For the past 10 years we have been welcoming visitors from Europe in our cultural exchange programs. The primary focus has been on artistic and cultural exchange, specifically musicians.

The culture camps concept is based on full community ownership is materialised through the dividing of the income. 50% goes to salaries to the camps staffs, 25% goes to the upkeep of the camp, 25% goes to the Village Development Fund managed by the VDC.

Our camps are financially sustainable and provides a basis for further development and self-sufficiency in the villages.

NJAWARA CULTURAL CAMP
The camp is situated right in the middle of the village under big Mango and Cotton trees. There are five smaller round houses and two VIP-houses that can accommodate 20-30 persons and toilet and shower facilities separate. The restaurant and bar can cater for 50 persons where traditional food and cold drinks are being served. The villagers can offer you a cultural experience, with their old Griot tradition. The Griots are traditional musicians and storytellers and the Secka, Marr and Saine families are big names in the region.

In Njawara you can also experience the every day life in a multi ethnic society. The Njawara camp and its management generated dalasis over D600,000,- during the season 2004/2005, 50% of the income goes to staff salaries, 25% of the income goes to the upkeep of the camp and 25% of the income goes to the Village Development Committee (VDC) Fund. In 2002 the VDC spent part of the funds on maintaining the village borehole, supporting poorer families to pay for water-supply, re-building of the school, maintenance of the general mosque, building a wharf and a beach-bar, establishing a nursery of eucalyptus for the camp and the beach-bar and renovation of the main road. The camp-staff was expanded with two staff-members (from 13-15).

BEREFET CAMP
The camp is situated right in the the river Gambia and surrounded by a beautiful forest nature with many Baobab trees. There are five smaller round houses and two VIP-houses that can accommodate 20-30 persons and toilet and shower facilities inn. The restaurant and bar can cater for  over 60 persons where traditional and european food and cold drinks are being served. The villagers can offer you a cultural experience, site seeing in the forest and excursion on the river Gambia for bird watching and fisihing.

In Brefet you can also experience the every day life in a multi ethnic society. The brefet cultura camp and its management generated dalasis over D750,000,- during the season 2004\2005, 50% of the income goes to staff salaries, 25% of the income goes to the upkeep of the camp and 25% of the income goes to the Village Development Committee (VDC) Fund. In 2004/5 the VDC spent part of the funds on solar water pump for  the village borehole, power saw for the forest and a generator to light the village with ecetricity. Building of a big passanger boat for transportation. making an artificial beach. The camp-staff was expanded with two staff-members (from 18-20).

TUMANI TENDA KATCHOKOR ECO -TOURISM CAMP

This was ECCO`s first sustainable cultural camp, the camp is situated outside the Tumani Tenda Village on the banks of the river. There are five houses that can accommodate 20-30 persons and a house with toilet- and shower facilities, down by the river you find the bar and restaurant area where you can buy cold drinks and traditional Djola food. Tumani Tenda is a typical Djola village and consists of five large families, including one Manjaco family. The Tumani Tenda camp has been developing links with the tourism industry in The Gambia and is now a part of several national tour-operators` alternative trips. The camp and its management are members of Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET), and they have through generating of funds renovated the camp in order to fit into tourism Authorities` requirements for operation.