YOUTUBE: Fog horn at the ready, Jones! Hippo alert – River Gambia, Senegal, West Africa. Footage by Jason Florio
Tuesday 18th December 2012 – Djinji-Bantaco – paddling distance: 29km
We set off from the village of Djinji around 10am this morning, paddling towards the next gold mining village of Bantaco – which we had heard was one of the biggest mining area, along the River Gambia. During the six hours we spent on the river, as you will see from the above footage, we had another hippo encounter. Looking back on the footage, so far, you can tell how jittery we all were – hey, it’s a nerve-racking business, finding yourself constantly under threat of colliding with and/or getting too far into a hippo’s territory. So, please excuse the expletives.
YOUTUBE: Helen: “Non of that sneaking between our canoe and the riverbank, guys – when you see a hippo!” footage © Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio – River Gambia, Senegal
And, unbeknownst to us – when we were out of radio contact, for over a month, whilst on the River Gambia Expedition – others were equally as ‘worried’ about us. Which begs the question: Enemies? Who needs them, when one has friends, family, and DPx Gear sponsors, like these guys? Their concern was underwhelming:
Robert Young Pelton, DPx Gear
‘Don’t let this tranquil setting fool you – hippos love a beach!’ © Jason Florio, River Gambia, Senegal, West Africa
Let’s just say, that we were all happy to get into the salt – i.e. hippo-free – water. But, that wouldn’t come for quite sometime yet. In the meantime, please continue to follow our River Gambia adventures.
The Florios (H & Flo)
Next up: more from the gold mines of Bantaco and Tombronkoto, Senegal
‘Washing the gold’ – gold miner, Bantaco, River Gambia, Senegal © Jason Florio
