying adults. An optional Lion Walk add-on is available with a 1.5-metre height restriction.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day safari and wildlife experience

• Travel by land rover to ferry crossing
• Cross Banjul to Barra ferry
• Continue by land rover to Fathala reserve
• See rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, antelope, ostrich
• Visit local village
• Enjoy included lunch
• Return journey by land rover

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Banjul hotel and a drive to the ferry crossing, where you board with locals heading into Senegal. The crossing itself gives a direct look at everyday life on both sides. Once across, the land rover continues inland to Fathala wildlife reserve, where the real search begins. Bring binoculars. The reserve holds rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, antelope and ostrich, and spotting them depends on patience and a good pair of eyes scanning the landscape.

Your guide navigates the reserve roads and explains what you're seeing as the day unfolds. The route back takes the same ferry crossing again, so you experience the transition twice: morning heading out, afternoon heading home. Lunch is included and served during the day. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when booking. The full journey, there and back, sits within a single day, which means the ferry crossing and the reserve time both fit without rushing either one.

An optional Lion Walk can be added at checkout if you want closer contact with big cats. This add-on carries a height requirement of 1.5 metres. Hotel drop-off closes the day, leaving you back in Banjul by evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• local guide throughout the day.
• land rover transport to and from the ferry and through Fathala reserve.
• lunch with a vegetarian option available on request.
• bottled water.

Options for this experience

2 options

A full-day safari in Senegal07:00Duration: 8 hours. Includes lunch and 4WD transport. Pickup is included.

Full-day safari with a lion walk07:00The lion walk means exactly what it says: after some brief initial training, you get to walk alongside lions. Duration: 1 hour. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 9.47

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Black & White Safari

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine a ferry crossing experience with wildlife viewing in a single full day: the Land Rover transport connects both in one itinerary rather than as separate outings.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What animals can I actually see at Fathala wildlife reserve?

Fathala holds rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, antelope and ostrich. Sightings depend on where the animals are on the day you visit, so binoculars are essential for spotting them across the reserve.

How does the ferry crossing work? Do I need to do anything special?

The Banjul to Barra ferry crossing is part of the tour route, and you board with the guide and driver. It's a working ferry carrying everyday traffic between Gambia and Senegal, so you'll see local life in motion. No special documents or arrangements are needed beyond your tour booking.

Is lunch included, and can I request vegetarian food?

Lunch is included in the full-day tour. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know when you book if you need one.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the local guide, bottled water, lunch and all land rover transport are included. Bring binoculars. They make the difference between spotting wildlife and missing it entirely.