Karin S
Google
Genial Frenchman and fisherholic Gilles came fishing in Guinea Bissau 19 years ago and liked the Bijagos Islands so much he lost no time in making Bubaque Island (in the center of the Bijagos) home with his kindly Senegalese wife.||||And what a home they have put together for their three daughters and guests. You would never believe you are in Guinea Bissau once you set foot in Kassa Africana. They have six bedrooms with 2-3 beds in each. The rooms are fairly spacious with lots of shelving to store belongings and a separate toilet and bathroom with shower to make it easy for non- related people to share a room. They have 24 hour electricity, air-conditioning, a fridge, same day washing machine laundry service and a reasonably fast WIFI. They also have a communal TV in a lounge with a pool table and all the rooms center a small and superbly clean swimming pool surrounded by bougainvilla and looking over the sea and neighboring islands. Kassa Africana has a website is in English and French and provides good information about rates and services.||||The food is very good prepared by a Senegalese cook. They were very kind to adjust to our vegetarian requirements. Barman Patrick is a gem and serves the meals as well. The cleaning women spend ages lovingly tidying your belongings and polishing your room and every inch of the pool deck chairs, dining room chairs etc. to keep the place spotless. There are mountain bikes you can borrow if you want to get a feel for the real Guinea Bissau. Tina is a gracious hostess and is always around checking if you need anything and are happy. She even offered us medicine when my partner became ill. All staff are treated as family and what the fishermen catch goes to feed about 25 staff who each have about 8 family members to feed, so the lodge provides a valuable source of income and food to the community. You might even be offered a chance to participate in this family atmosphere by helping the kids with their English lessons!||||Preference goes to fisherman when it comes to bookings. Kassa Africana has featured in several fishing magazines and Gilles has many repeat French fishermen and there was even a group of 8 Polish fishermen when we were there. Gilles responds promptly to e-mails (the only hotel in G. Bissau I got a response from) and was kind enough to trust we would arrive from Casamance in Senegal and sent a boat three hours away to Bissau to pick us up without wanting a deposit. He can also arrange transfer by private plane from Cap Skirring directly to Bubeque Island if you have the lolly! The taxi man he sent to take us to the harbour and boat crew were all very friendly and professional. Note that the price of petrol is high in Guinea Bissau so the transfer costs Euro 350 each way. Hiring out a boat for the day for fishing or to see the rare salt water hippos on the neighboring island is similarly pricey. But you are assured of a safe passage compared to the notorious overcrowding on ferries (there is a sunken one in the Bissau harbour) and pirogues.||||This is a French speaking establishment but Gilles does speak good English.||When you experience the squalor and garbage in the streets of Bissau and Bubaque, the power cuts and lack of petrol in the country, you will delight in coming to this charming and well run haven and marvel at what they have created. Even in a far more developed country, this is a special place.
