Our environment is designed to be both creative and artistic, and an opportunity for peace and relaxation. We hope Nemasu will inspire both locals and visitors alike to explore the beauty of our environment. We have an eclectic collection of art from around West Africa, and we’ve created a variety of indoor and outdoor “sacred” spaces.
We also have regular performances from local musicians, including Kora, djembe & singers / dance troupes. We have a diverse library of Western & African books. We also showcase local artists work.
The Gambia people are extremely warm, hospitable and kind. All of our staff are local. We’ve often trained people who have had minimal education or training, to become a valued part of our team. We source our food locally, and most of our tradespeople are from the local villages. We have projects supporting children to receive a full education, and we support local schools in their many fundraising endeavors.
Nemasu sits in an idyllic piece of coastal forest, looking out to a pristine beach and the Atlantic Ocean. We’re surrounded by beauty, but we don’t take it for granted. Our aim is to be as self-sustaining as possible: we are developing organic farming, we use solar panels to generate electricity and have solar heating to warm our water. We recycle our trash & food, and use state of the art septic systems. Our buildings are mostly built from local, natural materials.
We have planted hundreds of plants and native trees: Malina, avocado, mango, orange, lemon, lime, coconut, in addition to many local herbs. The Malina trees serve to reforest the local area, while the fruit keeps our monkey population happy. We have a family of over 20 monkeys who have made Nemasu their home. We also have a project to save local sea turtles, by protecting the eggs until they hatch, and then safely aiding the hatchlings reach the safety of the ocean.