The Gambia in Style - Photography Special

Tour Code: GMB04

A leisurely 8-day, single-centre, photography holiday based at the luxurious and picturesque Mandina Lodges in The Gambia's Makasutu Forest.

8 days from
£3,195 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

For this leisurely wildlife photography holiday, we will be based for seven nights at the superb Mandina Lodges, 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. On two days we will travel out of Makasutu to nearby reserves, including the coastal habitats of Tanji.

  • A warm-weather, single-centre wildlife photography holiday
  • Mandina Lodges and Makasutu Forest listed in the book ‘1001 Escapes Before You Die’
  • Led by expert wildlife photographer, Oliver Smart, plus local birding guides
  • Maximum group size of 8 participants
  • Carefully timed excursions to take advantage of light conditions
  • Very comfortable and relaxing base

We also offer our regular Gambia in Style holidays, as well as a specific departure at Christmas.

Grading

Grade A. Leisurely half day and full day excurisons and photographic workshops, on foot and by boat, all of which are optional.

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.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Banjul
Day 2/7
Photography excursions from Mandina River Lodges
Day 8
Fly London
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    Mandina Lodges consists of nine comfortable and discreetly positioned individual lodges. All the lodges are en-suite, and all have one king-sized bed, with the exception of two Jungle Lodges and one Garden Lodge which have two king-sized beds and can therefore be used for twin occupancy. Mangrove and Jungle Lodges are included in the standard tour price; Garden, Stilted and Floating Lodges are available for an additional supplement. Please refer to the detailed tour itinerary for more information on the different lodge types.

  • Food:

    Breakfast and dinner are included throughout the holiday, lunches are not. We recommend allowing around £10-15 per lunch.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 24th Jan – Fri 31st Jan FULL £3,195
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,050
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Oliver Smart
oliver-smart_20180902_095825.jpg

Tour Leader: Oliver Smart

Following a childhood fascination with the natural world, Oliver went on to study ornithology at the University of Birmingham during his mid-twenties. Alongside an emerging interest in photography, learning the art of bird ringing and volunteering for the Avon Wildlife Trust, BTO and RSPB, Oliver has put time to good use. His main passion is birds and through photography he has built a diverse collection of imagery, which is represented by both RSPB Images and Alamy. Combined with a desire to travel, Oliver has explored many parts of the world; his favourite destinations usually including a seabird colony or two, where the sight, sound, smell and opportunities for a photographer are second to none. His claim to fame to date though is an image he took in the Seychelles which has been used on a bank note!

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 23rd Jan – Fri 30th Jan SPACES £3,195
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,050
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Oliver Smart
oliver-smart_20180902_095825.jpg

Tour Leader: Oliver Smart

Following a childhood fascination with the natural world, Oliver went on to study ornithology at the University of Birmingham during his mid-twenties. Alongside an emerging interest in photography, learning the art of bird ringing and volunteering for the Avon Wildlife Trust, BTO and RSPB, Oliver has put time to good use. His main passion is birds and through photography he has built a diverse collection of imagery, which is represented by both RSPB Images and Alamy. Combined with a desire to travel, Oliver has explored many parts of the world; his favourite destinations usually including a seabird colony or two, where the sight, sound, smell and opportunities for a photographer are second to none. His claim to fame to date though is an image he took in the Seychelles which has been used on a bank note!

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Wildlife Photography Workshops with Expert Tuition


Our dedicated wildlife photography workshops are aimed at wildlife photographers of varying levels of experience and ability, including beginners with ambitions to learn and improve, keen amateurs looking to hone their skills, and accomplished photographers seeking exceptional photographic opportunities. 


Naturetrek Wildlife Photography Holidays


We work with outstanding photographers who share our goals of spending quality, informed time watching – and capturing – once-in-a-lifetime moments. Joining one of our wildlife photography tours will not only improve your technique and sharpen your reflexes, but will also optimise your chances of capturing memorable, high-quality images of some of the world’s most sought-after species. Group sizes on these holidays are strictly limited, not only to allow you plenty of room in which to work, but, just as importantly, to enable you to benefit from the dedicated time of our expert leaders. Our leaders aim to challenge your approach to photography, giving you the chance to pursue new avenues of creativity. They are also expert naturalists, enabling them to provide insight that will help you see your subjects in a new light, and improve your ability to predict and capture interesting behaviour.


Our tours offer:


    

  • Expert advice on how to get the most out of your equipment
    • 

  • Expert advice on composition and photographic technique
    • 

  • Photo editing tuition fills time that is unproductive for shooting
    • 

  • Extended time in hotspots to allow a focus on target species such as Jaguars, Tigers, bears, puffins and otters
    • 

  • Picturesque landscapes, visited at optimal times
    • 

  • Limited group size
    • 

  • Like-minded travelling companions
    • 



 




Our specialist recommends...






“Our ‘Mull’s Otters and Eagles’ holiday provides fantastic opportunities to photograph charismatic wildlife in a stunning natural setting, allowing plenty of time to hone your technique with the aid of an expert photographer. If you’re looking for a long-haul option, our 16-day photography holiday to Costa Rica has it all with abundant, vibrant wildlife; over 900 species of bird, 250 species of mammal and 1,200 species of butterfly. Combine this with its stunning landscapes, and few countries in the Americas are better suited to a photography holiday!”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager


 




All Photography Tours

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!