You can cover a surprising amount of ground in The Gambia, a tiny sliver of a country that looks like a fly-by on the map. In our previous post we talked about exploring the Gambian river. In this post, we will head down the coast to one of our favorite places in the whole region: Footsteps Eco Lodge.

Conveniently located about an hour’s drive from Banjul, and even less from the airport or from the Senegalese/Casamance border, Footsteps is on the northern end of the village of Gunjur. Set back from the road, the lodge integrates seamlessly with a patch of jungle that is just a few kilometers from the beach.

Most Ecolodges exist in name-only. Footsteps lives up to the title. All electricity on the premises comes from solar power, the toilets are compositing, and the structures are built with local materials. Free filtered water is provided to all guests to discourage the use of disposable plastic bottles. Meals feature local ingredients and indeed some of the ingredients are actually grown on the premises.

The entire lodge is a haven for an incredible variety of birdlife and it is easy to understand why – David and his team have done everything they can to preserve the numerous trees and plant life on the property.

Speaking of David and his team, they are perhaps the most welcoming bunch in all of West Africa. There is a clear family culture when it comes to the staff, and it is unsurprising that some of the team members have been there for over two decades. From the rooms to the food, the team looks after you every step of the way.

Photo from https://footstepsinthegambia.com/

While Footsteps is a great place to unwind and relax, either in the comfortable rooms, on the sun deck or in the artfully done eco pool, there are also plenty of activities to keep you busy. The morning nature walk with Lamin is excellent. The walk is peaceful and meditative as well as a great chance to spot wildlife, birds in particular.

Lamin is a professional and will help you point your binoculars – provided by him – in the right direction. Fishing, cooking class, and live music are some of the other activities you can enjoy. We should mention that there is also a ping pong table, but be forewarned, David is quite the hustler when it comes to this game.

Finally, it must be said that the rooms are well-appointed and in no way do they lack in comfort, something that is often the case in ecolodges. The food on offer is a mix of local and European dishes and it is delightful. We are a big fan of the evening barbecue, which is often accompanied by live kora music performed by a local musician.

We have stayed at Footsteps many times on our scoot trips and it has now become a permanent part of our itineraries through the Gambia. If you are heading to the Gambia or even the northern part of Casamance, don’t miss an opportunity to visit!