During our 2017 cruise to the Seychelles, I discovered that the cruise line was resuming trips to Senegal and The Gambia in West Africa.
It piqued my interest because 10 years ago, we flew through French speaking Senegal on our way to South Africa on our honeymoon. We had looked out the window upon landing in Dakar, Senegal to re-fuel before continuing to Johannesburg and it looked a little rough.
Little did I know that 10 years later we would be back in Senegal, the western most point of Africa to board a boat for an epic adventure that would change our lives forever.
Come to find out, Senegal isn’t rough at all! We trusted our Airbnb host when she said it was safe and suggested we take a taxi at 11:00 p.m. from the airport for a 95 minute ride to a small beach. We then boarded a water taxi to the tiny island of Ngor where we stayed for 2 nights before our cruise was scheduled to set sail.
We quickly adapted to life in Senegal by strolling around the island and chatting with the locals who sell Senegalese jewelry and craft. We learned that the island is home to the “N’Gor Right” that was surfed in the movie “The Endless Summer.”
In its history, Dakar Senegal was an major stop on Atlantic trade routes from Africa to Europe and the Americas. We had a chance to visit The House of Slaves on Goree Island, which now stands as a memorial to the Atlantic slave trade.
We boarded our boat, the Harmony G, which we called home for the next 7 days. With only 21 cabins, guests from all over the world became a tight family who laughed, shared stories and looked out for one another.
We visited the island of Joal Faidouth, which lies on a bed of clamshells. It’s also known for having the only cemetery where Muslims and Christians are buried together.
Our next stop was Banjul, the capital city of Gambia. With its bustling streets and colorful markets, this was one of my favorite stops.
After a long few days of travel, while in port, I snuck off to the Coco Ocean Resort for a Hammam, my favorite treatment that is a combination of sauna, exfoliation and massage. The grounds of the resort were stunning with its marble floors and columns, refreshing indoor and outdoor swimming pools and trickling fountains. I only wish I’d had more time to spend there.
Another highlight of the trip was a quick stop at Kunta Kinteh Island, which was an important site in the West Africa slave trade and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We learned about the history of the island and then sat on the beach and sifted through the sand and rocks to find beads that were left over from the clothes of the people who had come through that island.
The remaining days of our cruise involved the villages we were so graciously invited in to explore, the children we met, humanitarianism, and a film festival in the most unlikely of places. I hold these memories close to my heart and I believe deserve a story of their own.
What adventures did we have? And what life-changing project are we taking on because of it? Wait for my next blog post to find out!
