Chimp Rehabilitation Project Camp (Badi Mayo), Gambia

Chimp Rehabilitation Project Camp
(Gambia, Badi Mayo)

The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project Camp (Badi Mayo) is in the River Gambia National Park, 270km up-river and is located just below the edge of the mainland cliffs overlooking the river and Baboon Islands. The camp is 9 miles from Kudang Village.

Hotel Room Facilities & Services:

4 safari tents (2 beds each) on elevated platforms

Outside private shower (sun warmed)

Wash hand basin

Shared toilet between 2 tents

Towels

2 chairs, centre table, stool

Early morning hot water for tea or coffee

Sunbeds

General Facilities & Services:

Food and drink served in Waterhouse hut by river

Chimp watching trips by boat

Boat trips around the creeks and islands

Visit Kudang village

Morning trek to Chassing Cliffs

Bird watching

Costs:

The typical rate for your stay is about £125 per person per night for full-board, inclusive of pick-up by boat from the town of Kuntaur to Badi Mayo and return, two trips per day and park entry charges.

Review:
The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Camp (also known as Badi Mayo Camp) is the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project's (CRP) working eco-camp for visitors.

• A Short History
The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project (CRP) began informally in 1969 when Stella Brewer Marsden, daughter of Eddie Brewer, the founder of Abuko, received a few chimpanzees rescued from merchant traders.

For the first 5 years orphaned chimps were re-introduced into the wild at Abuko Nature Reserve. As animal numbers grew it became clear that re-introduction into the wild was the better option. In 1974 the CRP was formalised with their move to Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal. In 1979, the project once again moved to the newly gazetted River Gambia National Park, where the chimps where given new homes on Baboon Islands. In 2000 the project was registered as a UK charity under the name of the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust (CRT). In 2006 Stella decided to offer chimp-watching trips to small groups of interested visitors.

The CRP is Africa's longest running chimp rehabilitation project which is now a sanctuary for over 100 free-living chimps.

• Eco-camp
The camp overlooks Baboon Islands, a collection of five islands mid-way on the Gambia River. Located inside the River Gambia National Park, the chimp rehab camp is about 270km inland from coastal hotels, which is about 4 to 4.5 hour drive by car. Unfortunately you can't get up close to the chimps as entry onto the islands is not allowed.

Your stay at the CRP camp should be seen like a working holiday, and you need to be physically fit in order to negotiate the winding stairs leading up to your tented accommodation. The 4 twin-bed safari tents are sufficiently big enough to permit you to stand and stretch your legs a little.

Each tent at the CRP camp is separated by 50 to 75 metres on raised platforms, sufficiently high enough to keep dangerous animals at bay and give you great views over Baboon Islands and of the wonderful vistas of the National Park.

Because the accommodation is an eco-lodge the tents are simple but comfy. There is an outside shower with water from tanks warmed by the sun, a hand basin, and a composting toilet jointly used between the occupants of 2 tents, located a reasonably short distance away. There is a flushing toilet cistern underneath the platforms which is near the Waterhouse hut, where meals are served, which is also on stilts. Above each set of twin beds there is a rectangular over-hanging mosquito net. Every morning piping hot water is brought up to your sleeping quarters for a cup of hot beverage prior to taking breakfast at the Waterhouse. Sunbeds on the outside porch allows you to relax during the daytime and hear the perpetual sounds of wildlife and streaming water that envelope you.

Meals are simple, limited in variety, and freshly prepared from produce brought in from local villages whenever feasible. You will be served European and local Gambian cuisine. When in season locally produced fresh tropical fruits and vegetables are made available to guests. Meals are served in the Waterhouse dining and boat departure area. This has a partially shaded porch and open seating area, good for wildlife spotting and unwinding. Drinks with your mean can be soft or alcoholic, such as wine or beer, but no spirits are stocked.

Often visiting the camp are Green Vervet and Red Colobus monkeys, which pass by the platforms regularly, while hippos and crocodiles can be seen in the river and on its banks, as well as Baboon Islands. Consider taking a boat trip to get up closer to the wildlife.

Because the CRP camp is closed to tourists 3 days a week, it is recommended your stay only lasts 2 or 3 nights. You could combine your stay with another accommodation such as the Tendaba Camp in Kwinella in the Kiang Central Region.

• Restrictions
The camp is not suitable for those with walking difficulties and, due to the restricted number of tents, singles are not allowed unless by special prearrangement. It should also be noted that children below the age of 13 are not allowed to stay at the camp.

• Tips
The camp has no grid electricity so eating meals will be by candlelight, so it might be a good idea to bring along a re-chargeable solar lamp and torch. However, during the night such lamps are given to you. Remember to bring along enough of your preferred toiletries and prescribed medications.

• Local Beneficiaries
Profits raised from paying visitors to the camp are on the mostly put back towards the welfare of the chimps, with a proportion going into other project work undertaken by CRP staff concerning local community development, as well as various government backed conservation schemes. Local villagers gain from the project via the employment of about 7 local workers.

* The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust is a UK registered charity (No.1081151).

* The Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Association project (CRA) is a Gambian registered charity.

Photos

Contact Address:

Chimpanzee Rehabilitation
Project Camp

(Badi Mayo)
River Gambia National Park

Kudang Tenda
& near Janjanbureh
Niamina East District
Central River Region
The Gambia
West Africa

Tel no: +44 (0) 1242 269 799 (UK)

Email: chimpgambia@gmail.com

Gambia Hotels Finder All

Below are various Ground Tour Operators offering stays at the camp & trips to Baboon Island.

Tilly Tours (Local)

Gambia Experience (UK & local)

Gambia Hotels Finder Search