Global planning photography trip Gambia

The planning of this trip is flexible, as we allow room for individual preferences and aim to adapt to changing conditions on the ground.

Day 1: Travel Day

We fly early in the morning from the UK to Banjul, the capital of Gambia. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our local transport, which will take you to our first overnight accommodation in just under an hour. We will stay here for at least three days.

At this nature lodge, you can drop off your belongings and take a moment to freshen up. The lodge boasts a fantastic garden and provides a serene setting to relax while enjoying a drink and watching the beautiful birds and surroundings.

Depending on your arrival time, if you arrive early enough, there may be an opportunity to head out on the canoes and unwind as you watch the breathtaking sunset over the river and wetlands, surrounded by nature. Otherwise, you can simply relax and soak in the atmosphere before enjoying a delicious dinner in the evening.

Days 2 to 3:

Depending on the size of the group (minimum 4 and maximum 8 participants), we will create a flexible schedule, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to go on a canoe trip at least once each day, either in the morning or the afternoon. From the canoe, you can often get very close to the birds and photograph them from a low angle.

We will alternate the canoe trips with short hikes, relaxing photo sessions from the garden, and time spent in the photography hides. Additionally, we will make a few excursions to a photography hide in a different area and a spot along the coast where we can capture flight images of various types of terns. Naturally, we will also set aside time for mutual discussions about the photos taken during our time together.

Day 4:

Today, we have a transfer to the interior, with our final destination being the oldest eco-lodge in Gambia. On the way, we will embark on a light hiking excursion to a forest managed by the village of Farasutu. This area offers excellent opportunities for photographing several species of owls, and nightjars are also frequently spotted.

After our hike, we will continue our journey to our accommodation. Once we check into our rooms, we’ll have lunch. For the afternoon program, we will visit two photography hides located near the eco-lodge. The group will be split into two for this activity. Both hides were built by Burama and his friends and are regularly visited by beautiful bird species. With a bit of luck, you might also get the chance to photograph mongooses, squirrels, lizards, and two species of monkeys, including the stunning red colobus monkey. We will enjoy our dinner at the eco-camp.

 

Day 5:

Right after breakfast, we will embark on a fantastic boat trip. We cross the wide Gambia River and adventure into the countless creeks of the vast mangrove forest. From the boat, we will capture images of waders, cormorants, pelicans, various types of kingfishers, and raptors. It’s also common to spot crocodiles and monitor lizards. Additionally, we have the chance to encounter special species such as the African finfoot, white-backed night heron, and, with a bit of luck, the Pell’s fishing owl.

After the boat trip, we will have lunch. The afternoon program is the same as yesterday, where the groups will switch photography hides. We will enjoy dinner again at the eco-lodge.

Day 6:

Today, we travel east towards Georgetown (also known as Janjanbureh localy). Along the way, we will stop at several excellent birding spots, one of the most beautiful being the area where a colony of red-throated bee-eaters resides.

Afterward, we will continue our journey to our lodge, situated right along the Gambia River. In the afternoon, we will take a boat trip from the lodge to Gambia River National Park. Here, we will encounter a variety of bird species, and we hope to capture photographs of hippos and various types of monkeys, with the most interesting being chimpanzees!

Upon returning to the lodge, we will enjoy dinner.

Day 7:

After breakfast, we will drive for about half an hour to Georgetown, where we will embark on a beautiful boat trip along the river and a tributary. This excursion is more focused on spotting and photographing a variety of stunning bird species.

At the end of the morning, we will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we will explore the rice fields surrounding the village, which are often teeming with birds. Here, we frequently encounter the magnificent Northern Carmine bee-eaters.

At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the lodge, where dinner will be waiting for us.

Day 8:

After breakfast, we will head west and first visit a colony of red-throated bee-eaters. We will then continue our journey, turning right at Farafenni to enter Senegal.

In the delta of the Sine and Saloum Rivers lies an island, which we will reach with the help of a local guide. Here, we will spend a night “wild” camping. Dinner will be provided, and we will sleep in tents. As the evening light fades, you can witness thousands of little kestrels and swallow-tailed kites coming in to roost; they mass together in the small forest in the middle of the island.

Day 9:

Perhaps we heard some hyenas during the night… The little kestrels have already departed early, but the beautiful swallow-tailed kites are still perched in groups in the trees. We will venture a bit into the forest to observe and photograph them.

After that, we will drive back to Gambia and arrive at a stunning mangrove creek with a few summer cottages. Depending on the size of our group, half of us will stay here (along with one of the guides), while the other half will spend the night two kilometers away in a traditional rural village. We will also have our meals together here. Musa has been maintaining his organic vegetable garden, spanning several hectares, near the village for years. In the forest surrounding the garden, there is a bird hide that we can certainly make use of. Delicious meals will be prepared for us, and we will dine outside under the stars!

Day 10:

Before breakfast, you can start photographing at the mangrove creek and the vegetable garden. Those who stayed in the summer cottages will also be taken to the vegetable garden, where we will have breakfast together. Afterward, we will visit the kindergarten in the village, which is a remarkable and heartwarming experience!

Of course, if you’re primarily interested in bird photography, that’s perfectly fine too! You can make use of one of the many amazing photo hides where the African Paradise Flycatcher is often seen, and you might even be lucky enough to spot a hybrid morph.

In addition to photographing the stunning avian life, you can also capture beautiful images of people engaged in their daily activities in the village, at the kindergarten, and in the vegetable garden. For those looking to document local culture, this opportunity is a real treat!

In the afternoon, you have a choice: stay in the village and utilise the bird hide, or take a trip to Kunta Kinteh Island, located 25 km away in the Gambia River. This former slave island provides valuable insights into the West African slave trade that took place here, with English, French, and Dutch slave ships capturing people and transporting them as cargo to various parts of the Americas.

Day 11:

After breakfast, we drive back east. Just before reaching the large town of Farafenni, we take a side road and check in at a relatively new lodge. Here, we will have lunch, and in the afternoon, we will utilise a new photography hide.

Day 12:

We depart immediately after breakfast and cross the bridge at Farafenni to the southern bank of the Gambia River. Continuing our journey westward, we arrive at our most luxurious accommodation: a lodge situated by a beautiful mangrove creek. The atmosphere here is very relaxed!

Of course, you can enjoy a variety of birds in this area, and there are monkeys to see as well. Large bats roost during the day in the immense trees on the grounds. Within walking distance, there is a bird hide that we are welcome to use at any time.

Day 13:

In the morning, everyone is free to pursue their own plans: take a walk with a guide before breakfast, make use of the bird hide after breakfast, or simply relax and unwind from the adventures of the past 12 days. You might enjoy a beautiful view of the creek from a comfortable lounge chair with a drink in hand.

After lunch, we will head west in the early afternoon and arrive at our final accommodation for the trip, a luxurious hotel located on the beachfront. This stay will provide you with luxury comfort and the chance to experience a different side of Gambian tourism.

Day 14:

We will set off early and have breakfast at a restaurant. Afterward, we’ll take a walk at the well-known Kotu Creek, popular among birdwatchers. During this two-hour walk, you will encounter numerous bird species to see and photograph. Following our walk, we’ll find a nice beach bar where we can spend the afternoon. Alternatively, you can choose to revisit the bird hide at Brufut, where we also stopped at the beginning of the trip. In the afternoon, we will take a short walk through the last remaining stretch of original coastal forest, providing fantastic opportunities to photograph the photogenic red colobus monkeys. To conclude our trip, we will enjoy dinner on the beach.

 

Day 15:

After breakfast at our hotel, we will pack our belongings and be transported to the airport for our return journey to the UK. As extra baggage, we will carry home a wealth of impressions from this country, known for its welcoming people and the many beautiful birds we have seen and photographed. I guarantee you that this trip is unlike any other, providing you with a genuine West African, Gambia adventure that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Cost

This trip can be booked starting from: £3,849,- 

Single Supplement for a Single Room or Sole Use of a Double Room: £450 (availability depends on group size and location; may not be possible everywhere).

• 1 Person – Shared Double Room: If you book this room, you will share it with another person of the same gender. This room has separate beds. If no one of the same gender wishes to share, you will need to pay the single supplement for a “1 Person – Single Room” for this trip.
• 2 Persons – Double Room: Booking a double room is ideal for couples and two friends traveling together for the photography trip. Please indicate in the remarks section when booking whether you want a double bed or two separate beds.
• 1 Person – Single Room: In this room, only you will stay. There is a supplement for using a single room. You may also be placed alone in a double or triple room. In both cases, the same supplement for sole use applies.

What’s Included:

• All accommodations in shared double rooms (2 separate beds)
• Photo reviews
• 3 meals per day
• Mineral water
• Costs for rental car and other local transport
• Guidance from a nature photographer and a local expert guide
• Use of hides and canoes
• Boat trips
• Camping gear for 2 nights
• Participants’ meeting prior to the trip

What’s Not Included:

• (Alcoholic) and soft drinks
• Personal purchases
• Tips
• Costs for any vaccinations and/or malaria prophylaxis
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Airport tax: approx. £/$40 (20 per vist)
• Single supplement for sole use of a double room

Practical information

Participants’ Meeting

Prior to the trip, we will organise a participants’ meeting so that you can get to know your travel companions and ask any questions you may have about the trip.

Accommodaties

All accommodations feature private showers and Western toilets in each room. They also serve meals that range from good to excellent quality. The level of luxury varies among the accommodations. All are basic, meaning the essential facilities such as toilet, shower, beds, meals, and options for charging batteries are available.

The accommodation we utilise on the northern bank of the Gambia River is indeed the least luxurious (we need to be mindful of our water usage), but in exchange, we are right in the midst of the birds and have the most contact with the local community.

Intensity

This trip is not physically demanding on its own. The walks are not long, and you can set your own pace. Gambia is located in the Sahel region and is warm throughout the year. During this time of year, the humidity is low, which means you’ll sweat less and generally sleep well. However, it’s important to protect yourself from the sun during the day and to stay well-hydrated.

Local Transportation

Transport on-site will be provided by two cars/buses, and boat trips are included in the tour price.

Equipment and Materials

• Our main goal is bird photography, for which you will need at least a 400 mm lens. Additionally, consider bringing the following:
• For landscapes: a wide-angle (zoom) lens
• For portraits: a 70-200 mm lens or prime
• Sufficient memory cards
• Enough camera batteries
• Waterproof sack for camera when getting in and out of canoe
• A tripod
• An empty rice bag
• Mosquito replant
• Hat and other sun protection

Regarding photography from a canoe or small boat: there is usually sufficient light. For this type of photography, it’s helpful to be able to shoot handheld with your large telephoto lens. Alternatively, you might consider bringing a monopod for added stability.

Climate and Clothing

January falls within the dry season, with low humidity levels. The maximum temperature hovers around 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius. Make sure to pack plenty of lightweight clothing. The sun shines for an average of 10 hours a day, so be cautious of sunburn. Protect yourself with sunscreen and a hat or cap.

Accommodations

All accommodations are run by Gambians, with the occasional mix of Dutch and Gambian management. The photography hides we use may be basic compared to what you’re accustomed to in Europe, but they offer excellent photography opportunities. They are built and managed by local people. The money earned by the Gambians through our visits is directly used for essential needs, such as purchasing food, or invested in vegetable gardens. These gardens are managed organically to maintain the natural values of the area as much as possible.

The individuals managing the photography hides are well aware that sustainable tourism is a long-term source of income. Therefore, they do their utmost to protect the environment.

Vaccinations

When traveling to Gambia, it’s important to ensure you are up-to-date on necessary vaccinations to protect your health. Get all the up to date information here on Gov.uk/Gambia.

Passport and Visa

To travel to Gambia, you need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival. A visa is not required for stays shorter than 90 days.

Safety

Gambia is generally a safe country, and the people are helpful, friendly, and extremely hospitable. However, when walking, it is advisable not to wander through tall grass or dense bushes due to the potential presence of venomous snakes. Staying aware of your surroundings will help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience during your travels.

Expected Species

During your trip to Gambia, you can anticipate encountering a diverse range of wildlife. Here are some of the species you may see:

Birds

• Bee-eaters
• Kingfishers
• Pelicans
• Ospreys
• Waders (such as herons and storks)
• Swallow-tailed Kites
• Red-throated Bee-eaters
• African Finfoot
• Various species of Terns
• And many many more

Mammals

• Various species of Mongoose
• Monkeys & Apes (including Chips, Baboons  and Red Colobus Monkeys)
• Various species of Bats
• Hyenas (rare to see)
• Bush babys (rare to see)
• Wild Boars (rare to see)
• Various species of Antelopes (rare to see)

Reptiles

• West African Crocodile
• Nile Monitor
• Agama Lizard
• Senegal Chameleon
• Other Lizards and Gekko’s
• Various Species of Snakes: Including non-venomous varieties and some species that require caution, such as cobras.
• Tortoises
• Frogs and toads