The table below illustrates one way this can be done (c=cannibal, m=missionary).
| Action | Left Bank | Right Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Start | c,c,c,m,m,m | |
| Cannibal and missionary cross river | c,c,m,m | c,m |
| Missionary returns | c,c,m,m,m | c |
| Two cannibals cross river | m,m,m | c,c,c |
| One cannibal returns | c,m,m,m | c,c |
| Two missionaries go across | c,m | c,c,m,m |
| A missionary and cannibal return | c,c,m,m | c,m |
| Two missionaries cross the river | c,c | c,m,m,m |
| A single cannibal returns | c,c,c | m,m,m |
| Two cannibals cross the river | c | c,c,m,m,m |
| A cannibal returns | c,c | c,m,m,m |
| The final two cannibals cross the river | c,c,c,m,m,m |