Hidden Gambia river trips

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.

Click on the logos for more information.

Swimming pool	Distance from beach	Board basis	Supplement (pppn)
Swimming pool	Distance from beach	Board basis	Single	Double
	10 mins walk	B&B	£15	Inc.
	25 mins walk	B&B	£15	Inc.
	45 mins walk Free transfer by car	B&B	£15	Inc.
	45 mins walk Free transfer by car	Half board recommended: £9 pppn
	30 mins walk	B&B	£15	Inc.
	30 mins walk	Half board recommended: £9 pppn
	Directly on the beach	B&B	£15	Inc.
	Directly on the beach	Half board recommended: £xxx pppn

The following options are also available at a surcharge:

Swimming pool	Distance from beach	Board basis		Supplement (pppn)
Swimming pool	Distance from beach	Board basis		Single	Double
	15 mins walk	B&B	Garden room	£35	£15
			Cassurina	£40	£20
			Hibiscus Suite	£50	£30
	Directly on the beach	Guest rooms	HB	£39	£29
		Guest rooms	HB	£49	£39
		Lodges	HB	£59	£49
		Lodges	FB	£69	£59
	Directly on the beach	FB		£19 pppn
	Directly on the beach	FB		+ boat & vehicle transfers £55 pp

Safari Garden Hotel - View details
(25 min from Banjul airport)

Small and friendly - only 18 rooms
Set in a quiet residential area, 10 minutes walk from the beach
Swimming pool
Good choice of local restaurants nearby
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

Geri, Maurice & staff (Safari Garden Hotel)

Chimpanzee Project - View details
(180 miles inland)

Africa's longest running chimpanzee rehabilitation project
Over 80 chimps on 3 islands within the River Gambia National Park
Access is restricted and you may not set foot on the islands
Good chance of seeing the chimps as you sail up-river on the Lady Hippo to Bird Safari Camp

Farakunku Lodges, Tujereng - View details

4 individual lodges i.e. maximum of 8 people at any one time
Very quiet, secluded location
Good birdwatching possibilites in the local area
Close to Tanji Bird Reserve and Village Museum
Free 10 minute car transfer service to the beach
Free bicycle hire

Boboi Beach Lodge, Kartong - View details

15 individual African-style huts
Good birdwatching opportunities nearby e.g. Kartong sand mine, for European Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Painted Snipe etc.
Close to the southern border with Senegal where you can take a boat trip up the Allahein River
Go fishing on the practically deserted beach, or pick up a bodyboard (available on site) and surf the waves!

Madiyana Camp, Jinack - View details

Located in the Niumi National Park, on The Gambia's northern border with Senegal
Simple collection of raffia huts: basic, but beautiful
11 km of deserted beaches
Outstanding wildlife - many species of protected birds and animals
Optional two days / one night trip for �60 pp from your coastal accommodation

Bird Safari Camp (300km inland) - View details

Beautiful secluded location on the banks of a freshwater river island
Near to the Gambia River National Park
African-style round huts or safari tents, restaurant & swimming pool
Djembe tuition, local cooking trip, village visit, dance and music
Fishing trips - catch an African Tiger fish
Discover Gambian rural life and the ancient Wasu stone circles
12 metre swimming pool
Romantic moonlit dinners

Click here for a map of the island...

Canoeing round Pangon Island opposite Bird Safari Camp

Looking downstream from the Bird Safari Camp jetty

Sandele Eco-retreat, Kartong - View details

Located at the southern tip of The Gambia, well away from the tourist resorts
Superb food & drink
Stunning architecture; ecologically built and operated
Miles of deserted beaches
A special touch of class and comfort
HB supplement inc. transfers: �55 pppn (or �75 for single occupancy)
FB supplement inc. transfers: �65 pppn (or �85 for single occupancy)

Bintang Creek (80km inland)

Join the "Safari Queen" up-river from Bintang (Hidden Gambia bookings only)
Relaxing 3 hour trip to Tendaba Camp
Cooked lunch onboard
See bottlenose dolphins and osprey
N.B. Brand new boat with WC, shower (foot pump) and adjustable seating so you can lie down & relax

BaoBolong Wetland Reserve (155km inland)

The Gambia's largest protected area, this is a Ramsar site of international importance for birdlife
Situated across the river from Tendaba Camp
Explore the mangrove creeks on board a small boat
Impressive enough to excite even the non-birdwatcher!

Kau-ur Wetlands (160km inland)

A small area of swamp land on the north bank between Tendaba Camp and Kuntaur that keeps its water throughout most of the dry season
Excellent spot for viewing Egyptian Plover (June - Feb)
Other birds may include Purple Swamphen, Greater Painted Snipe and Malachite Kingfisher

Kuntaur Jetty (260km inland)

Join the "Lady Hippo" up-river from Kuntaur (Hidden Gambia bookings only)
4 hour trip through the River Gambia National Park
Lunch buffet onboard
See hippos, monkeys, baboons & plenty of birds
Option of spending a night onboard at Bird Safari Camp. Bedding & mosquito nets supplied - limited numbers only

Baboon Islands (River Gambia National Park)

Upriver from Kuntaur and downstream from Bird Safari Camp
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
Return to Bird Safari Camp via Bansang Quarry