Birding in The Gambia: Private Tours, Local Guides & Lodges
“Real journeys. Real people. Real impact"
SENEGAMBIA BIRDING ™
EASY BIRDING BELGAMBIA LODGE MANDINARI & MARAKISSA
One of the most popular birding tours in Gambia — exclusively with Senegambia Birding.
Plan your complete birding and photography journey from our two private lodges — you choose the departure date.
Discover our Belgambia Lodges in Mandinari and Marakissa — the heart of birding and nature photography in The Gambia.
Exclusively for birders, photographers and nature lovers, we offer two unique lodges away from mass tourism, surrounded by pure nature.
With our Easy Birding package you enjoy a fully arranged stay with full board, an experienced bird guide and curated excursions.
Our lodges bring together the best of both worlds: comfort, personal hospitality and unforgettable nature experiences
- at a price you won’t find anywhere else.
In just six hours of flying you’ll be under the African sun, surrounded by colourful birds, calm and warm hospitality.
A trip you won’t forget, where biodiversity, relaxation and photography come together — and every morning starts with a dawn chorus no alarm clock can match. Only at Senegambia Birding: honest, local and unforgettable.
Easy Birding — more birds than your memory card can handle, organised to perfection.
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We guarantee you’ll return more than satisfied. Limited availability: check your dates now.
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Prices are per person based on double occupancy; solo travelers, see rates below.
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BELGAMBIA EASY BIRDING I 8 DAYS
8 days, full board, private guide, 6 excursions
Mandinari & Marakissa
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BELGAMBIA EASY BIRDING I 10 DAYS
10 days, full board, private guide, 7 excursions
Mandinari & Marakissa
EASY BIRDING PACKAGE
BIRDS, NATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY — WORRY-FREE, UNFORGETTABLE
An unforgettable nature experience you won’t find anywhere else. Choose the Easy Birding Package and leave nothing to chance.
Send us an email to check if your preferred dates are still available. The Easy Birding Package is popular, so make sure to book on time!
For a carefree experience in Gambia: check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for tips, advice and all practical information ❯❯
With this trip, everything has been thought of. You will be picked up at the airport upon arrival and safely returned after your stay, so your holiday begins without any worries. You will stay in a comfortable room with electricity, private bathroom, double bed with mosquito net, and a fan – everything you need for a good night’s sleep, even while the owls are still active.
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The Easy Birding 8-day package includes 5 nights in Mandinari and 2 nights in Marakissa, full board, a private guide and 6 excursions.
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The Easy Birding 10-day package offers 7 nights in Mandinari and 3 nights in Marakissa, full board, a private guide and 7 excursions.
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The Easy Birding 15-day package consists of 11 nights in Mandinari and 4 nights in Marakissa, full board, a private guide and 10 excursions.
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The Hide & Guide 8-day package includes 7 nights in Mandinari with full board, a private guide, and unlimited use of our photohides.”
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Last-minute Easy Birding 8 days - Valid for arrivals 15 October–15 December 2025.
All meals are included, and the lodge provides free Wi-Fi. Even in the middle of bird paradise you can still share your photos with friends and family back home.
During your stay you have unlimited access to our photo hides in Mandinari – perfectly camouflaged and strategically located, sometimes shared with other photographers. In Marakissa you can also use the rowing boat to watch or photograph birds from the Halahin river.
With our Easy Birding Package you will enjoy a birding experience you will never forget. On average, you can spot 160 to 200 bird species in one week – an unparalleled variety for both seasoned birdwatchers and enthusiastic beginners.
Whether you want to focus on observing, photographing, or prefer a mix with culture and nature: your trip will be fully tailored to your wishes.
Our professional bird guide will accompany you throughout your stay and take you to the best hotspots, with carefully planned excursions through different regions. On days without excursions, you can enjoy relaxing walks through woodlands and mangroves, explore our tropical gardens or take your time in the hides. There’s always something to experience, with plenty of opportunity for a well-deserved siesta during the warmest hours of the day.
Book your Easy Birding Package now and give yourself the chance to experience the natural wonders of Gambia – where peace, adventure and photography come together perfectly.
BELGAMBIA LODGE MANDINARI
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A hidden gem in the Tanbi wetlands
Hidden in the unspoiled Tanbi Wetlands, just 40 minutes from the airport but miles away from crowds and mass tourism.
At the heart of Senegambia Birding, you will be warmly welcomed in English and Dutch.
Our lodge lies at the southern mouth of the River Gambia, surrounded by 4,800 hectares of mangroves and a total of 6,000 hectares of untouched nature.
Due to its unique and remote location, we only operate on a full board basis. Our fenced lodge offers 24/7 security so you can relax and enjoy your stay without worry. 100% solar power – Thanks to modern solar panels and lithium batteries we run fully sustainably – and without any Gambian power cuts :-)
Our comfortable rooms feature a four-poster bed with mosquito net, private bathroom, quality fan, six universal sockets and USB chargers.
Your room in Mandinari includes:
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A spacious canopy bed with mosquito net for an undisturbed night’s sleep
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A private bathroom with toilet and shower
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A compact laptop table with stool
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A wardrobe
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A quiet, powerful, high-quality fan
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Six universal outlets with USB chargers — ideal for cameras, laptops, and smartphones
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24/7 electricity • 100% solar • lithium storage
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Free Wi-Fi
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Windows fitted with insect screens throughout
On our grounds you will find a unique highlight: the only photo hide in the Tanbi Wetlands, a protected nature reserve in Gambia.
Our strategically placed hides and guides with photography expertise ensure you’re always in the right place at the right time.
With the vision of founder and photographer Jim, each trip is designed to give you the very best opportunities for that one perfect shot.
BELGAMBIA LODGE MARAKISSA
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Where Kingfishers Lodge lives on
On the banks of the Halahin river lies Belgambia Lodge Marakissa – a charming lodge surrounded by unspoiled nature and the bird-rich Dasilameh wetlands right on the border with Senegal. You will stay in round, traditional huts with a double bed, private bathroom and fan. The rooms are simpler than those in Mandinari, but they offer everything you need for a comfortable stay. What they lack in luxury, they more than make up for in authenticity, peace and the unique nature experience that makes Marakissa so special. Culinary delights are guaranteed by Fatou, our wonderful cook, who prepares tasty dishes every day.
Your room in Marakissa includes:
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Double bed with mosquito net
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Small private bathroom with toilet and shower
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A fan
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2 power outlets (UK adapter required)
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24/7 electricity
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Wi-Fi available at the bar near the rooms
Thanks to its unique location on the river, you can enjoy a relaxing boat trip, discovering an extraordinary variety of birds and wildlife. For birders and nature lovers, Marakissa is a true paradise: from colourful kingfishers to rare wetland species – here you are always close to the action. The Green Turaco is a regular visitor, and even the dazzling Shining Blue Kingfisher has been spotted more than once. Will you be the one to capture this rarity on camera? With the personal approach and knowledge of our team, every day in Marakissa becomes an experience you will remember for a long time.
A few impressions of our lodges
At Senegambia Birding, everything revolves around quality, passion, and personal guidance. You're not booking a standard trip – you're booking a tailor-made experience, with care for people, nature, and every detail. Book today and embark on an unforgettable adventure in the heart of West Africa.
RATES FOR SOLO TRAVELERS & SINGLE ROOMS
For a stay in a single room, a supplement of €80.00 applies for the 8-day package, €100.00 for the 10-day package,
and €150.00 for the 15-day package (based on a minimum of two participants, with a shared guide and excursions).
Because the fixed costs for accommodation, transport and guiding are normally shared between two people, the costs for a solo traveler are slightly higher.
The single supplement therefore covers the extra room price, transport costs, excursions, and the use of a private guide.
If you are traveling alone, the total supplement – including the single room surcharge – is €195 for the 8-day package, €240 for the 10-day package, and €350 for the 15-day package.
Despite this surcharge, the Easy Birding Package remains particularly affordable compared to other operators, with the assurance of professional guiding, comfortable accommodation, and an unforgettable birding experience.
EASY BOOKING, WORRY-FREE PAYMENT
Booking your trip with Senegambia Birding is very straightforward.
1. Book without deposit
You do not need to make a down payment with us. Proof of your booked flight is sufficient to confirm your place.
2. Check availability
Simply contact us with your desired arrival and departure dates. We always personally check the availability of rooms,
guides and excursions before confirming your booking.
3. Confirmation
Once your flight and availability are confirmed, you will receive an official booking confirmation from us with all the details of your Easy Birding Package.
4. Payment on site
The full payment is only made upon arrival in Gambia. You can pay in euros in cash.
For your convenience, we also accept payment by bank transfer.
This way you book worry-free: plan now, pay later – and still have the certainty that your trip is secured.