Mandina Lodges

Mandina Lodges is a collection of nine eco-lodges built on and off a tributary of the River Gambia, deep inside Makasutu Forest. Four floating lodges and a two-storey stilted lodge sit over the water, alongside three jungle lodges and a smaller mangrove lodge on land, all built from mahogany with high beamed ceilings and four-poster beds under mosquito nets. Bathrooms are roofless and open to the sky. There's no air-conditioning or fridges.

Take a guided walk through Makasutu's forest with a resident guide, on the lookout for monkeys, baboons and the reserve's rich birdlife, or head out by dugout canoe along the Mandina Bolon to fish or visit a nearby village. Three-course dinners made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients are available, including delicious Gambian fish dishes, served at long tables under thatched canopies by the pool.