Lonely Planet Guide : This relaxed place is a real gem !
Our lodge on the beach of Kafountine is easily reached from the Gambia - two hours from Banjul airport - and is located in the Casamance, renowned as one of the most beautiful regions of Senegal in West Africa. We welcome you to our unique lodge with its tropical garden and lake spread across several acres - as well as our beach bar and facilities.
Set in the wild heart of a palm forest, beside a natural lake, it's a paradise for birds (and birdwatchers), with over 140 species seen so far. Meanwhile our beach bar sits on a dune overlooking an unbroken stretch of sme ten miles of empty sands. It's the perfect place to come and relax into the unique experience that is Africa - far from the crowds of mass-tourism - and to enjoy the gentle rhythm of the small fishing village of Kafountine.
Close by are numerous islands, reached only by dugout canoes ('pirogues'), among the hundreds of miles of rivers ('bolongs') that wend through a dense maze of mangroves. This 'African Amazon' is an environmental gem of international importance, offering a peace and serenity that unfolds timelessly as you explore it.
Our French, Senegalese, Ivorian and Guinean team at Esperanto Lodge looks forward to helping you discover this unspoilt and protected place, where time and space meet to gently take you far from the world...
"This relaxed place on the beach is a real gem. You might be tempted not to leave the hotel at all if you choose to stay. Bungalows are large and pretty but it's the landscaped garden with its palm trees and bamboo bridges and the location between river and sea (and the birdlife this attracts) that hold the greatest appeal. Or it is the tasty food served at the restaurant?"
Lonely Planet Guide to The Gambia & Senegal, 2009
Click photo for slideshow of our beach Click photo for slideshow of our bush Click photo for slideshow of our beach
"Esperanto Lodge is in a wonderful location between the sea and a bird-filled bolong. The attractively decorated and very comfortable rooms fan out from an open-sided bar..." Lonely Planet Guide to The Gambia & Senegal, 2009
Click photo for slideshow of the lodge 
"In the 'ecolodge spirit', Esperanto Hotel has very comfortable rooms, nicely decorated. The meals are refined and of a high quality. There is a warm welcome from Eric and his wife Justine"
Guide Petit Futé Sénégal 2009/2010 (French travel guide)
"Esperanto Lodge: the birdwatchers’ paradise in Casamance "
Senegalese Tourism Guide, 2008
Click photos for bird slideshows
"Eric’s place is well known to nature lovers and birdwatchers...
The estate of many acres constitutes a real ornithological reserve."
Guide Petit Futé Sénégal 2009/2010 (French travel guide)