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Jinack is world-famous amongst bird watchers for its rare and beautiful birds - especially waders, water birds and birds of prey. The birdwatching is amongst the richest in the world given the country's location as an international crossroads for migration, with over 540 species in such a small country! The morning sounds on the island are a cocophany of weird and wonderful bird song that is unlike anything you will have heard before. We have local bird watching books for you to peruse, passionate and knowledgeable local guides and a birdwatching platform nearby to use.
Twenty minutes walk down the beach will bring you to a series of secluded lagoons populated by thousands of birds such as storks, flamingoes, pelicans, eagles, kingfishers and vultures where you can spend hours watching the wildlife without another person in sight.
We have fishing rods and tackle on site. You can hire our boat with one of our on-site guides and try your luck fishing for Tiger Fish, Vundu Cat Fish, Sharptooth Cat Fish, Zambezi Pike, Characins, Baracuda or Lady Fish or beach cast in the sea for your dinner. Our chefs will be more than happy to cook your catch for you in the restaurant or alternatively on a beach fire.
There are many Gambian River cruises available. The Gambia is named after this majestic river which is one of the most navigable in Africa. It runs for 1100 km and it's banks are fringed bv tropical forest, bamboo and mangrove swamps. Several species of birds, monkeys, dolphins and other wildlife can be seen along the river. Many organised cruises will offer cooked meals on board, swimming stops, wildlife and island explorations and fishing trips.
For a more extensive, adventurous, boat cruise, which enables you to travel 200 miles inland to the beautiful freshwater parts of the Gambian River where you can see hippos, monkeys, baboons and chimpanzees, visit http://www.hiddengambia.com . As part of their " Discover the Gambia " tour, you can stay at a number of carefully selected eco-lodges, including JINACK LODGE.
This is a popular excursion to the village of Juffureh the original home of Kunta Kinte inspired by Alex Haley's bestselling movie "Roots". Although slavery has long been abolished, the ancestors and direct descendants of the hero and of many other extracted Africans in the Diaspora can be found today. You can meet a descendant of the Kinte family and visit the slavery exhibition in the museum here and then travel on to the former slave fortress of James Island.
Local musicians regularly come to entertain us and play on the purposely-built bandstand area of the Reception. They are more than happy to teach some drumming skills and techniques to willing visitors!
We can organise a day trip into Senegal to visit the Fatala Safari Park, the biggest wildlife reserve in West Africa and one of the last places where wild big game animals can be seen. You can also spend the day visiting restaurants and craft markets and sampling the French/African culture.
You can walk to the local village with our guide and see how the rural way of life has remained almost unchanged by time. This also provides a touching opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers and children.
From mid november to Mid january dolphins are often spotted off the shore. this can be done either on your own or as part of an organised boat trip.
There are over 80 crocodiles in and around the pool which is said to aid infertile women and bestow luck and healing powers on individuals. The pool's crocodiles have become so tame that they allow visitors to pet them!
Women from the local village will come to spend time teaching and demonstrating some wonderful African cooking techniques.