Responsible Tourism

Bintang Bolong Lodge

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Where we are.

The  Lodge is located near the village of Bintang, a small and authentic African village with approximately 700 inhabitants. Bintang is approximately 87km from the capital Banjul in a rural area far away from the tourist centers at the coast. The next large settlement is the town of Sibanor in a distance of about 12km. The main source of income to the area include rice, peanuts and vegetable farming.

What you can see and do.

Due to the Lodge's location in the middle of a mangrove forest, visitors can experience the exceptional flora and fauna of brackish wetlands. As the flood retreats the receding waterline exposes countless creatures such as crabs and mud skipper caught in the sludge of the river bed.

In the evening apes and vultures inhabit the overwhelming Baobab trees, and after dusk great colonies of fruit bats can be seen swarming into the night.

The spacious restaurant terrace offers the unique opportunity to observe the diverse wildlife in and around the river. As well as flying fish and numerous types of bird species, with a little luck, you might just catch a glimpse of pelicans and passing dolphins.

Walking-tours of optional length to the mangrove forests are possible either accompanied or on your own account.

A carver is engaged, who creates his sculptures in front of the guests and who realizes the guests' orders.

Small crocodiles, basking in the sun, can be found just a 5-minute walk away.

There are also plenty of boat trips available. For example, you could visit Santamba Wharf (an abandoned village), Fort James Island (one of the first European colonies) or Juffure (birth place of Kunta Kinte).

Guided canoe tours are arranged for bird watchers and nature lovers.

Jeep tours are organized to visit the zoo in Kanilai, the craft market in Brikama etc.

You could also arrange to see dance or drum performances, or to take lessons, to accompany the fishermen during their daily catch, to learn about the way of life and the culture of Gambia, or to experience the rice and shell harvest.

You can experience the way of living of an authentic African village and visit the school and/or kindergarten

Facilities available.

The main attraction of the hotel is the River Restaurant with its large terrace from which you can experience incomparable sunsets. The restaurant serves chilled drinks alongside local and international cuisine - the fresh fish dishes are the speciality.
The saltwater swimming pool can be used by guests, who do not want to bath in the Bintang Bolong.
The bakery of the Lodge provides fresh bread to the guests.
The Lodge support a gift shop, where local artists can sell their artworks to the guests.

Rooms and food.

At the Lodge there are 7 land-based rooms, which take a maximum of 2 people in double or twin beds (both is available).
There are also 6 huts on stilts which can accommodate 2, 3 or 4 people depending on the hut.
All rooms have an en suite shower and WC. The huts for 3 or 4 people also have a terrace.
Mosquitoes aren't a big problem here due to the high saline content of the River Gambia, but sleeping quarters are protected with mosquito nets.

Why we are special

The Lodge is a non-profit project, created to support the local community of Bintang and a surrounding villages. All income remains in the Gambia, either as wages, as reinvestment or as donation to local organisations and institutions, e.g. school, nursery school.
The lodge is located in the rural interior of the Gambia far away from the tourist centers at the coast. It was built and renovated by inhabitants of Bintang and is now managed and run by locals exclusively.

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