Accommodation options on our unique Discover the River
itineraries include the following carefully selected small Gambian hotels and river side lodges. They attract an interesting mix of
travellers with an independent spirit who seek a friendly, clean and comfortable stay away from the main tourist resorts.
Unless otherwise specified, coastal accommodation is on a B&B basis and up-country accommodation is full-board. Unlike most
adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplements, except for coastal accommodation (typically £15 pppn).
At the coast, you can choose between Lemon Creek, Hibiscus House, Farakunku Lodges, Footsteps Eco-lodge, Nemasu Eco-lodge,
Boboi Beach Lodge and Sandele Eco-Retreat (or any combination of these). Lemon Creek,
with 36 rooms, is the largest of our coastal accommodations and is a friendly, welcoming place to begin your Gambia adventure holiday.
It is located directly on the beach in pleasant, spacious gardens in Bijilo, just outside the main tourist resorts of Senegambia
and Kololi. It is therefore only a short taxi ride from a variety of bars and restaurants.
Hibiscus House, available for a surcharge (from £15 pppn), is a small
family-run boutique hotel in a quiet residential area of Brufut. The rooms are of a good standard, there is a pleasant swimming pool
(holistic treatments are available) and the food is excellent. You'll find the comfortable and secluded
Farakunku Lodges (surcharge: £5 pppn) to be
a haven of peace and tranquility with a warm, 'home-from-home' ambiance and superb food. It is a popular choice amongst
birdwatchers with some good birding sites within walking distance. Highly recommended.
A short distance further south,
Footsteps Eco-lodge is another little gem -
adjacent to some pleasant woodland and close to a beautiful, practically deserted beach. It is included in your
Discover the River itinerary on B&B basis.
For simple, rustic accommodation with miles of sandy beaches and great wildlife watching on your doorstep - why
not spend some nights at Jinack Lodge on Jinack Island on the
northern border between Gambia and Senegal? Or 'chill-out' at Boboi Beach Lodge
on The Gambia's southern coast (included in your Discover the River itinerary on B&B basis).
A new addition for 2013/14 is Nemasu Eco-lodge which offers a
delightful collection of 8 round huts surrounded by a mature palm forest on a beautiful unspoilt beach. For those of
you seeking a special touch of beach-fronted luxury, we highly recommend a stay at the
Sandele Bay Eco-retreat (supplements apply).
The highlight of your holiday, however, will undoubtedly be up-river Gambia. You'll love the peaceful relaxing atmosphere of
Bird Safari Camp
with its wonderful riverside setting, starlit night skies and amazing cacophony of bird song which simply has to be
experienced. It's also much loved by anglers as these waters are home to one of the most ferocious freshwater
predators - tiger fish. Just downstream, in the River Gambia National Park,
the Chimpanzee Project is home to over 80 chimpanzees and although you can no
longer stay here, there is every chance you'll see some of these fascinating primates (as well as baboons,
monkeys, hippos and several species of birds) as you sail up to
Bird Safari Camp onboard the Lady Hippo.
Tendaba Camp (half-way upriver), though basic,
provides a convenient base on the way up/down the river and is an outstanding location for birdwatching:
the creek boat trip (included in your Discover the River
itinerary) is a wonderful experience - well worth it, even if you wouldn't normally consider yourself
to be a "birdwatcher".
Coastal accommodation:
Lemon Creek (B&B), Bijilo
A friendly hotel with 36 rooms set in pleasant, spacious gardens in Bijilo, directly on the beach.
Good food & drink; close to other bars & restaurants. Half board supplement: £10 pppn.
Hibiscus House (B&B), Brufut
For those seeking a little pampering, Hibiscus House provides a peaceful haven of quality and style. It is located
in the village of Brufut halfway between Fajara and Tanji. Supplement from £15 pppn.
Footsteps Eco-lodge (B&B), Gunjur
Further south along the good coastal road, adjacent to some pleasant woodland and close to some of the best (yet
virtually deserted) beaches in The Gambia, you'll find Footsteps to be a great place to relax and unwind. Half-board supplement: £10 pppn.
Farakunku Lodges (B&B), Tujereng
A collection of 4 comfortable, well designed lodges with solar-heated showers in a quiet,
secluded area. Your friendly Anglo-Gambian hosts, Heather and Moses, will do everything possible
to ensure you have a memorable stay. Supplement from £5 pppn.
Nemasu Eco-lodge (B&B), Madina Salaam
A delightful collection of 8 round huts surrounded by a mature palm forest on an unspoilt sandy beach
in the south of The Gambia. Half board supplement: £10 pppn.
Boboi Beach Lodge (B&B), Kartong
A backpacker-style lodge with basic accommodation, but with a stunning beach front setting on one of The Gambia's best (and hassle-free) beaches. Half board supplement: £8 pppn.
Sandele Eco-retreat, Kartong
At the most southern tip of The Gambia, stunning eco-architecture and a breathtaking beach-front location
makes Sandele a truly special place to relax in style. Supplement: from £30 pppn (on half-board).
Further afield:
Bird Safari Camp (FB), MacCarthy Island
Deep in the bush, on a tranquil island 300 km up-river, this is an ideal base for exploring the unique fresh water habitat upcountry. Wake up
each morning to an unforgettable dawn chorus of bird song and fall asleep to the sound of cicadas, owls and nightjar.
Tendaba Camp (FB), Kwinella
Great location opposite the Baobolong Wetlands, the salt water mangroves here are some of the tallest in
West Africa. Even non-birdwatchers will be amazed at the rich variety of birdlife in the area.
Jinack Lodge (FB), Jinack Island
On a peninsular by the northern Gambian - Seneglese border, Jinack Lodge is a simple collection of raffia huts
and a seaview restaurant set on 11 km of deserted beach. Supplement: £12 pppn (inc. full-board) + £55 pp transport.
You can choose from the following small hotels/lodges at the coast:
Each of these accommodation options has its own special charm and none features in any mainstream package holiday brochures. They
attract an interesting mix of travellers with an independent spirit who seek a "friendly, clean and comfortable" base in a pleasant location with good
company.
Visit Gunjur fishing village, Tanje village museum or go shopping in the local markets
Spend a day at Abuko nature reserve, Makasutu culture forest or visit James Island to retrace the history of the slave trade and how it was finally abolished
Chimpanzee Project - View details (180 miles inland)
Freshwater habitat - see hippos, monkeys, crocs & plenty of birds.
Sail past the highly protected islands where chimpanzees are being reintroduced to the wild.
Bansang Quarry (310km inland)
Only 10Km from Bird Safari Camp, this spot
is famous for its breeding colony of Red-Throated Bee-Eaters.
These brightly coloured birds
can be seen throughout the year, often in large numbers. They are particularly active during the
rainy season when they excavate their own burrows in the softened banks of the quarry.
You can visit Bansang Quarry as part of your Discover the River trip on your way back from
Basse
Basse (360km inland)
A small trading town on the banks of the Gambia River, 66km inland along a good tarmac road from Bird Safari Camp
Between June - February you may spot the gloriously patterned Egyptian Plover (aka. Crocodile Bird). Carmine Bee-Eaters can also be seen here throughout the year
Explore the bustling market and have lunch at Traditions, a small craft shop overlooking the river
Lemon Creek (B&B), Bijilo
Hibiscus House (B&B), Brufut 
Footsteps Eco-lodge (B&B), Gunjur 
Farakunku Lodges (B&B), Tujereng
Nemasu Eco-lodge (B&B), Madina Salaam
Boboi Beach Lodge (B&B), Kartong
Sandele Eco-retreat, Kartong
Bird Safari Camp (FB), MacCarthy Island
Tendaba Camp (FB), Kwinella
Jinack Lodge (FB), Jinack Island
BaoBolong Wetland Reserve (155km inland)
