The Bijagos Islands is a region in the country of Guinea Bissau. There are a total of 88 islands. They are called the Bijagoes Islands. These islands are unspoiled, untouched beaches, tropical forest, turquoise waters, saltwater hippos, birds, cows, chickens, and thousands of years of tradition. The Bijago island people never submitted to colonial authority.

If interested and learning more about the Bijagoes Islands the link to a documentary is

👉🏿https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq4PUop1M3Y&t=1026s&pp=ygUdYmlqYWdvcyBpc2xhbmRzIGd1aW5lYSBiaXNzYXU%3D

Only 20 of the 88 islands are occupied year-round. On the third and fourth days of the tour, my itinerary called for an overnight on Rubane (Ru-bon-knee) Island, and a day trip to Bubaque (boo-beck-key) Island, which is the administrative capital and the most populated. I was well rested and feeling light-hearted even though the tour fort and museum in Cacheu the previous day was heavy. First thing after breakfast, I set out with Daiana & Siphiwe to catch a fast boat for the 2-hour ride on the North Atlantic Ocean.

After settling into my bungalow, I enjoyed a delicious shrimp and fish salad for lunch. The tropical breeze and energy of the ocean water had Daiana and Siphiwe looking all googly eyed at each other. So, it was no surprise after lunch that the couple excused themselves for a stroll down the beach. I nestled in pool side with a good book and enjoyed the day.

The next morning, we took a short 15-minute boat ride over to Bubaque Island. The first thing I noticed upon docking was the map painted on the walls. It showed the names of the other islands. I thought that was way cool, it helped me understand how the islands are set up, I’m truly a visual learner.

I must say, witnessing the tradition and culture of daily life in an authentic African village untouched by colonization was a remarkable experience. At one point during our visit, we sat in a hut with several villagers and awaited the village healer. He was a very old man. He entered the hut, with his young protégé sat down, and began explaining the healing qualities of certain plants that grow there. Daiana translated what he was saying. After visiting the village, we stopped by a Resort that had just recently opened on this island. It was much like the one that we were staying in. Leaving the resort, we loaded back into the motorcycle jeep type vehicle that had been transporting us around that morning to head back to our resort. Interesting sidenote: Both resorts are owned by the French women. 

We were just in time for lunch when we arrived back on Rubane Island. I enjoyed that meal just as I had all the others there. Afterwards, I strolled the beach digging my feet deep into the sand as I walked picking up a few seashells here and there. Soon it would be time for us to take the fast boat back to Bissau, so I headed back to my hut to pack up. The 2-hour ride back across the North Atlantic Ocean was wonderful. The driver encouraged me to take the wheel and steer the boat for a while. That experience was an awesome, once in a lifetime deal. Not many people can say, I drove a fast boat on the North Atlantic Ocean.

The sun was beginning to set when we arrived back in Bissau. We grabbed some street food (chicken) and parted ways for the night. The next day was my 60th birthday, with my customized tour, it had been arranged that I would spend this special day, in my ancestral Fula village! You can imagine, sleep didn’t come easy that night. My Soul rumbled and tumbled with excitement of visiting my ancestral village home. Stay tuned…