Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge (please only name one species)?
It is impossible to mention one species only. All year round, so many species are coming and going. But the weaverbirds are around most of the year, building their incredible nests.
Beautiful Sunbird
What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating?
Kurumbo Lodge, operating since 2014.
Double-spurred Spurfowl
How best to travel to your lodge?
Traveling to our lodge is mostly done by a flight from Europe to the airport in Banjul, where people can be collected by our own driver. If you’re already in the country, you can still be collected or come by taxi.
Abyssinian Roller
What kind of services – except for accommodation and food – does your lodge offer to visiting birders?
Services for visiting birders include guided tours and/ or boat trips to spot beautiful waterbirds, like the pelicans on and near Pelican Island. For the rest, anything can be arranged on demand.
Pin-backed Pelican
What makes your lodge special?
Kurumbo Lodge is special because of how it is situated in the middle of nature, along the river Halahin, built partly in a local way, and known for its tranquillity. There is a bar built from empty beer bottles, and when it gets dark, we like to gather around a campfire.
What are the 10 – 20 most interesting birds that your lodge offers good chances to see?
- Yellow-crowned Gonolek
- Pin-backed Pelican
- Double-spurred Spurfowl
- African Grey Hornbill
- Senegal Parrot
- Senegal Thick-knee
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Violet Turaco
- Village Weaver
- Long-tailed Glossy Starling
- Little Bee-eater
- Black-shouldered Kite
What is the best time to visit your lodge, and why?
Any time is the best time to visit the lodge. Even in the rainy season, different birds show up – but people have to get used to the humidity at that time.
Little Bee-eater
Is your lodge involved in conservation efforts? If yes, please describe them.
We take care of our own conservation. The environment around the lodge is unique now that, everywhere else, locals are cutting trees for “development”.
African Grey Hornbill
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in visiting your lodge?
Bring walking shoes, long sleeves, and trousers for the evening, or when you walk through the bush. Bring good binoculars, a torch, and a good mood.
Grey Kestrel
Do you have activities for non-birders? If so, please describe.
There are plenty of activities for non-birders. There are boat trips, or fishing trips, bicycles for rent, strolling, workshops, and excursions. Anything is possible, we can arrange whatever you want, batik lessons, tie and dye, play djembe, cooking lessons, dancing lessons.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in staying at your lodge, how can they best contact you?
Contact us via WhatsApp+220 3419326 or
Email riarugge@gmail.com
See also www.kurumbolodge.com
Violet Turaco
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