Roots Juffureh River Cruise

OVERVIEW

Discover the storied sites of Alex Haley’s epic novel and TV series, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, during this memorable walking tour and cruise along the Juffureh River. Sail up-river to the centuries-old trading station of Albreda and gaze at the famous flagpole that, according to local lore, would guarantee freedom to any slave who touched it after escaping the fort on nearby Kunta Kinteh Island. Gain unique insight into Gambia’s poignant history of slave trade at the Museum of Slavery. You’ll walk to the nearby village of Juffureh, purported to be the birthplace of Kunta Kinteh, the central character in the renowned Haley novel and TV series. View the original home of Alex Haley’s great-great-grandfather, which stands near the village’s mosque and is still inhabited by the family. Re-board your boat for a satisfying lunch cruise to Kunta Kinteh Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is steeped in slave-trading history. You’ll sail close enough to see the fortress ruins and gain a deeper understanding of the tribulations of this important locus of the West African slave trade.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the ancient Albreda trading station and the flagpole thought to have been a pathway to freedom for slaves.
• Obtain a deeper understanding of Gambia’s slave trade at the thought-provoking Museum of Slavery.
• Visit Juffureh, said to be the birthplace of Kunta Kinteh, central character of Alex Haley’s Roots.
• Enjoy a relaxing lunch cruise toward Kunta Kinteh Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• View Kunta Kinteh Island’s fortress ruins and discover its slave-trading history.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.