I’m going to The Gambia!

As a self-confessed travel addict I love travelling everywhere whether it be to Scotland, Spain, Sweden or South Africa (I’m also a self-confessed alliteration addict). If you’re reading this blog I’m guessing you also have a passion for travel and probably feel the same. Everything from the excitement of planning and packing, the journey, the initial feeling of being lost and overwhelmed and then the newness of everything; new people, new food, new sights, sounds and smells. Then when you return home there are those awesome memories that get more and more awesome every day as the tint in your glasses gets rosier with age. Yes, travelling is pretty freaking awesome.

I still get ridiculously excited about travel but I have to admit that when I was invited on a blog trip to The Gambia those excitement levels were through the roof. Even as I’m writing this, that sparkly feeling in my chest is getting bigger and bigger and there’s a slight possibility that I might actually explode.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that I know very little about The Gambia. In the excitement of going to India, followed by Traverse and somehow managing to fit a 9-5 in there somewhere, I haven’t managed to do as much reading and researching as I’d like but part of me is pleased about this. I’m a totally blank slate. I’ve got no preconceived ideas about what it’s going to be like. I haven’t built up an idealistic image in my head and I’m not even sure what people are expecting me to think. This is a strange and unfamiliar feeling but I think I like it.

I know I could have gone onto Wikipedia to find a load of facts and stats to share but I quite like the idea that it will all be fresh and new when I arrive. I’ll be sharing my stories and experiences while I’m away and when I return as I learn more about the country and the culture.

What I’ll be up to in The Gambia

I’m flying out to The Gambia on Friday morning and returning on Tuesday night. The trip has been organized by Kat from The Gambia Experience and she also blogs at Travels with Kat. The other travel bloggers on the trip are:

Jayne Gorman – 40 before 30

Jaillan Yehia – Savoir There

Simon Falvo – Wild about Travel

Iain Mallory – Mallory on Travel 

Tom Warburton – The Bald Hiker

I’ll be staying at Ngala Lodge which looks very fancy indeed and I have a rough itinerary which includes visiting sustainable and charitable projects, visiting local villages, schools and markets, a cooking lesson and a bit of luxury at the Sheraton Spa.

It sounds like my absolute ideal trip with a perfect mixture of exploration, relaxation and learning about the local people and their culture. And of course, I’d never say no to a Sheraton Signature Massage.

If you’d like to follow the trip with myself and the other bloggers you can search for the hashtag #BlogGambia on Twitter and Instagram and keep an eye on my Facebook page too. Well, that’s if I haven’t exploded with excitement before then…

I’ll be travelling to The Gambia as a guest of The Gambia Experience. Massive thanks to Kat Burrington for the photos and this amazing opportunity.