1/5 Samantha M. 5 months ago on Google
We
arrived
in
a
pre-booked
taxi
from
the
Senegambia
area.
We
had
made
it
known
that
we
would
like
to
go
on
a
boat
for
one
or
two
hours.
On
arrival
at
around
8.45am
we
never
saw
the
lodge
instead
we
were
led
straight
off
on
a
short
tour,
and
told
about
the
oysters
which
was
quite
interesting.
Afterwards
we
were
shown
the
board
with
the
prices
on.
We
were
taken
aback
by
the
price
which
was
1000
dalasi
per
person
per
hour,
but
we
realised
we
were
getting
a
private
hire.
He
said
that
it
was
up
to
us
how
long
we
went
on
the
boat
and
to
where.
Then
he
explained
that
to
get
to
even
see
the
mangroves
and
to
visit
the
elephant
tree
it
was
1.5
hours
each
way.
As
it
was
our
first
time
visiting
we
had
no
idea
the
distance
and
speed
of
the
boat.
As
we
had
already
travelled
45
minutes
we
agreed
to
go
for
3
hours
and
managed
to
get
it
for
5000
dalasi,
which
still
seemed
expensive.
We
set
off
and
got
to
Daranka,
the
village
where
the
tree
is,
in
50
minutes.
At
the
tree,
which
is
magnificent,
the
guide/guardian
did
expect
a
tip
'for
the
village'.
We
explained
that
we
couldn't
give
him
much
as
the
cost
of
the
boat
was
much
more
than
expected.
We
hardly
had
a
chance
to
see
the
paddy
fields
before
we
were
led
back
to
the
boat,
maybe
it
was
because
low
tide
was
approaching.
The
guys
who
were
paddling
worked
very
hard
and
were
really
kind
and
helpful
getting
us
on
and
off
the
boat.
They
helped
us
spot
birds
and
told
us
about
the
mangroves.
On
the
way
back
they
were
really
taking
their
time
and
trying
to
drag
the
trip
out
for
3
hours.
We
don't
blame
them
but
there
is
no
way
that
the
trip
should
have
been
more
than
2
hours,
the
guy
who
arranged
the
boat
told
a
complete
lie.
The
guys
did
say
they
were
volunteers
but
we
can't
say
whether
that
is
true,
we
did
tip
them
as
they
worked
so
hard.
Either
way
the
guy
who
sold
us
the
boat
trip
for
three
hours
gave
them
the
hard
work
for
an
hour
longer
than
it
needed
to
be.
When
we
returned
I
mentioned
that
the
trip
should
have
been
2
hours
and
he
brushed
it
off.
I
guess
that
a
liar
would
not
admit
it.
We
didn't
manage
to
find
reviews
before
we
did
the
trip,
but
can
now
see
that
this
deception
and
over-charging
of
tourists
for
the
boats
has
been
going
on
a
while.
Unfortunately
we
didn't
get
to
see
the
lodge
as
we
didn't
have
much
money
left.
This
review
is
not
about
the
lodge
itself
but
about
the
boat
hire.
This
was
our
last
day
in
the
Gambia
and
so
even
more
disappointing
to
have
been
lied
to
and
treated
this
way.