Adventure Travel Online - Gambian gamble: a great African trek

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Gambian gamble: a great African trek

Written by Rosie

Thursday, 25 February 2010

Gambian sunrise: dawn on the road

A British couple have completed an extraordinary mission – they hiked round the whole of the Gambia, a country in West Africa.

Helen Jones and Jason Florio, plus three guides and two donkeys, completed the 600-mile trip in December after six weeks on the road. They were raising money for Gardens for Life – a charity that teaches children to grow gardens so they can sustain their villages and ultimately have a way of trading.

“We walked from village to village, camping in the village compounds after introducing ourselves to the Alkalos, or village chiefs,” says Helen. “The people were incredibly welcoming, and always so excited to see us.

“When we were walking it was like we didn’t know anything else,” she continues. “Life is so simple there – there’s so much more freedom.”

Want to find out more? Helen and Jason star in a new series in the forthcoming Adventure Travel magazine, out next week (ooh aren’t we mean). You can check out more of Jason’s super photography here or check out the couple's blog at www.adventuretravelblogs.com/700miles .

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5 Comments



ibbz February 25, 2010 82.10.180.218 Votes: +0	wow! Must've been an amazing experience - I've got to look out for that series! i met a Swiss couple in Gilgit, in their 20ies, they travelled, on bus, from Peshawar via Dir and Swat (Yikes!) through the lowri pass, into Chitral, and then with 2 donkeys, on FOOT, to Gilgit via the Shandur Pass, then up to the Chinese Border and back to Gilgit. it took them a good couple of months! And they did much the same thing, stayed in villages and shepherds huts over night and only camped out once! Now I'd NEVER do anything like that, i just haven't the guts! report abuse vote down vote up


a guest February 28, 2010 68.175.10.72 Votes: +0	If you were up in Gilgit ..then you are no tame soul ! report abuse vote down vote up


ibbz March 03, 2010 82.10.180.218 Votes: +0	Gilgit is cool, it's off the beaten track beyond Gilgit which takes balls!! report abuse vote down vote up


a guest March 03, 2010 68.175.10.72 Votes: +0	Yes.....it was an amazing experience! Unfortunately, due to urban drift/access to the world (via web/tv etc where the locals kids can get it), means that the Alkalo system may be in its last generation or so. Most the young men (as there are very few women who get to be Alkalo's)want to move to the 'city' or even abroad so they have little interest in carrying on the traditions of their fathers/grandfathers. we feel very privileged to have experience this age-old system. If you want to see any more images of Florio's photojourno travels in the middle east please feel free to visit his site www.floriophoto.com report abuse vote down vote up


a guest March 03, 2010 68.175.10.72 Votes: +0	by the way......this is Helen here from A Short Walk In The Gambian Bush team! report abuse vote down vote up