The Gambia in Style - Photography Special

With the recent political issues in The Gambia now peacefully resolved, and a new and far more liberal and progressive president in power, this small West African country is very much open for business again. We are therefore delighted to announce the launch of this new photography-focused departure of our hugely successful ‘The Gambia in Style’ holiday, led by expert wildlife photographer, Oliver Smart. Only a 6-hour flight away, and boasting over 570 species of birds, The Gambia is blessed with a fabulous variety of habitats and an extremely photogenic mix of bird species. This holiday not only offers an excellent opportunity to view and photograph an exciting variety of West African birds, but the chance to refine your photographic skills under Oliver’s expert guidance. We will be based for seven nights at the superb Mandina Lodge, set within 1,000 acres of the Makasutu Cultural Forest and bordering the secluded mangrove-lined tributary of the River Gambia. From here we will have plenty of time to explore the surrounding habitats on foot and by boat, taking advantage of the fabulous photographic opportunities on offer. During our stay we are likely to encounter a wide variety of herons, egrets, waders, kingfishers, bush-shrikes, raptors and glossy starlings, plus a stunning kaleidoscope of sunbirds, rollers, bee-eaters and turacos. With such a wonderful array of wildlife available to photograph around the lodge, we will employ a flexible programme of early morning and late afternoon excursions, taking advantage of the best of the light conditions, whilst allowing time off in the middle of the day to review our pictures or to simply relax by the pool. On two days we will travel out of Makasutu to nearby reserves which offer a different range of species, including the coastal habitats of Tanji, where, amongst the loafing gulls and terns, we will watch the numerous fishing boats coming ashore with their catches. This tour is designed to offer anyone with a keen interest in photography the opportunity to develop their skills under the expert guidance of a professional wildlife photographer. With such a comfortable base, it is also well suited for partners who wish to watch, instead of photograph, the birds or enjoy some relaxation and sun in a very tranquil setting.