The Rivers of West Africa Discover Gorée Island and the Charm, Culture & Wildlife of the Gambia River on board Harmony V • January 20–February 1, 2015 We invite you to join Lyn Mair, our naturalist enormous number of birds, from white-faced from South Africa, as she returns to West Africa whistling duck to storks, egrets, ibis, and pelicans, to lead our group on board the 25-cabin motor- as well as manatees, crocodiles, and monkeys. yacht Harmony V. This trip gives us a way to We will continue upriver to Kuntaur and explore a part of the world most of us have Janjanbureh (historic Georgetown), a sleepy not seen, in all of the comfort of Harmony V. former colonial administrative center. We will The trip will begin with a pretrip to Dakar to visit villages, and motor by pirogue on the river. visit Gorée Island, an historic point where slaves See African dance groups and learn about their were shipped to the American Continent, now instruments and music. a memorial with excellent museums. This will be a We will also visit Lac Rose, just north of Dakar, terrific adventure which is famous for its pink color (due to algae) to a special part of and as the end point of the famous Paris to Dakar the world! Road Race. We will explore on camels or dune We hope you buggies, and have lunch under an open African will join us and tent with traditional music. take advantage of On board M/Y Harmony V, we will explore the this opportunity! Sine-Saloun Delta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and an important area for breeding waterbirds, including 30,000 pairs of royal terns. Margaret Betchart We will then sail south to explore the 700-mile- President, Betchart long Gambia River, including Banjul, the capital Expeditions Inc. of The Gambia, and historic St. James Island as For AAAS Travels, we proceed up the Gambia River. Sigma Xi & ACS Our journey on the Gambia River will include Expeditions the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve, with an Itinerary Days 1/2 Washington Dulles to Dakar Depart Washington Dulles Int’l. Airport in late afternoon for Dakar, Senegal. Arrive on the morning of Day 2. Transfer to our Hotel (3 nights). Enjoy a welcome lunch and afternoon at leisure. (L) Day 3 Dakar – Lac Rose This morning, we will travel an hour from Dakar to visit the famous Lac Rose, which is north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal. Lac Rose is the ending point of the famous Paris–Dakar Rally, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by sand dunes. We will enjoy buggy or camel rides here, with entertainment by African drums, and lunch under a than 540 species traditional tent. (B,L) are found in the park. It is the Day 4 Gorée Island habitat of many Today we will have a full day water birds, excursion to Gorée Island which including white‑ lies 3 km off the coast of Senegal. faced whistling From the 15th to 19th centuries, it duck, storks, was one of several trading points egrets, herons, on the African Coast for slaves being ibis, pelicans, and sent to the American Continent. We darters. The West will learn about the history and have African manatee a guided visit including the House of and Nile crocodile Slaves, which was reconstructed as are found here, as a museum and memorial. (B,L) are monkeys and Day 5 IFAN Museum of African baboons. (B,L,D) Arts & Board Harmony V leave Senegal and the Saloun Delta, Day 9 Gambia River – Kuntaur Today we will visit the IFAN Museum and sail south to Gambia to reach – River Gambia National Park of African Arts for a special tour and Banjul, the capital, and gateway to This morning we will sail upstream lecture. We will see original African the 700‑mile Gambia River. (B,L,D) all morning to reach Kuntaur, a artifacts from the entire continent. Day 7 Banjul City Tour bustling Gambia port town. This is Then embark the Harmony V in & Bakau/the Gambia the last inland stop that is navigable mid‑afternoon and begin our cruise This morning, we’ll explore Banjul for ocean‑going ships. In the after on the rivers of West Africa. After including its crocodile “katchikaly,” dinner, sail south towards the Saloun botanic garden, and the city. After River Delta. (B,D) lunch, we will sail upstream. We will Day 6 Djiffere – stop at St. James Island in the middle Banjul/the Gambia of the Gambia River. Disembark in The morning, we will reach the Sine‑ local tenders and learn more about Saloun Delta in Senegal, a UNESCO the history of James Island with time to Biosphere Reserve and important explore on your own. In late afternoon, birding area, particularly for migrating sail upstream for Tendaba. (B,L,D) water birds. Over 30,000 pairs of royal Day 8 Tendaba/the Gambia – terns breed here. Our excursion Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve starts at the primitive fishing village of From the ship, we will take motor Djiffere. We will head for the village of pirogues to reach Tendaba, on the Joal Dafiouth. In the afternoon, we south bank in the lower river division. We will walk through to Batelling, a small village at the entrance to Kiang West National Park. Then board open safari trucks to return to Tendaba. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve which protects an enormous number of birds. More noon, board a large motor pirogue for an excursion on the Gambia River. Return to Kuntaur, where we will be met by the “Kankurang” and a local dance group on the pier. The “Kankurang” dispenses justice and wards off evil spirits. (B,L,D) Day 10 Kuntaur – Janjanbureh (Georgetown) – Kaur/the Gambia This morning our excursion by bus takes us to the ferry station of Janjanbureh. There we will board the local ferry to cruise to Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown), one of the Photographs courtesy of oldest towns of The Gambia. In 1832, Edie Barschi, the town was founded on Janjanbureh Lyn Mair, and Island in the Gambia River. It is a sleepy, Variety Cruises. former colonial administrative center. The Wassu stone circles are found & 22 km northwest of Lamin Koto, on the north bank across from Janjanbureh. THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SOCIETY RESEARCH SCIENTIFIC THE SIGM We will then ferry back and board Responsibility: Betchart Expeditions Inc., the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, and the the bus to reach Lamin Koto. After American Chemical Society (ACS) act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and hotels, and exercise every care possible. However, we can assume lunch, sail downstream to Kaur, a no liability for injury, damage, delay, loss, accident or irregularity in connection with the services of any airplane, ship, motor coach, or any other conveyance used in carrying out small fishing village on the banks of the arrangements of the tour. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, the Gambia. Enjoy the Captain’s quarantine, terrorism, acts of God, or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates pro vide for arrangements Farewell Dinner in celebration of our only for the time stated. We reserve the right to substitute another leader of similar expertise or reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case the voyage. (B,L,D) entire payment will be refunded with no further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any per son as a member of the tour. No refund will be made for the unused portion of any tour unless arrange ments are made in sufficient Day 11 Kaur – time to avoid penalties. The price of the program is based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, or fuel increases will be passed on to A Banjul/the Gambia participants. Operation of M/Y Pegasus is solely the responsibility of Variety Cruises. Baggage is carried at the owner’s risk entirely. It is understood that the air ticket when Leave Kaur early in the morning issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event X and sail further downstream towards during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Banjul. Have a special Gambian Night ©2014 Betchart Expeditions Inc. on board ship with a kora instrument All rights reserved. Map by April Milne. CST# 2036304‑40 concert. (B,L,D) I Days 12/13 Dakar to USA #1365 Reservations & Arrive in Dakar this morning and have a day to explore Bandia Safari Yes! I/We want to join The Rivers of West Africa Expedition, January 20– Park. Evening transfer to the airport February 1, 2015 offered by the AAAS Travels, Sigma Xi & ACS Expeditions. for your return flight to the USA. Please reserve ____ space(s). As a deposit, I/we have enclosed a check for $_________ A Arrive Washington Dulles Int’l. ($1,000 per person) payable to Betchart Expeditions Inc. Trust Account. Airport Day 13 at 6:25 a.m. (B) C Name(s) ____________________________________________ Age ______ Sex _____ ____________________________________________ Age ______ Sex _____ S Address _______________________________________________________________ E City _________________________________________ State _____ Zip ___________ x Phone: Home (_______) _________________________________________________ p Work (_______) _________________________________________________ E‑mail Address: ________________________________________________________ e Membership (please circle): AAAS Sigma Xi ACS Planetary Society di Accommodations Preference: ___ Cat C: $5,495 ___ Cat B: $5,795 ___ Cat A: $6,095 ___ Cat P: $6,495 t ___ Twin ___ Single ___ Twin Share with a friend or ___ assign a roommate i o ___ Nonsmoker ___ Smoker Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________ n Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: ___________ s Please Mail To: Rivers of West Africa 2015, Betchart Expeditions Inc.