In the smallest country in Africa, The Gambia. According to a survey of 500 tourists in The Gambia, Senegal and Sierra Leone conducted by AfricaInvestco.com, an African consulting and market research company, the tranquil Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge in the settlement of Bintang in The Gambia was named by a strong 17% of vacationers.
Other positive mentions were that this small lodge complex is so well integrated into the scenic beauty of West Africa, as if it had been built 100 years ago. Of course, the team around CEO Solo have done everything possible to preserve, or even reforest, nature. The peace and tranquility of the Gambia River is transmitted to the vacationers and visitors. Here you will be decelerated and yet this beautiful spot is considered the most popular resort along the 1120km long Gambia River. By the way, the Elbe River in Germany is a few kilometers shorter than the river described here.
Most cited reasons by respondents who had already visited Bintang were the lodge’s location directly on the Gambia River, the excellent food in the lodge’s “RIVER VIEW RESTAURANT” and the unique view of the tranquil Gambia River’s arm ‚Bintang Bolong‚ from the eco resort’s restaurant.
Gambia River: 1120km lenght
In terms of beauty, the Gambia River surpasses the slightly longer Rhine several times over. We are now in the Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge in Gambia, the smallest country on the African continent. The country of Gambia has a little over 3 million inhabitants and is considered a safe destination. The country’s beaches, especially in the south of Gambia, are among the most beautiful in West Africa and have the great advantage of being visited only occasionally by tourists.
The Gambia River is almost natural
The most known Europeans and more or less German rivers, e.g. ‚Elbe’ is almost 1100km long, the Gambia River can boast 1120km and the Rhine has a length of 1230km. However, the German rivers are highly deformed and no longer have a natural course, unlike their African counterpart. In fact, the course of the Gambia River is pristine and offers breathtaking scenery – it is hardly built upon.
The magnificent Gambia River course, which winds almost 1120km from east to west to the Atlantic Ocean in a seemingly wild melee through the country’s magnificent river delta. The riverbed is covered by magnificent and often large trees, providing a suitably beautiful backdrop to a unique flora and fauna. Since there is almost no development along this river, vacationers and visitors feel transported back to times long past. Also the very rare boat traffic on this quite navigable natural paradise provides for astonished visitors and tourists. Nature and bird lovers should always have binoculars in hand, because there is an incredible variety of species to marvel at: fish, birds, sounds from nature, the almost always shining sun, everything is here in abundance.
The Eco Lodge offers unique River cruises
This lovely Bintang Bolong lodge offers very beneficial river cruises for tourists. Ideal for bird and nature lovers to enjoy Africa in almost untouched beauty. While many rivers in Africa have been terribly organized, the course of the Gambia River has remained truly pristine and this is a huge advantage for tourism in The Gambia: travelers get ‚Africa unplugged’ here.
Situated in a beautiful river landscape, the tranquil Bintang belongs geographically to the West Coast Region of The Gambia. This district of Foni Bintang-Karanai lies on the largest tributary of the Gambia River, the Bintang Bolong, and is about 90 road kilometers from the capital city of Banjul. And so the authors of this article recommend very much to spend at least some hours on board of the ‘house boat’, owned by the Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge.
The Gambia River gives you an idea of how beautiful Africa used to be be
The village of Bintang is located directly on the shore and in November 2022 shows a tranquility and calm that was felt elsewhere perhaps in 1950.
The flagship of the whole region is certainly the Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge, beautifully integrated into the course of the river, which aims to promote eco-friendly tourism and preserve damage to nature and the course of the river. The people of Bintang benefit from the great success of the lodge, e.g. the school and numerous wells have been built, turning a remote region into a showcase community in West Africa.
Prices in winter 2022/23 are really inexpensively: The Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge accommodation is available from 40US $/night for 2 persons including breakfast and unique tranquility and location. You won’t sleep this well anywhere else, I bet.
The cute Lodge has skillfully integrated the cozy (wooden) cabins into nature. Guests feel deeply relaxed here. The night for 2 is available from 50 US $ incl. breakfast.
Bintang village currently has more than 1200 inhabitants who live mainly from rice, peanut and vegetable farming. Some also specialize in fishing and tourism. The village is divided into three kabilos (zones): Ceesay kunda, Manneh kunda and Jobateh kunda. Each kabilo takes turns hosting guests at Bintang Bolong Lodge and provides an equal number of employees. Their income is used for the development of the areas.
Interesting history of the Bintang Bolong Lodge
The co-author Ms Bint Faal about the Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge: “It’s an excursion with a time machine back to Africa in the year 1900, awesome beautiful nature. A river cruise is an adventure you never forget….”
The history of Bintang Bolong Lodge velief since its foundation is not told in few words. In 1992 the Frenchman Jean Guery came to Bintang – by boat. He saw in the beautiful piece of nature the potential of an appropriately gently integrated hotel facility and began construction in 1992 and had his first guests in 1994. He got a Belgian partner two years later – but the whole thing ended in court in 2004. It was then ordered by the court that the lodge come into new hands. Aspiring tourism expert Isatou Camara on this eco lodge: “It has a unique location and atmosphere, plus the excellent River View Restaurant, this is where I really get creative…”
Change of course since 2004, the Eco Lodge operates not longer for profit
Fortunately, in 2004 a German family bought Bintang Bolong Lodge and decided not to run it as a profit-oriented hotel resort, but to help the whole population of the region and to develop the resort with an ecological view. Since 2005, hotel manager Solo has been running the business. With a great deal of skill and imagination, he has incorporated social media into his media campaign, among other things. As a result, more and more African holidaymakers are visiting Bintang. Ecolodge Bintang Bolong reinvests is (modest) profits in the local biosphere, and is a very active sponsor of the village community.
Also in 2022 the Eco Lodge has a very good occupancy rate
With success: throughout the year, Bintang Bolong Lodge can point to a high occupancy rate. Even the worldwide Corona-related bad year 2021 made the staff of Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge sweat. An impressive 55% occupancy rate proves that this little corner of the world appeals to people. In 2022, 70% will be far exceeded, making Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge one of the most known and successful hotel operators in The Gambia.
The lodge has an excellent River View Restaurant
The restaurant is also popular with day visitors from Senegal or the capital, almost 100km away. No wonder, diners enjoy absolute peace and tranquility and a magnificent view of the river landscape. The oft-lauded restaurant (of course) offers mostly fresh fish and locally grown vegetables and fruits at reasonable prices. A glass of freshly pizzed orange juice costs 100 dalassi (about US $1.65), a big bottle of cold water 50 dalassi (less than 1 US $).
The River View Restaurant at Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge is “excellent dining” in the authors’ opinion. We authors can only wish Bintang Bolong Lodge and Solo continued good luck from the bottom of our hearts, because this lodge is a bright spot in West Africa and a good example that doing good is good for the environment and the region.
The lovely Bintang Bolong Lodge is easy to reach
The journey to this wonderful lodge is relaxing, hardly any traffic and good roads, that is rare in West Africa. Bintang’s most famous lodge is exceptionally easy to reach by car on completely well paved roads. The aha experience comes when the guests are just outside the lodge, the beauty of the Gambia River is overwhelming. That’s what happened to us yesterday and we couldn’t get out of our amazement. The Gambia River is surprisingly wide, almost 750m at this point. In other places it is up to 2km wide, amazingly much water for the ‚Smallest Country in Africa’.
Bintang Bolong Lodge helps the local population
This cute Eco Lodge at the BINTANG BOLONG river wants to do good, but does not want to make a profit. Ecolodge Bintang Bolong reinvests is (modest) profits in the local biosphere, and is a very active sponsor of the village community. That being said: the prices are fair and modest. For this reason the accommodation prices are very reasonable:
Winter special 2022/23:
2022/23 there is a winter special and for all guests staying six nights or longer there is a 20% discount. For groups of 10 or more there is a 15% discount.
Inquiries and info: Bintang Bolong Eco Lodge
