“Real journeys. Real people. Real impact"
Rated with top scores by our guests. Discover for yourself why so many travelers choose us. Below you can read some experiences from season 2024–2025 — and even more on our Facebook page via the link below. Let their enthusiasm convince you.
Of course, not every happy guest takes the time to leave a review — many simply forget once they’re back home —
so what you see here is only a part of the many wonderful experiences our visitors have had.
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 attention to people, nature, and detail. Book today and experience an unforgettable adventure!
★★★★★
We just returned home from our 10-day stay with Senegambia Birding. This was our first visit to Gambia and we could not have felt more welcome! The team at the Belgambia lodge is truly wonderful and went above and beyond to make our stay extra special. Kaddy was the best hostess we could have wished for and a great chef. The service by Hawa and Sonna was always impeccable. The rooms at the lodge are clean and comfortable. The garden is a little piece of paradise, well cared for by the always smiling Abu. From the terrace, you can already watch the most stunning birds as they feed and drink in the garden. There are 2 photo hides on the property that are also visited by countless birds and other animals - a photographer’s dream.A special shoutout to our private driver Musa who drove us around safely, and to our amazing guide, Muhammed. They accompanied us on all of our excursions and showed us around some of the best birding & wildlife spots in the country. Muhammed is extremely knowledgeable and no bird escapes his eagle eyes. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have seen half of the birds we did. In just 10 days, we saw 167 different species! To the whole Senegambia Birding team: thanks for the warm welcome, the cozy evening get-togethers, the laughs and mostly for an unforgettable vacation. We hope to be back again some day.
Lots of love from The Netherlands, Cindy & Rick.
★★★★★
A few weeks ago, my wife and I spent a week in beautiful Gambia – Africa’s smallest country, rightfully known as “The Smiling Coast of Africa.” For birdwatchers and nature photographers, this truly is a dream destination! A special thanks goes to Jim from Senegambia Birding for organizing our trip and for his dedication to creating a better future for the local community. We stayed four nights at Belgambia Lodge, which we can highly recommend. The rooms were spotless, the food was delicious, the garden was beautiful and equipped with two excellent photo hides, and the staff was incredibly kind and helpful. We had a great driver, Sly, and our fantastic guide, Cabla, made it possible for us to spot and photograph 180 bird species in just one week. Stefan Cruysberghs Photography
★★★★★
I landed in the afternoon at Banjul Airport, where my guide and driver for the next ten days, Omar Barry, was waiting. After settling into the brand-new Belgambia Lodge, warmly welcomed by Jim and ‘boss-lady’ Kaddy, I enjoyed three days of great food, good wine, a spotless room, and friendly service from Fatou and Sonna. We explored the Tanbi Wetlands, Lamin rice fields, and Mandinari woodlands, and I spent time in the lodge’s two photo hides spotting many small birds. From there, we visited Jamora Lodge, Farasuto, and Bonto Forest, then moved on to Tendaba Camp for two amazing boat trips with Goliath herons, pelicans, and dolphins. The journey continued to Bintang Bolong Lodge, where I photographed the palm-nut vulture, and to Kingfisher Lodge for a boat trip through the Marakissa wetlands. Back at Belgambia Lodge for my final three days, I visited the Senegambia Strip and enjoyed a boat trip at Kotu Bridge. In total, I photographed 168 bird species, travelled with the wonderful Omar Barry, was spoiled by the lovely team at Belgambia, and never got a single mosquito bite – I’ll definitely be back.
★★★★★
A top location for photographers.
We spent an entire week enjoying the warm hospitality of Jim, Kaddy, and their wonderful team, who went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable – and they absolutely succeeded. This place comes highly recommended!
Both our guide and driver were outstanding – true professionals.
Many thanks! Etienne Carremans
★★★★★
Just returned from a one-week trip to Gambia, and what an experience it was!
We stayed at BelGambia Lodge and everything was simply fantastic.
From the moment we landed, our driver Omar was waiting to take us to the lodge. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Jim & Kaddy and their wonderful team — we felt at home right away.
Throughout the week, we booked several excursions and were guided by Michel, who took all the time needed to help us spot the birds we were hoping to see. Our driver Musa ensured we travelled safely and comfortably to each location and back. The lovely ladies Sonna, Hawa and Fatou made sure our room was always perfectly clean and that we had everything we needed.
Special thanks to Kaddy and the team for the delicious meals we were served every day — always made with care and love.
What stood out most was the personal attention and warm atmosphere — whether it was the genuine interest from the team when we returned from excursions, or the cozy dinners where Jim and Kaddy joined us for a chat and a drink.
Finally, a huge thank you to Jim for this unforgettable week. You've created something truly special with BelGambia Lodge and your fantastic Senegambia Birding team.
We’ll definitely be back — after all, we’ve only spotted 143 species so far, and there are many more to go!
Angelique Bruers
★★★★★
Just returned from an outstanding 13-day birding trip with my photography buddy Ferry van Stralen, organized by Senegambia Birding.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience — and at times even overwhelming due to the sheer number and variety of birds.
I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the people who made this trip so special:
Ebrima Ceesay, our top bird guide, whose sharp eyes and ears picked up birds long before we could. His knowledge and dedication were truly impressive. Our driver, who made me feel safe every single day — and trust me, that’s no small feat in Gambia, where the “right of way” often means the strongest gets through first! Jim Oostvogels, his wife Kaddy, and their team, who went above and beyond to make our stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Thank you all for an unforgettable journey. Robert Roode
★★★★★
We spent 12 days in Gambia at the beginning of January 2025, staying the entire time at Belgambia Lodge. We had a wonderfully relaxing holiday because we immediately felt at home with Jim, Kaddy (she’s an excellent cook), the housekeeping ladies Fatou and Awa, the guides, and the drivers.
We saw so many birds — no fewer than 150 new species! We joined all the excursions available from the lodge. Full praise to the guides, who truly spot birds everywhere. Our guides were Cabla, Omar, Mohammed, and Bouba. Thanks also to Moussa and Idi, who drove us safely wherever we needed to go.
Even in the lodge garden and on walks in the surrounding area — such as through the mangroves or to the vegetable gardens — you can already spot many birds. Since we also enjoy culture, we took a walk to the village and the market, and spent a day in Tanji, the fishing village.
The temperature at this time of year is very pleasant — a dry heat. From about 12:00 to 16:00 it gets quite warm, but afterwards it cools down again. In the mornings, you might even need a light jacket. Excursions generally run from around 7:00/8:00 to 12:00, and from about 16:00 to 18:30. After lunch, we took a siesta during the hottest part of the day.
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would like to thank everyone very much. We are definitely considering coming back — perhaps next time combining our stay with a round trip into the interior. In short, Senegambia Birding is highly recommended!
★★★★★
I am a wildlife photographer from Denmark, and a few days ago, I finished my first trip to The Gambia. Ten of my 14 days in The Gambia was organized by Senegambia Birding, and I'm very satisfied with the job, they did. From pick-up at the airport and throughout the trip. We started in Senegambia Birding's own Belgambia Lodge in Mandinari, where each and every staff member made me feel welcome. From here, me and my excellent guide, Omar Barry, headed east, following an itinerary setup by Senegambia Birding, with my preferences taken in concideration.
Even the driving from destination to destination was a joy. Omar didn't hesitate to stop on even the slightest chance of a photo, and nothing avoided his exceptionally sharp eyes - from the car or in the field. I can highly recommend Omar as a bird guide, and besides that he is very sympathetic and reliable person.
I will most likely go back to The Gambia again, and I wouldn't hesitate to reach out to Senegambia Birding. I give them my best recommandations.
