Fathala Wildlife Reserve

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Senegal - Sine Saloum South | Karang

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Hop across the Gambian border into neighbouring Senegal, where you’ll discover luxury wrapped in canvas. Staying in luxurious, air-conditioned safari tents, Fathala allows guests to experience a selection of Africa’s superb wildlife.

Guest Opinion

"We set off for Fathala expecting a surreal wildlife experience and were not disappointed. But the quality of the food, accommodation and staff was a real bonus."

- Mr Silvester

What we love

Observing the rhino up close during dinner when he visits the watering hole at the lodge.
The 40-minute ferry crossing – a wonderful opportunity to experience authentic African life before arriving at your lodge.
Your English-speaking hosts and local guides help to make you feel very much at home.

Good to know

Upgrade to a deluxe safari tent, complete with open-air Jacuzzi.
Excursions packages are available to pre-book, including game drives and a selection of excursions. Alternatively, individual trips can be arranged on arrival.
A wide variety of birds can be viewed around the reserve, however it is not possible to walk unaccompanied outside the grounds of the lodge itself.

A unique location

Fathala Wildlife Reserve is totally unique and allows you to combine a safari experience with a wide range of other excursion options, making the most of its unique location close to the waterways of the Sine Saloum Delta, rich with birdlife.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of Africa from the terrace of your luxurious accommodation, or cool off in the plunge pool. A magical atmosphere exists by night as guests gather around the fire pit, observing the wildlife at the nearby watering hole before dining in the traditional thatched restaurant.

Safari excursions

Take a glimpse into West Africa’s past on board a safari truck for a local game drive which run morning and evening. Expert guides will help you to explore the bush and its inhabitants, including rhino, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, monkeys, antelope including the endangered Lord Derby Eland and more, all roaming free. This experience allows you to get close to these incredible animals which have been reintroduced to their natural habitat, so be sure to remember your camera!

The real treat with Fathala, luxury safari tents aside, is that it’s big enough not to feel overly managed. Set within 5,000 acres of a 15,000 acre national reserve in the Sine Saloum South region of Senegal – the animals roam free, minding their own business – and yet it is set up in such a way that the wildlife always feels close enough to lend a sense of being immersed in Africa. A safari in Senegal is a real treat for any animal lover looking to have a truly unique holiday experience.

How to get to Fathala

This property is easily reached from The Gambia and the transfer from Banjul is approximately four hours, often less depending on border crossing times, including a river crossing of approximately 40 minutes. You can combine Fathala with any of our Gambia or Sine Saloum Delta hotels; if only staying at Fathala or combining with other Senegal properties you'll need to spend your first night in The Gambia. Due to the slightly erratic nature of the ferry timetable it may be worth considering not returning to The Gambia on your return flight day for peace of mind.

It is also featured in our 7-night Luxury Hotel and Safari Lodge Tour, combining the elegant adult-only Ngala Lodge with a wildlife experience at Fathala Wildlife Reserve.

Rooms

Board Basis

Bed & Breakfast

Lodge facilities

Plunge pool with sunbathing deck
Open-air Mahogany restaurant and bar
20 luxury safari tents
Hot and cold breakfast
Light à la carte lunch and three-course set menu for dinner (both payable locally)
Day centre for activities

Activities

Fathala Wildlife Reserve has a newly renovated activity centre which offers a wide selection of excursions, enabling you to experience the Reserve fully (payable locally in CFA, €, £, $ or can be pre-booked).
FATHALA WINTER/SUMMER SPECIAL: the two-night option includes two dinners, a three-hour guided game drive and one sunset mangrove cruise per person (including snacks and selected drinks) - from £160pp in addition to the cost of your accommodation.
FATHALA WINTER/SUMMER SPECIAL: the 3-night option includes three dinners, a three-hour guided game drive (including snacks and selected drinks), one full-day island boat trip (including lunch and selected drinks) and one bush walk per person (including water, coffee and biscuits) - from £245pp in addition to the cost of your accommodation.

Room facilities

Air-conditioning
Twin / double four-poster beds
Mosquito nets
Tea & coffee-making facilities
Private deck
Bathroom with freestanding bath, twin basins, flushing toilet and guest amenities
Private open-air double showers
Safety deposit box
Hairdryer

Cuisine information

The open-air Mahogany Restaurant and lounge is the ideal place to enjoy a filling continental breakfast, with hot dishes cooked to order, or a delicious lunch and evening meal, whilst enjoying the sights and sounds of the reserve around you. The Fathala Cafeteria with pizza oven at the Activity Centre serves light lunches.

The following cuisine information is available for Fathala Wildlife Reserve

Breakfast is served buffet style, with hot dishes cooked to order
Light à la carte lunches (payable locally)
Three-course table d'hote menu for dinner, payable locally (approximately €25pp)
Vegetarian options: Yes but please advise chef on arrival to discuss your requirements
Highchairs: Not applicable

Please note that there are no other restaurants in the vicinity as the lodge is in the middle of the game reserve. Credit cards are accepted at this property.

Location

Beach: N/A
Restaurants: On site
Transfers: From Banjul 4 hours

Rooms at Fathala Wildlife Reserve

Safari Tent

Fathala Wildlife Reserve Safari Tent

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From £1,249pp

Sleeps up to 3 (2 adults)

Minimum child age: 4

More Information

Deluxe Safari Tent

From £1,368pp

Sleeps up to 3 (2 adults)

Minimum child age: 4

More Information

Hotel Restaurants

Hotel

About the Local Area (Sine Saloum South)

The Sine Saloum Delta is an 180,000-hectare area that encompasses the Saloum Delta National Park, and is a truly stunning part of Senegal.

Formed where two rivers converge on the mighty Atlantic Ocean, it's a region of great diversity consisting of a unique estuarine environment, glorious beaches, mangrove swamps, sand islands and ever-shifting dunes. The region is a joy to explore, and whether you're picking your way in a personal horse drawn carriage through the great herds of baobabs and salt-craters dug by the local women or quietly navigating the lush greenery of the labyrinthine waterways in a pirogue you're sure to absorb the region's gentle magic.

Thanks to its ecological diversity it is also rich in animal life, and for birdwatchers, the Delta will also not disappoint; home to a stunning variety of birds, such as flamingos, pelicans, herons, gulls, terns, egrets and avocets. Many of the hotels will arrange special birding trips to view them in their natural habitats.

For the fisherman, it is an angler’s dream with a wealth of fish in both the rivers and the ocean; you might even spot the odd manatee or dolphin in the coastal lagoon. Many of the hotels have their own boats or pirogues and offer specialised fishing trips, as well as more leisurely sightseeing trips along the rivers to deserted beaches and local villages.

Activities

In the Sine Saloum, many of the hotels have their own boats and offer specialised birding and fishing trips, as well as more leisurely trips along the river to deserted beaches.

Nightlife

As the hotels in the Sine Saloum Delta are a little more isolated, evenings are usually spent in the hotel enjoying a good meal and drinks in the bar, with occasional musical entertainment.

Activity Information

Fathala Wildlife Reserve's Activity Centre can arrange a number of activities, excursions and experiences, enabling you to fully enjoy all that the Reserve has on offer. These can be pre-booked before you travel with our Reservations Team or on arrival. (Children aged 4-12 50% discount)

Guided Game Drive

During your stay at Fathala, enjoy a typical African bush experience in an open-air vehicle on a guided sunrise or sunset game drive through the reserve. See family herds of the rare West African giant derby eland – only found in this part of the world, and visit the breeding camp – and other antelope species such as roan, waterbuck and bushbuck. Also to be seen are giraffes, rhino, buffalo, warthog as well as red colobus, green vervet and red patas monkeys and exquisitely coloured bird species amongst the giant African mahogany trees. Enjoy a morning coffee or evening sundowners and snacks next to the waterhole as you experience a magnificent African sunrise or sunset. Binoculars are advisable as animal and bird sightings are not always close by.

Duration: 3 hours

Guided game drive includes: vehicle, guide, snacks and drinks.

£39.50