We stayed there for 5 nights it was great fun. The river trip to get there was most enjoyable, the mini bus part less so. Mark and the staff look after you exceptionally well. The food was good. We went on day break bird watching walks, fishing from the jetty and by boat. Trips on the river hippo spotting, we saw 4 or 5, plus numerous monkeys. Geogetown is a pleasant walk away and the town is friendly and the real Gambia. We opted for Tents they were good and spacious with showers and toilets. They are also well protected from mossies and sprayed by staff every evening. In summary a great place to stay, informal and enjoyable. Jane, Mark's fiancee is an Aussie gem with a laugh to remember for ever. Thanks to you all. Ray

It might be many miles up the river but when you arrive at the camp Mark ensures all those miles of travelling are worthwhile by 'going the extra mile' himself to make stays there very enjoyable. The 'tent' we stayed in was much better than we thought it would be (I don't think the website does it justice). There were daily early morning Bird walks given by an enthusiastic guide followed by a buffet breakfast. During the day Mark organised transport to the local town, fishing trips, boat trips etc. Drink prices were very reasonable. Mark and Jayne were great hosts and we will defiantly return.

My wife and I (and 2 other couples) spent 4 nights at the BSC. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had a fantastic time there. The journey up river from the coast was mostly by solar powered boat, the Solar Queen, which comfortably held 9 tourists and a couple of staff and Mark, the owner. We saw plenty of birds, expertly spotted for us by our guide, Ansoo, and also a lot of monkeys and baboons. We spent a night at the Tendaba Camp, en route, and had an excellent boat ride through the mangroves, again with excellent guides. The night in a hut in the camp was very hot, but there was a pool which was a blessing. The next day we continued for a short time on the Solar Queen before transferring to an air-conditioned mini-bus for a short drive, before once again going on the river in smaller boat - the Lady Hippo.

We arrived at the Bird Safari Camp late and were welcomed by the staff who explained how everything worked. After the heat at Tendaba, we opted for tents which were relatively new and provided excellent accommodation. They looked out onto the river and included an ensuite bathroom, in which everything worked, although the shower only provided cold, or luke warm, water but in temperatures of over 30 degrees, that was all that was required. The food was, at worst, adequate and at best, very good and there was plenty of it. Ice cold beers and soft drinks and some excellent South African wines were always available. Breakfast was excellent with bread freshly baked on the spot.

All the staff were knowledgeable, cheerful and friendly and in particular, Ansoo, the guide and Binta who manages everything, could not have done more. Whatever we wanted to do was never too much of a problem and we were honoured to be invited to Binta's home in nearby Georgetown.

The swimming pool was large enough to allow everyone to swim in comfort and cool off during the heat of the day. There was (solar powered) electricity in our tents and sufficient light to be able to comfortably read a book and it was cool enough to require at least a sheet to sleep under.

All in all, we would recommend this to anyone who enjoys getting away from the crowds, particularly (but not exclusively) if there is a strong enthusiasm for watching the huge variety of birds which inhabit this area. We also saw hippos in the river, but the guide was careful not to take us too close! And on the return journey on the Solar Queen, we were accompanied for about 15 minutes by a school of dolphins! Even on the various boat trips, food was provided at the appropriate times and tea, coffee and cold drinks at all times. Well worth a visit.

I stayed here for three nights with my 14 year old son. We loved it. There was no pressure upon us to do anything in particular, but plenty to do if you wanted. We swam in the river, walked into George Town, fished, and went in search of hippo's- which was fantastic. We located several, then went up river on the Lady Hippo where we swam off the boat whllst being watched from the trees by baboons. It was brilliant.
Our tents were nice and the bedding clean- lots of termites though, but they didn't bite- or live long when hit with a flip flop. The food was really tasty. I don't eat meat so they cooked fish too- even the ones we caught ourselves. This is the place to go if you are the type of person who doesn't mind simple living conditions surrounded by wildlife, whilst being exposed to the Gambian way of life.