Private Tour to Kunta Kinteh Island from Banjul by Boat

Ruins of a colonial fort on the Gambia River, a memorial to the transatlantic slave trade.

A private full-day tour from Banjul to Kunta Kinteh Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gambia River, with hotel pickup, guide, meals and transport by ferry, truck and traditional boat. The itinerary begins at the Roots Museum on the North Bank, moves through the island's haunting fort ruins, and returns via a three-hour river journey to Lamin Lodge, arriving back at your hotel by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kunta Kinteh Island and surroundings

• Pick up from hotel at 8:00 AM
• Drive to Banjul capital
• Ferry ride to North Bank
• Pickup truck to Roots Museum
• Tour Roots Museum and Kunta Kinteh's hometown
• Lunch at village restaurant
• Boat to Kunta Kinteh Island
• Explore ruins on Kunta Kinteh Island
• Three-hour boat ride on Gambia River
• Watch sunset at river tributary
• Arrive at Lamin Lodge
• Drop off at hotel for dinner

The experience

Hotel pickup at 8:00 AM starts the day. A 25-minute ferry crosses to the North Bank, where a pickup truck waits for a 45-minute drive to the Roots Museum. The museum explores West African history during the 15th to 19th centuries, when the transatlantic slave trade reached its peak. After the tour, lunch happens at a village restaurant near the local fishing port before you board a local boat bound for Kunta Kinteh Island.

An hour on the island lets you walk through the ruins of the colonial fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site that stands as a memorial to this history. The fort itself is what remains: the physical structure where this chapter of the past unfolded. Afterward, the return journey takes three hours by traditional boat, navigating the Gambia River. The route passes through a peaceful tributary where you watch the sunset before arriving at Lamin Lodge in the south. Your hotel drop-off follows, timed to get you back by dinner.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel and back.
• ferry crossing to the North Bank.
• entrance fee to the Roots Museum and Kunta Kinteh Island.
• lunch at a village restaurant.
• all boat transport including the three-hour river cruise to Lamin Lodge.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Telémaco Travel

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own group rather than joining strangers, and the pace and timing stay under your control. The full day (roughly 10 hours from pickup to hotel return) suits travelers who want to understand the history deeply rather than rush through highlights, and who are comfortable with a mix of museum time, driving and boat travel.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What is Kunta Kinteh Island and why does it matter historically?

Kunta Kinteh Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Gambia River, home to the ruins of a colonial fort that served as a holding point during the transatlantic slave trade. The fort stands as a memorial to that history, and the island itself is central to understanding West African experience during the 15th to 19th centuries.

How much time do I spend actually on Kunta Kinteh Island?

You spend an hour exploring the island's ruins and the fort site itself before returning to the boat for the journey back.

What does the Roots Museum cover?

The Roots Museum explores West African history and the transatlantic slave trade, showing what happened during the peak centuries of the trade from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

Does the tour include meals?

Yes, lunch is served at a village restaurant near the local fishing port after the Roots Museum visit and before boarding the boat to Kunta Kinteh Island.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour ends with a hotel drop-off timed for you to arrive back by dinner. The return journey includes a three-hour boat ride down the Gambia River to Lamin Lodge, then ground transport to your hotel.