Up-river itineraries of various lengths are available during the low season from
May - October and are based on our summer boat / vehicle schedule.
Trips require a minimum of 2 people to operate (see group discounts) with typically no more
than 4-6 people travelling up or down the river at any one time.
You can either book your flight to The Gambia
independently and make your own arrangements for staying at the coast, or book a package holiday e.g. with
Gambia Experience and not use some of the coastal accommodation whilst up-river.
To view a description of these itineraries to The Gambia, please click on the itinerary ref. on the left hand side
e.g. "Tue_4nts".
We have collated details of all known flights to The Gambia on our calendar page within the
plan your holiday section of the web site. To select specific dates and to customise
your itinerary, please click here to plan your holiday.
An asterisk (*) shows days when an expert birds & wildlife guide (+ vehicle) will be available up-country.
Most "Discover the River" clients are quite independent and enjoy the balance between spending time
as a group and "doing your own thing".
The staff at Bird Safari Camp offer a range of activities which are included in the price (e.g. Djembe tuition,
cooking lessons, village visit, drums & dance). No need to book this in advance - simply discuss with your guide
what you'd like to do once you get there.
Discounts policy for Summer up-river trips
Group discounts:
3 adults
15% discount
4 adults
20% discount
5 adults
30% discount
6 adults or more
35% discount
Child discounts:
Under 12
25% discount
Under 2
Free
* The above discounts apply to the "Summer up-river trips" only.
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