MAKASUTU DAY TRIP

A Makasutu day trip is a popular full-day excursion in The Gambia that offers an immersive experience in a protected cultural forest reserve. The trip typically involves a guided forest walk, a traditional canoe ride along a mangrove creek, cultural demonstrations, and a Gambian lunch. 

Key Activities and Experiences

A typical full-day itinerary includes:

• Guided Forest Walk: Explore the "holy forest" and learn about local flora and fauna, including medicinal plants. Guides can help spot various bird species, monkeys, pygmy deer, and monitor lizards.

• Canoe Safari: Take a traditional "dug-out" canoe (pirogue) trip on the Mandina Bolong (a tributary of the River Gambia) to observe the mangrove ecosystems, diverse birdlife, and local women collecting oysters.

• Cultural Encounters: Meet local craftspeople, such as woodcarvers and potters. Visitors can also observe a palm wine tapper at work and sample the fresh local liquor, or have their fortune told by a traditional Marabout (fortune teller/medicine man).

• Traditional Lunch & Entertainment: Return to a base camp for an authentic Gambian buffet lunch, such as Benachin, Domada, or Yassa, often accompanied by traditional drumming and dancing performances.