08/08/2025
A Day Trip to Kunta Kinteh Island
Today’s journey takes us deep into the powerful story of Kunta Kinteh, a Gambian warrior kidnapped from the small Mandingo village of Juffureh and sold into slavery.
His story was brought to international attention through the groundbreaking TV mini-series and book Roots, written by Alex Haley in 1976-77. The saga traces seven generations of Haley’s African-American ancestors, from their enslavement to his genealogical discoveries.
Our day began with a 7:00 AM pick-up from our clients’ hotel, followed by a drive to the Banjul ferry terminal. We boarded the ferry and crossed over to Barra in the Northern Bank region of The Gambia. From there, we drove approximately 36 km to the villages of Juffureh and Albreda, the home village of Kunta Kinteh.
Upon arrival, we paid a courtesy visit to the seventh-generation grandchildren of Kinteh and enjoyed a guided tour detailing the life of Kunta Kinteh and his journey to the Americas.
Next, we visited the Transatlantic Slavery Museum in Juffureh, which houses artifacts and provides deep insights into the history of the slave trade. Our tour then took us to Albreda, the former French settlement, where we saw the Freedom Flagpole and the “Never Again” statue.
From Albreda, we embarked on a boat trip to Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly known as James Island—a historic departure point where hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans were taken from the Gambia River between 1588 and 1807.
After exploring the island, we cruised back to Albreda for a buffet lunch before returning to the hotel.This profound day left us with a deeper understanding of The Gambia’s past, especially its role in the transatlantic slave trade.
For information or to make reservations or bookings about this trip and many other exciting trips within the Gambia 🇬🇲 and some part in Senegal, Dont hesitate to contact us.
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