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Birdlife:
Marinelife:
Wildlife:
Charlie The Crocodile:
Lamin Lodge:
Bijilo Forest: Abuko
Nature Reserve: Makasutu
Central Forest:
Birdlife:
The Gambia is famous for its abundant birdlife with over 200
species of bird, just to mention a few; Pink Back Pelican, Longtail, White
Breasted Cormorant, African Darther, Yellowbill Stoke, Oystercatcher,
Pied Avocet, Rudy Toneston, Wimbrels, bartails, Black Tail Godwith, Flamingoes,
Oriel Warbler, Ahanta Fracolin, Little Bee Eaters, Snowy Crow, Robin Chat,Western
Bluebill, Grey Headed Bristlebill, the Violet and Green Turaco, Kaalass
and Diedrick Cookoo, Yellowbill etc.
Most tour operators in The Gambia offer amateur birdwatching tips. Popular
vantage points include Lamin Lodge (see below), from a boat in the Mangrove
Creeks and even within your own hotel grounds.
Marinelife: The Gambia is renowned for its wide variety and size of fish, and you don't have to be an experienced angler to enjoy a day out and have a chance of landing that really big one! Furthermore, whilst you are waiting for a bite, you can catch a glimpse of dolphins, turtles, birdlife and wildlife. We can tailor the day according to your needs and sea legs. For more information please see Gambia Fishing Trips or Contact Us.
Wildlife: Unlike some of the better known holiday destinations in Africa, The Gambia does not have any of the big cats or game however, there are plenty of monkeys and lizards (even in the resort areas) and further up river you may see hippos, crocodiles and baboons. The following are all within easy reach of the resort areas:-
Lamin Lodge: (a Swiss Family Robinson type structure) is built on stilts out into one of the mangrove creeks. Accessible by road, or boat, it is an ideal vantage point for watching the antics of the omnipresent monkeys or for birdwatching, and they also serve good quality food at reasonable prices. For further information on our boat trips see our Price List or Contact Us.
Meet Charlie The Crocodile at Katchikali near Bakau (otherwise known as the crocodile pit). It is only a few Dalasi to enter including entry to the new museum and visitor centre, and the more adventurous visitor is offered the chance to stroke Charlie himself. We have reluctantly done this ourselves in the past (without incident) but it is not something we would care to repeat. It is also rumoured that being bathed in the waters taken from the pit itself can aid fertility ..... something we have NOT tried ourselves!
Bijilo Forest, a nature reserve situated just 5 minutes walk from the busy Senegambia resort area is a haven of tranquility. Once again paying a few Dalasi to enter, you can follow a choice of 3 well signposted trails and see a variety of monkeys, birdlife and the most amazing termite mounds.
Abuko Nature Reserve: is just a short ride away and is apparently The Gambia's answer to a zoo, ensuring that you do get to see at least one big cat during your stay. To be honest, we have never visited the reserve and can not give you any idea of whether it is worth going or indeed how much it costs, but again most tour operators include it in their excursion lists
Makasutu Cultural Forest: on Mandina Bolong, can be accessed via road (just off the Brikama highway) or via boat from Denton Bridge (Contact Us for prices). Although an entry fee is charged it is well worth it if you fancy a day away from it all with the Baboons and Monkeys etc. The forest itself contains multiple camps including Mandina Lodge (a deluxe camp with accommodation provided in stilted or floating houses) and several bars and restaurants, all interconnected via various trails. For more information check out their website at http://www.makasutu.com.
Slightly further afield (and requiring overnight accommodation) you also have Baboon Island, home to the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Camp. Established by Stella Brewer Marsden in 1969, it is now the longest running Chimpanzee rehabilitation program in Africa! For more details or to adopt a chimp see http://www.chimprehab.com.
In addition, most tour operators offer a range of excursions (including pick up and drop off at your hotel), the most popular being Beach and Bush (large 4-wheel drive trucks). Please note that if you don't fancy being herded around in a large group, the Official Tourist Guides (found outside all the main hotels) can arrange the same trips, with added flexibility, in a tourist taxi for you, and usually for the same price.
