Taste of the Kombo

The day starts at Katchically crocodile pool where we may be fortunate to see ‘Charlie’ the crocodile featured in several British TV programmes. The history of this holy place will be told to you by your guide.

The next stop will be the Botanical Gardens where a variety of African flora and fauna are to be found, a guide is on hand for information and to answer any queries you may have.

Moving on to Bakau Craft Market to see craftsmen at work and an opportunity to buy the exquisite wooden carvings produced. A welcome stop for refreshments will be at one of the local bars where you can buy a Julbrew, soft drink or water.

From here we move on to Serrekunda, the most densely populated town in The Gambia to see the skill and fascinating process of producing tie-dye and batik cottons. Next the hustle and bustle of Serrekunda market where the locals do their shopping from a vast array of goods necessary for everyday life.

On our return journey we will visit the school for the blind before being dropped off at the hotels by around 2pm.

If you look for peace, harmony and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign. 

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia!

Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com

Bush Tracker's Breakfast

 The idea behind this excursion is to give people more insight into the wild animals of the Gambia/Makasutu, allowing more time to track the animals, and explore the forest and habitats within it.

This experience is aimed at people with an interest in wildlife, and is more specialized than the existing day trip.

Breakfast will be a true African bush adventure. The guests will be given flat spades (shovels) to cook their own breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, and tomatoes over small campfires (Alternatively, the chef can cook this in the Kitchen if some guests wish). After some relaxation a return to the Hotels is organized in plenty of time for lunch.

Arrive at Makasutu "Base Camp" around sunrise for tea/coffee and the dawn chorus from the birds. Small groups (no more than 6 per guide) will set out for the "Big Forest" searching for tracks and spoor, which will then set the direction that the excursion will take.

A deeper knowledge of the habitats and behavior of the animals will be gained, and also a chance to visit the forest at a time when most activity is taking place.

If you are looking for peace, harmony, privacy and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign.

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia

Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com

Gambia 4X4 Adventure

An off the beaten track adventure following the coast and also uncovering the Gambian village way of life. Probably the most popular tour in The Gambia!

An off the beaten track adventure in either an army style truck or Land Rover which follows the coast of this exciting country and also uncovers the Gambian village way of life. This can be a dusty and bumpy day but is well worth it.

During the day there will be the opportunity to visit some villages and experience the hospitality of the friendly locals. A visit to a village school always proves to be one of the highlights of the day (any contributions of pens, pencils, books etc are always gratefully received by the head teacher). Before lunch we visit a local palm wine compound where you will learn how palm wine is tapped and offered a taste to sample. Lunch is served on one of the unspoilt beaches in the south of the country, followed by the chance to swim and sunbathe.

In the afternoon a further stop at the Tanji museum gives the chance to learn more about traditional Gambian culture. Finally we drive past a typical fishing village before heading back to the hotels.

Unscheduled stops are made during the day to observe the antics of chattering monkeys and hopefully baboons in their treetop playgrounds. Many exotic and colourful species of birds can also be spotted and admired.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the real Gambia and enjoy a totally different way of life! 


If you are looking for peace, harmony, privacy and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign.

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia
Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com

Senegal Treasure Island

A full day excursion to the treasure island Janack, taking you through the countryside of The Gambia and neighbouring Senegal.

The day kicks off with an early morning trip to Banjul to experience the hustle and bustle of the port before embarking on the ferry for the 45 minute crossing to Barra on the North Bank of The River Gambia. Fery times can be erratic and are ofton crowded.

After our rendez-vous with our 4WD truck and a quick breakfast stop our journey continues to the short distance to the Senegalise border crossing where you will go through passport control at the village of Bakindakotu. Then after a scenic 30-45 minute we arrive at Janack island where a beach picnic lunch has been prepared for us. We recommend sensible walking shoes and sun hat and protection and try not to use open sandals as the sand can be quite hot.

After lunch there is time to chill out and maybe take a dip in the sea before setting off back to the otherside of the island to catch the boat back for our return journey. We arrive back at your hotel between 6pm and 8pm.

NB: DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORTS. Non-Eu passport holders will require a visa, which must be applied for in person and takes around 3 working days approximately.

If you are looking for peace, harmony, privacy and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign.

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia

Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com

Sports Fishing

We collect you from your residence and take you to Denton Bridge where the boats leave at 10:00hrs depending on the weather and water conditions. We will troll to catch Barracuda or bottom fishing to catch Threadfin Salmon (captain fish). Red Snapper, Grouper, Cassava, Stingray, Guitarfish, etc. Lunch is provided on board, drinks are for sale. All the boats are fully insured.

We reach Denton Bridge around 17.00hrs where the transport is waiting to take us back to the hotels.

If you are looking for peace, harmony, privacy and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign.

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia

Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com

Visit Senegal

Senegal lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and enjoys a steady warm year round climate, with a short rainy season between the months of June and September.

As such it provides the perfect weather for a lazy beach holiday, especially in the Saly region just south of Dakar; but Senegal also has three mighty rivers and these provide a good deal of fertile land and some wonderfully intricate coastal lagoons and waterways that are a joy to explore.

And because of this abundance of water and fertility it supports a great wealth of wildlife including numerous birds from coastal waders to large raptors, and various mammal species such as warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, baboons, manatees and dolphins.

Climate
Senegal has marked contrasts in climate. The coastal region, except in Casamance, is equable, with low rainfall and high humidity. Inland, the climate is drier, ranging to the semi-desert of the Sahel region in the east. The wet season is from June to September, rather shorter in the north and longer in the south, especially near the coast.

Visas
Citizens of countries member of the European Union (EU) now need a visa to travel to Senegal for up to three months stay. Visas are also not required for citzens of Canada Israel Japan Taiwan United States . Cost 52 Euros

People
The population was estimated in 2002 at about 9,8 millions , of which a quarter live in the agglomeration of Dakar, it is composed of many ethnics.

The Wolofs, are the most represented (35%), they make up the majority in all the regions, especially in the centre, the north and the coast of Dakar and Saint Louis. The farmers and the merchants, of Muslim faith for the majority, there importance is certain in the nations economy. The Lebous, established in fishing communities in the peninsula of Cap-Vert and in Saint Louis are related.

The Pulaar (20%), is composed of the Foulbes, Peuls and Toucouleurs, in the northern Senegal, the Fouta Toro, historical source for the propagation of Islam in Senegal, make up the cultural birthplace, they are very active in the commercial domain, as well as breeding and irrigated farming. they populate the Senegalese river valley and the Ferlo region.

The Sereres (17%) are less scattered out than the other ethnic groups. They can be found in the Sine-Saloum, along the Small Coast, in the centre of countries and north-west of the Gambia. The majority are Muslim, except for those along the Small Coast. The Diolas (10%) can be found in the Casamance, but also in Gambia and the Guinea-Bissau. Oriented rather to the culture of rice, they are for the majority animist and/or Christians in the basse Casamance region (Ziguinchor, Oussouye, Cap Skiring), and musulmans in the north and east.

Other than the main ethnic groups, we find the Mandingues of Eastern Senegal, the Soninkes very present in the east of the country and in the zones adjacent to the Mali and the Mauritania, the Bassari which live mainly by the culture of the millet and corn, of the picking and hunting, between the Guinea border and the limit of the Niokolo-Koba national park.

You may already be a fan of Senegalese music, or you may well already be a fan of Senegalese music without realising it. For a relatively small country they have produced a startling amount of fabulous music, and much that has crossed over the ‘world music’ divide into the consciousness of Western musical audiences.

Naming Ceremonies
These are great lively occasions that are well worth a look if you have the opportunity. This normally takes place one week after the child is born. The elders of the village gather together in the morning and name the baby whilst slaying either a chicken, goat, sheep or cow depending on the wealth of the family. Then the rest of the village is invited to join in and the party continues long into the night. There are displays of dancing and singing and collections for the new baby continue throughout the event - so we recommend that if ever invited you take along plenty of small notes.

Tabaski
Tabaski is probably the most important celebration in the Muslim calendar and is marked by a two-day public holiday. Muslims kill a ram to commemorate when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God.

Ramadan
This is a 30-day festival that takes place each and every year in the ninth month of the lunar calendar. During this period all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing and any kind of tobacco use.

Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to thank and appreciate all of God's bounties.

Music
A few names for you: Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Orchestra Baobab – and these are just the artists that have made that crossover; you’ll find that music is such a presence in Senegal, and such a crucial part of the very fabric of life that it will form a soundtrack to your holiday, a soundtrack for your memories. 

ATTRACTIONS

The Bandia Nature Reserve
Is a small but perfectly formed game reserve, situated 40 miles from Dakar near Saly and M’bour.

You can enter the reserve either in your own car or in one of the Reserve’s 4WD vehicles and hire the services of one of the skilled guides to see some typical African savannah animals: Giraffe, White Rhino, Zebra, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Kudu, Oryx, Impala, Cape Eland, Lord Derby Eland, Kob Antelope, West African Forest Buffalo, Wart Hog, Crocodiles, Green Vervet Monkeys and Patas Monkeys.

Dakar
Is the capital of Senegal, located on the Cape Verde Peninsula, on the country's Atlantic coast. It is Senegal's largest city. Its position, on the western edge of Africa, is an advantageous departure point for trans-Atlantic and European trade; this fact aided its growth into a major regional port.

Kermel Market
Many women go to the colourful Kermel Market to sell a variety of flowers: marigolds, zinnias and sunflowers. The flowers are primarily for western tourists. At Kermel Market, a hot spot for foreign visitors from the West and Asia, vendors have been selling their goods since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Lac Rose
Lac Rose (The Pink Lake) surrounded by dunes, is a large shallow lagoon 10 times saltier than the ocean and is renowned for its pink hue when the sun is high. The colour is due to a high concentration of minerals in the water. Senegal’s answer to the Dead Sea, you can swim here or effortlessly float on the surface. There is a small-scale salt-collecting industry on the southern side of the lake which is also worth a visit.

Marche Sandanga
The Marche Sandanga (Sandanga Market) is a labrynth of stalls selling anything from Senegalese music casettes to freshly plucked chickens. You can buy just about anything here, although don’t expect too many souvenir stalls. Colourful and vibrant cloth and clothing are a major attraction of this traditional market, drawing in many visitors.

Palais Présidential
The Palais Présidentiel (Presidential Palace) is a white building dating back to 1906 and encompassing strikingly lovely gardens. Guards in their Presidential uniforms guard the outside and pose with tourists for pictures.

Village Artisanal
One of the most popular places for buying souvenirs is the government-sponsored Village Artisanal (Village of Traditional Handicrafts), near the fishing beach of Soumbédioune. You'll find a tremendous display of wooden carvings, metal work, gold and silver jewellery, ivory, tablecloths, blankets, leather goods and clothing, but a lot of the goods are turned around very quickly and you have to search hard for good-quality pieces.

Goree Island
To the east of Dakar, about 3km offshore, is Île de Gorée, one of the earliest European settlements along this part of coast. Today it is a haven of history and peace within easy reach of Dakar via ferry which departs every two hours during the daylight.

Local Art & Crafts
You will find a variety of traditional vibrant, colourful fabrics and canvasses, together with wooden carvings and instruments on display on the island produced by local artists.

The Old Slave Trading Station
With its colonial brick-structures and sand-blown, bougainvillea-flushed alleyways, this island is a haven of tranquillity. But there's a sad background to all this calm beauty - Île de Gorée used to be an important slave trading station, and many visitors come here for traces of this tragic past. Maison des Esclaves (Slave House) is a museum dedicated to the slave era.

The Fort
The Fort stands as a reminder of the Second World War. Here visitors can see a memorial statue and the original heavy metal war guns, and view a red buoy out in the sea marking where a British ship was sunk by the guns during the war. You can find out more about the effects of the war on Gorée Island by visiting the island’s museum of history. There is also the opportunity to visit a traditional African mosque.

Saint Louis
The Saint Louis region of Senegal sits just off the border with Mauritania. Famous for its cast iron bridge, put in by French colonialists in the 19th century, it is close to the Djoudj National Park, home to thousands of birds, some indigenous to the area. The city is also famed for its culinary roots, being the home to Senegal's national dish: Ceb-u-djen - rice and fish.

The Governor’s Palace
The Governor’s Palace is an 18th century fort, and now a government building. Place Faidherbe, with its statue of the famous French colonial governor, sits in front of the Governor’s Palace.

Guet N’Dar Fishing Village
In the fishing part of the town, Guet N’Dar, pirogues are lined up on the beach and fish dry on racks by the side of the road. Women boil up fish in vast drums, and the steam mixes odorously with the early morning sea mist. A little further south is the Muslim cemetery, where each fisherman’s grave is covered with a fishing net.

Réserve de Faune de Guembeul
This reserve is small, accessible and easy to explore by foot. It’s about 8 miles south of St Louis. The landscape is a mixture of lagoons, mud flats and dry woodland protecting the population of endangered Sahel animals, which include Dama Gazelles, Patas Monkeys and Sulcata Tortoises. There are also many birds around the lagoon – 190 species have been spotted here – and there are plans to introduce other Sahel mammals into the reserve.

If you are looking for peace, harmony, privacy and a friendly atmosphere we invite you to be our Guest at Harmony House Apartments in Kerr Serign.

Your Tropical Oasis in The Gambia

Facilities and Services
Gas cooker,fridge/freezer,Fully equipped kitchen,Sat TV,Ceiling Fans,A/C, Private Veranda, Solar Backup,Secured Parking,Maid Service, 24 Hour Security,  Concierge Services, Airport pick-up, Local Guides,Tours, 4x4 Rental, Bird Watching, Sports Fishing and much more!

HARMONY HOUSE APARTMENTS
Furnished self-catering apartments
Kerr Serrign (near coconuts residence)
2 bedrooms flats
Satellite TV Solar Back Up
Your Tropical Oasis
The Gambia, West Africa
+220 799 3244 
+220 992 3244
gambiaharmony@gmail.com