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At a glance
- The Wassu Stone Circles belong to the Stone Circles of Senegambia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Four main sites make up the listing: Wassu and Kerbatch in The Gambia, and Wanar and Sine Ngayène in Senegal, 93 circles in all.
- At Wassu you will see 11 circles, around 200 megaliths and a small on-site museum.
- River Gambia National Park includes the Baboon Islands and a chimpanzee rehabilitation project. Visitors cannot land on the islands, so you view them from a boat.
- Boat trips start near Kuntaur, a short drive from the circles, and the river shows hippos, crocodiles and plenty of birds.
- Two days make sense because the drive inland takes several hours, and an overnight stay by the river is well worth it.
- The best season is the dry season, roughly November to April.
Most visitors spend their Gambian holiday on the coast, but the real character of the country begins by the river. The Wassu Stone Circles are among the most important archaeological sites in West Africa, and nearby you can board a boat and cruise to islands where chimpanzees live. In this article we describe what to see and how to plan a two-day River Gambia tour.
What are the Wassu Stone Circles?
Wassu lies on the north bank of the River Gambia and is part of the Stone Circles of Senegambia. Across the region more than a thousand stone circles and other monuments survive, stretching along the river for about 350 km. UNESCO inscribed the four most important groups: Wassu and Kerbatch in The Gambia, and Wanar and Sine Ngayène in Senegal. Together they contain 93 circles and many burial mounds.
At Wassu itself there are 11 circles and around 200 stones, the tallest reaching 2.59 m. The blocks are laterite, cut from a nearby quarry, and some weigh several tonnes. The circles were raised over many centuries, from the 3rd century BC to the 16th century AD, and they are generally linked to burials. Dating of nearby burial mounds points to AD 927-1305. A small museum on site has maps showing how widespread megaliths are across West Africa. Visiting the circles together with the museum usually takes about two hours.
How to behave at an archaeological site
The circles are centuries old, so treat them with respect: do not climb on the stones, lean on them or take any fragments. It is worth using a local guide who can explain the theories about the circles’ purpose and why the site matters. Photos work best early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is soft and shadows bring out the shape of the stones.
River Gambia National Park and the Baboon Islands
A short drive from the circles is Kuntaur, where boats leave for River Gambia National Park. The park was established in 1978 and includes the Baboon Islands: one larger island and four smaller ones. A chimpanzee rehabilitation project operates there, in which animals rescued from the pet trade are gradually released into the wild. Today around a hundred chimpanzees in The Gambia live on the islands.
The rule is simple: nobody may land on the islands, not even park staff, to keep human influence to a minimum. So you watch the chimpanzees from a boat at a safe distance. Hippos often bathe along the banks, and crocodiles can be seen in the water.
Birds along the River Gambia
For bird lovers the cruise is the highlight of the day. The banks are home to kingfishers, herons and birds of prey. From November to February, when falling water exposes sandy banks, you may even find the Egyptian plover upriver, one of the most sought-after species. If birds are your main interest, see our birding and wildlife photography tours, where River Gambia cruises are a regular part of the programme.
How to get there and how long it takes
Wassu lies deep inland on the north bank, and the drive from the coast takes several hours, with stops along the way. From Banjul allow roughly five hours. That is why leaving in the morning and sleeping near the river is the most comfortable plan: on day one you see the circles and cruise to the park, and on day two you are not in a hurry.
Why stay overnight by the river?
A night by the river gives you something a day trip cannot: a calm morning on the bank, when the birds are most active and the water is smooth. It is a perfect time to see kingfishers and herons and to take photos in soft light. For people who love birds, it is one of the highlights of the whole trip.
Janjanbureh – a historic riverside town
On the second day you can visit Janjanbureh, formerly known as Georgetown. It is a historic river town on an island and a gentle way to end a journey inland.
What does our two-day tour look like?
On our Gambia – nature and culture tour we leave the coast at 7:30 on day one. A scenic route inland, with stops along the way, takes us to the Wassu Stone Circles, and then on towards River Gambia National Park. We stay overnight near the river. On day two we explore the park area in the morning, optionally visit Janjanbureh and return to the coast at around 5:30 pm.
The price is €290 for a solo traveller or €195 per person for two or more.
Practical tips before you go
- Season: the dry season, November to April, is best, when tracks are dry and migrant birds are at their peak.
- Clothing: light, with a hat and sun cream. The Gambia is a Muslim country, so choose modest clothing in villages.
- Cash: cards are rarely accepted inland, so bring small amounts in dalasi.
- Pace: do not pack in too much. The drive takes several hours, and the river cruise is best enjoyed without rushing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Baboon Islands?
No. The islands are closed to visitors, and chimpanzees are watched from a boat.
How long does a visit to Wassu take?
Usually about two hours including the museum.
Can I see the circles and the park in one day?
There are one-day trips, but with several hours of driving each way, two days give you much more time for the cruise and the birds.
When is the best time to go upriver?
The dry season, roughly November to April.
Is this tour suitable for beginners?
Yes. It needs no fitness or experience, and the programme adapts to the group’s pace.
Plan your trip along the River Gambia
The Wassu Stone Circles and a river cruise show you a very different Gambia from the hotel beach. If you want to see them with a local guide, browse our full range of tours and choose the trip for you. You may also like our guide to Gambia vs Senegal.