Makasutu Forest Walk & Boat Tour: Palm Wine Tasting in Gambia

A fortune teller and a palm wine tapper are part of the same morning.

Makasutu Eco Adventure is a guided day trip through Gambia's forest and waterways near Banjul, combining a forest walk or boat journey (depending on tide), encounters with a traditional fortune teller and palm wine tapper, and lunch. The tour runs 7 hours from hotel pickup, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French or German, and includes transportation, meals and non-alcoholic beverages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Makasutu forest and waterways

• Arrive at Makasutu eco destination
• Enjoy complimentary coffee
• Take guided forest walk or boat trip
• Spot baboons and bird species
• Visit traditional fortune teller for palm reading
• See palm wine tapper demonstration
• Taste fresh palm juice
• Try climbing palm tree to tap wine

The experience

The tour starts 40 minutes from your hotel with complimentary coffee on arrival at Makasutu, an ecotourism reserve built around the forest and its waterways. Depending on the tide, you'll either walk through the forest or drift by boat. Your guide decides which makes sense that day. Either way, you're moving through the same landscape: mangrove channels, open water, and the dense vegetation where baboons move through the canopy and different bird species nest and feed. The guide points out what lives here and how, and you'll spot local fishermen casting nets and oyster collectors working the shallows.

The cultural part of the day comes next. You'll meet a traditional fortune teller who does palm readings, then visit a palm wine tapper who demonstrates how to climb a palm tree to harvest the sap. The demonstration is the real thing. You get the chance to try climbing yourself if you want to. Afterward, you taste fresh palm juice, and lunch follows. Non-alcoholic beverages are included throughout.

Transportation is private, so your group travels together from pickup to drop-off. A minimum of two adults per booking applies, and children from age 3 are welcome. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when you book. Let the operator know about any allergies as well.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• local guide.
• complimentary coffee on arrival.
• forest walk or boat journey depending on tide.
• encounter with a traditional fortune teller and palm wine tasting demonstration.
• lunch.
• non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day.
• live commentary in your choice of English, Spanish, French or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 10 years): free · Under 3: 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.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Black & White Safari

Is this one for you?Book this as a small group or family of at least two adults, especially if you want a full day that mixes nature spotting with cultural encounters and doesn't require you to arrange your own transport from the hotel.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

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

What's the difference between the forest walk and the boat trip on this tour?

The tide determines which one happens on the day you visit. Both routes move through the same landscape (mangroves, waterways, and forest), and both include the same guide commentary and wildlife spotting. The operator chooses the option that works best for the water level that day.

Can I actually climb the palm tree myself, or is it just a demonstration?

The palm wine tapper gives a demonstration of how to climb and tap the tree, and you have the chance to try climbing yourself if you want to. It's not required, but the option is there.

What animals and birds might I see at Makasutu?

Baboons move through the forest canopy, and the reserve is home to different bird species that nest and feed in the mangroves and forest. You'll also see local fishermen and oyster collectors working the waterways, which are part of the daily life of the ecosystem.

Is lunch included, and can I request vegetarian food?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know when you book if you need one, and mention any food allergies at the same time.

How far is Makasutu from my hotel, and who arranges the pickup?

Makasutu is about 40 minutes from your hotel. Private transportation and hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour, so the operator handles all the logistics.