Navigating The Gambia: Clearing Customs, Monkey Thieves & An Inside A 850-Year-Old Tree | S8E16
After leaving the chaos of Dakar, Galopin and I have dropped anchor in the peaceful Gambian River Delta at Lamin Lodge. Between dodging the quick-fingered local monkeys and hanging out with the awesome lodge crew, this place already feels like home for the next few months.
In this episode, we head into Banjul to tackle the full immigration and boat clearance process, pick up local SIM cards, and grab some authentic thiep, lunch, with our guides Akon and Micah.
Back in the wild, Akon takes us through jungle and rice paddies out to Daranka Island to go inside a massive 850-year-old Silk Cotton called the Elephant Tree. Stepping inside its hollow trunk—which can fit 20 people—we learn about its deep cultural history, traditional ceremonies, and how it once served as a slave hideout. A living witness to centuries of history, from ancient kingdoms to the scars of the slave trade.
this journey highlights the dilemma between traditional agriculture and modern profit, all while navigating the playful dangers of local monkeys. This is a real look the playful dangers of local monkeys and the enduring spirit of The Gambia.
00:00 Intro
00:31 Arch friends
00:55 Smiling bureaucracy
02:21 People's restaurant
03:11 Cell service
04:56 Color of rain
05:32 Monkey swim
06:03 Norwegian relics
07:21 Rice & trees
08:54 The Elephant tree
09:44 Inside the tree
10:42 Next week
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Winded Voyage Sailing
In 2026, Swiss sailor Alexandre Guidetti marks a decade of continuous blue water cruising aboard his 1981 Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40, Galopin. Operating out of Cercle de la Voile de Dakar in Senegal, he documents remote West African anchorages, mechanical overhauls, and offshore navigation with candid technical clarity. His self-produced series emphasizes self-reliance, local cultural immersion, and practical seamanship.
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After leaving the chaos of Dakar, Galopin and I have dropped anchor in the peaceful Gambian River Delta at Lamin Lodge. Between dodging the quick-fingered local monkeys and hanging out with the awesome lodge crew, this place already feels like home for the next few months.
In this episode, we head into Banjul to tackle the full immigration and boat clearance process, pick up local SIM cards, and grab some authentic thiep, lunch, with our guides Akon and Micah.
Back in the wild, Akon takes us through jungle and rice paddies out to Daranka Island to go inside a massive 850-year-old Silk Cotton called the Elephant Tree. Stepping inside its hollow trunk—which can fit 20 people—we learn about its deep cultural history, traditional ceremonies, and how it once served as a slave hideout. A living witness to centuries of history, from ancient kingdoms to the scars of the slave trade.
this journey highlights the dilemma between traditional agriculture and modern profit, all while navigating the playful dangers of local monkeys. This is a real look the playful dangers of local monkeys and the enduring spirit of The Gambia.
00:00 Intro
00:31 Arch friends
00:55 Smiling bureaucracy
02:21 People’s restaurant
03:11 Cell service
04:56 Color of rain
05:32 Monkey swim
06:03 Norwegian relics
07:21 Rice & trees
08:54 The Elephant tree
09:44 Inside the tree
10:42 Next week
Some say it’s The Best Sailing Channel on YouTube!
Agree or disagree, make your voice heard. Subscribe, like, dislike, or comment.
DISCLAIMER: This series is simply intended to offer and give an alternative to conventional TV… for FREE! And if anyone has the good will to reward this series purely on merit because it’s somehow funny, mildly interesting, slightly stupid, or bizarrely entertaining, you can do so by giving it a tip on Patreon or Ko-fi:
https://www.patreon.com/SailorAlex?
ko-fi.com/sailoralex
Stay up to date with the following
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/windedvoyage/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/windedvoyage/
Winded Voyage Website:
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cuckooracha/
X:
https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissSailorAlex/
#windedvoyage #sailinglifestyle #africatravel #solosailor #windedvoyager #sailing #westafrica #sailinglife #galopin #offgridadventure #offthebeatenpath #liveboldly #senior #retired #65 #oldseadog
Navigating The Gambia: Clearing Customs, Monkey Thieves & An Inside A 850-Year-Old Tree | S8E16 Location
- (28.29155921936,-16.62912940979)
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Navigating The Gambia: Clearing Customs, Monkey Thieves & An Inside A 850-Year-Old Tree | S8E16
After leaving the chaos of Dakar, Galopin and I have dropped anchor in the peaceful Gambian River Delta at Lamin Lodge. Between dodging the quick-fingered local monkeys and hanging out with the awesome lodge crew, this place already feels like home for the next few months. In this episode, we head ...
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