| 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. |
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| 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 |
|
| Cost: |
| 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.
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