Hampshire travel company brings The Gambia into the classroom with educational school trips

A Hampshire-based travel company is encouraging schools and colleges across Portsmouth and the wider county to discover a different approach to learning, with tailor-made educational trips to The Gambia designed to bring classroom subjects to life through first-hand experiences.

Kayaking the waterways of the River Gambia | The Gambia Experience

placeholder image — Kayaking the waterways of the River Gambia | The Gambia Experience

The Gambia Experience, which has almost 40 years' experience creating holidays and group travel to The Gambia, is offering schools the opportunity to build bespoke itineraries around their educational objectives – from exploring the country's unique ecosystems and wildlife to experiencing local culture, communities, music, storytelling and cuisine.

For students, the West African destination provides an opportunity to see subjects studied in the classroom in a real-world setting. Groups can explore mangroves, riverbanks and wildlife reserves, discover The Gambia's exceptional birdlife and learn about local environmental and cultural issues.

Bringing the catch in - Tanji fishing village | The Gambia Experience

Educational itineraries can also include hands-on activities, community experiences and projects, helping students connect their studies with real environments and develop a greater understanding of global, environmental and cultural issues.

Trips are tailored to individual schools and colleges and can include additional excursions, activity sessions and time spent with a partner school. Schools can also choose between single- and multi-centre stays, allowing organisers to create an itinerary that balances educational objectives with adventure and cultural immersion.

The Gambia also offers visitors easy access from the UK. The Gambia Experience operates its own direct flight service from Gatwick, alongside regional departure options. With a flight time of around six hours, the same time zone as the UK and short transfers to key resort areas, groups can maximise the time available for educational experiences.

Karen Durham, product manager at The Gambia Experience, said: “Educational travel can be incredibly powerful when students have the opportunity to experience the world first-hand. For schools in Hampshire and across the UK, The Gambia offers the chance to explore culture, nature, wildlife and local communities in a way that complements classroom learning.

“Our aim is to work closely with schools to create trips that reflect their particular educational objectives, whether that is environmental studies, geography, cultural understanding, wildlife or simply giving young people a broader perspective of the world.”

The Gambia Experience's dedicated group travel specialists work closely with organisers throughout the planning process, helping develop itineraries around each school's requirements. Groups also benefit from 24-hour local support in resort, providing additional reassurance for organisers and teachers during their stay.

Since 2023, The Gambia Experience has arranged more than 95 successful group trips, welcoming more than 1,600 travellers to The Gambia.

With competitive pricing, group discounts and flexible packages, the company can create bespoke itineraries for schools and colleges, incorporating excursions, activities, projects and time with a partner school where appropriate.

Visit: Web Gambia.co.uk Email [email protected] Tel 01489 866 912.