Guinea Bissau safari holidays & wildlife adventure

Guinea Bissau is a tiny country on the coast of West Africa, just south of Gambia. As well as its slice of mainland Africa, the country has a collection of islands, around the estuary of the River Corubal. Inland, the country is dry, low-altitude grasslands, while the coastal strip is wetlands and mangrove swamps.

Not many travellers manage to get there, but it’s worth it. On a Guinea Bissau safari, you’ll see a diverse range of wildlife, and get to have a real adventure.

Guinea-Bissau’s forests and grasslands are lush, green and packed with life. Sadly, there are few big game animals left in the country. Elephants and others have been largely hunted out. But you will see plenty of antelopes, gazelles, primates and big cats. With tourism in its infancy, you’ll get to see Africa without seeing safari buses.

The coastal and island area of the country is home to plenty more wildlife. The Orango Islands National Park is a group of protected islands of palm trees and mangroves. They are home to huge numbers of birds, sea turtles, crocodiles and rare saltwater hippos.

Another group of islands, the Bijagos Islands, is known for its unique matriarchal local culture. It is also a wildlife-watchers paradise. The islands are fringed with lovely beaches and mangrove swamps, with many of them a UNESCO protected reserve. Like the Orangos, they are home to hippos and turtles.

Guinea Bissau is firmly off the tourist radar. That is what makes it special. On a Guinea Bissau safari you will get to see vast numbers of species in unspoilt habitats, soak up a culture that is entirely un-western, and enjoy being one of the privileged few to make it so far.