a field guide to birds of the gambia and senegal​​​​​​​

​​​​​Gambia Birding Tours offers different Gambia tour packages. Among them we offer exclusive 14 days Bird Watching, photographing and nature tours across The Gambia and Senegal, the Tours is design to meet the needs of potential birders whether you are looking to increase your listing, or searching for lifers plus good proximity to get the chance of that good photos of the day. 

​​​​​​​See the itinerary below for the tour overview:

The tour will start at the coastal area of the Gambia that comprises of different habitats ranging from savanna Woodland,  community and Gallery Forests with Lagoons a long the coastline. Taking us further up country will allow us to explore both the North and South Bank of The Gambia dissected by the famous River Gambia, interestingly the diversity of birdlife of the region can be recognised by the different species you will encounter during the tour where sahellian species from North like the Sudan Golden Sparow, Speckle Fronted Weavers, white and Savele's Bustard, and on the South mainly forest species like Green and Violet Turacos, White-Spotted flufftails Yellow-billed Coucals and many more. 

Starting from coast we will be staying at one of  the best bird friendly Lodges at the coast called Boabab Island Lodge for couple nights within the range of Birding sites we will be visiting. Also at Marakissa River Camp  sitting on the Bank of very beautiful Creek ideal for photographers. Going further inland through south  Bank we will visit Tendaba Camp close to Kiang West National Park plus Baobolong Wetlands by boat trips looking out for Martial Eagle, Otters, West African Crocodiles plus breeding colonies of White Breasted Comorands and offcourse warthogs. 

We will proceed further crossing to the North Bank of The Gambia staying few nights at Morgan Kunda Lodge at Jajari Village  on the best areas for birding in the North Bank, our visit will Cover area like Giron Woods, Jammansari/ Kathmandu Woods, Baobolong Wetlands. We will also cross the border to Senegal for one of the best roosting sites of Swallow Tailed kites in their tens of thousands  unmistakably visible on top the trees approaching the Island after crossing the Creek with small canoes. 

From first entry in Senegal we will return back to The Gambia going further more to Georgetown now entering into the fresh water Region of The Gambia. Boat trip will be conducted along the River Gambia at Kuntaur for Hippos and  Chimpanzees this will avail us more opportunities to so see more birds like Finfoot, Marabou Storks, African Fish  Eagles chances of Pel Fishing Owl and many more. 

The trip continues yet again beyond Gambia Going through Basse crossing on the Southern Region of Senegal  heading to Wassadu Camp also sitting on top River Bank of Gambia River.  We will conduct boat trips and later on a Safari at Niokolo koba Park is very rich in wildlife and birdlife in particular where there is  opportunity to see Leopard, Roan Antelopes, Warthogs, Lions etc. Birds expected are Iconic Egyptian Plovers, White Crowned Plovers, Adamawa Turtles Dove, Pel's Fishing Owl, White Throated Franklin and many more. Couple of nights there and then drive back to the Gambia for the rest of  the trips coming via South Bank of The Gambia a night at Georgetown and Tendaba Camp later proceed through Kampanti Rice fields  then conduct the rest of the trip from Lodges we be staying. After the successful trip we will  ready for departure for journey back home.
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Itinerary of the 14 day Tour

​​​​​​​Day 1

We start with an airport transfer to your Hotel at Lemon Creek Hotel at the coastal area of Bijilo just 10 kilometres about 25 minutes’ drive from the Airport, on the way you will be introduce to local and common species and more so around your Hotel area too will provide you more wonderful species like Blue Breasted, Kingfisher, Piapiac, Starlings, Lizard Buzzards Hornbills and many more the list can go up 30 to 40 species just that short period depending on the time of your arrival we could have some few hours work around the Famous Kotu Area then back to the Hotel for dinner later in the Evening.

Day 2

We will start early at 7 am in the morning after breakfast we will drive to Brufut woods 10 kilometres from you hotel for half day trip. It will take us under 25 minutes to the wood land a community forest where we will walk through the most interesting areas within the forest and its surroundings birding around the woods, later we will converge at a woodland bar area for cold drinks and coffees while attending some of the species coming to the drinking point created for the most exotic species, like Green and Violet Turacos, Grey Headed Bristle bills, Pygmy Kingfishers, yellow Throated Leafloves, Yellow White Eye. in the area the expected species are Long Tailed Nightjars, Klaas' Cuckoo Diederick Cuckoo, Shikra, Red Necked Falcon, Black Shouldered Kites, White Faced Scoops Owl and many more. At 12;30pm we will  proceed further to Tanji Eco lodge at distance of 5 kilometres only 15 minutes’ drive for lunch break by the drinking pool ideal for photographing birds like Sulphur Breasted Bushrike, African Silverbills, western Blue Bills, yellow crowned Gonolek and many more. After lunch we will then continue to lagoons by the sea via the exterior of the forest looking for Four Banded Sandgrouse, Swallow Tailed Bee Eater, Osprey, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Pied Hornbill and some waders mainly migrants at the Beach side too till late evening we will return back to the Hotel for dinner.

Day 3

Early Morning after Breakfast we depart at 7 am from the Hotel on a 25 minutes’ drive on a 20 kilometre Journey to Abuko Nature Reserve is a reserve consist of gallery forest with canopies and semi wooded scrubby areas with some under growths forages with streams across some points ideal  for species like Black Crake, Western Blue Bill, Common Wattled Eye, African Goshawk, Violet and Green Turacos Palmnutt Vulture, Giant Kingfisher, Oriole Warbler, Black Necked Weaver, little Greenbul, and many more. we will later go out of the reserve to Tambi wetland just the opposite site of the Nature Reserve to have couple of hours there within the rice fields and women vegetable gardens which harbour spectacular species like Dwarf and Little Bitterns, Black Crake, African Crake, Lizard Buzzard, Pearl Spotted Owlet, Squacco Heron and many more.

At 1 pm we will return to the coast for Lunch break at Kotu one of the best Restaurants along the Beach, after Lunch break we will still stay at Kotu area for the rest of the day starting at the famous Kotu Bridge, on the Nature Trail, Kotu ponds, Golf Course and the rice fields. Boat Trip is ideal here in the creek will give you the chance to get very close to the Kingfisher like Giant, Blue Breasted , malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill, Yellow Billed and Black kites, yellow Billed Stork, greater Paint Snipe, Black Egret, Little Bee Eater, Blue Bellied Roller and Broad billed Roller and off cause many more. We will return back to your Hotel later in the evening for dinner.

Day 4

We are going to have early departure from the Hotel at 7am for a long day heading up river all the way to Morgan Kunda Lodge for our overnight trips on the North. The journey will Take us the best part of the day till afternoon , we will drive 170 kilometres almost 7 hours with many stops on the way going through South Bank crossing to the Northern Bank.  First stop at Mandinaba Woods for couple of hours then proceed to Farasutu forest, several other stops on my key birding areas, Kampanti rice fields, Bullock Woods, Kanlagi wetlands and woods, Kwinala Bateling Tracks, Nema Woods along the Soma stretch and Yelli Tenda Farafenyi Woods and wetlands. More stops will off course follow between Farafenyi and Illiassa to see more Northern species like Northern Ant Eater Chat, Seville’s, White Bellied and Black Bellied Bustards, Speckle Fronted Weaver, Chesnutt Crowned Sparrow Weaver, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rufus Scrub Robin, Sahel and exclamatory Paradise Whydah, Green and Red Winged Pytilias Spotted Thicknee, Long Crested, Brown Snake, Martial and Banded Snake Eagles, Brown Rumped Bunting, Bateleur Eagle and many more. We will continue to the Lodge to check -in on arrival. Later out and about within the premises and off course just at the immediate surroundings will give us more resident species like White Rumped See Eaters, Black Rumped Waxbills Lavender Waxbills Scarlet Chested, Beautiful, Splendid and Pygmy Sun Birds and many more. The Habitats and sites will visit on the way comprises of different landscapes consist of Rice fields, Savannah woodland, Gallery forest with fall Trees, creeks and Wetlands giving a considerable amount of species to spot during the day.

Day 5

Still on the North Bank at Morgan Kunda Lodge for our second day, The day will start early as 7:30 am after breakfast we first head to Jimmansar Katchan Woods, the area is entirely a vast wood land area consist of savanna woodland, farm lands bordered with rice fields and Wetlands, also some hilly rocky areas with some big trees, the distance is 15 kilometre stretches 15 minutes’ drive along the Baobolong Wetland reserve harbouring good a mount Migrants passaging through from North East Senegal can be pick up around this area, Species like Common Nightingale, Speckled Fronted Weaver,  Ruff, Willow Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Chesnutt Bellied Sand Grouse, Seville’s, Black Bellied and White Bellied Bustards, White Fronted Black Chat, Temminck's Courser, Flapped Clark, Quell Finch.  African Hawk Eagle, Bateleur, Bedouin’s Snake Eagle, Brown - Rumped Bunting, Senegal Batis and many more. We will return back to the Lodge for lunch break then later switch towards the other side bordered with Senegal between Jajari and Tallia wood for the rest of the day similar species are expected to see there. We will later retire back to the Lodge for the second night.

Day 6

Another early departure from the Lodge after Breakfast heading to the Border with Senegal at 7:00am to go through a quick visa process then drive for 140 kilometres into Senegal taking us about 3 hours’ drive and birding along the way to Kaolac up to Kousemar before 10:30am we should be there to across a small stream in to the Island of the Swallow Tailed Kites roosting site their thousands. We will spend some time there then back to surroundings of the area looking for Sudan Golden Sparrow, Chesnutt Bellied Starlings, Bronze Winged Courser Lesser Kestrel and many more. We will be having picnic lunch during midday at some point under a big Tree. We will drive back towards border to the Gambia follow the same process passport stamps then head back to Morgan Kunda Lodge for third and final night. The habitats consist of semi – desert area with vast grasslands, wetland with dry savannah woodlands along the stretch form the border to Kousemar.

Day 7

Still on the Northern part of The Gambia we depart from the Lodge at 7:30 am after breakfast heading to Georgetown for another spectacular birding along the way stretching about 170kilometres journey driving 6 to 7 hours with birding stops on the way quiet frequently allowing us to have various stops at very important birding sites notably, Kaur Wetland, few more waterholes and Wassu sand Pitch, Kuntaur rice fields amongst other sites, we will      be expecting  species like Red Throated Bee Eaters at their breeding holes, Northern Carmine Bee Eaters, Black Coucal, Marabou Stork, Black Crowned Crane, Pin-tailed Whydah, Sahel and Exclamatory Whydah, Cut Throat Finch, Egyptian Plover,  Ruppel's Griffon Vulture, White Backed Vulture, Lappet Faced Vulture and many more. Virtually Gambia is known for its similar habitats descriptions, we will experience more hilly sites with  rocky areas along the way, savannah woodland and more wetland with fresh water ponds and rice fields along The Gambia river. We will have lunch break on the way before crossing the Ferry to the Island of Georgetown to Sitabakoto Lodge just outside the town for an overnight stop there.

Day 8

we will leave early after Breakfast heading again further beyoung Gambia border via Basse to Wassadu Camp in Senegal South Eastern Part the distance covers up to 350 kilometres also driving the whole day almost 7 to 8 hours birding along the way.  Another visa processing will take place for few minutes then we will cross in to Southern Senegal via Wellingera border point This will take us the whole day birding within this parameters having stops at vital points with our picnic lunch on the way until we reach at Wassadu later Evening for a couple of nights stay . The Camp has to be booked in advance due high demand due to its strategic location over the River Bank. We will driving along the main road having stops at various location consist on grassland, savanna woods, scrubs farmlands and gallery forests with some tall Trees hilly landscapes and rocky areas, species expected along the way like Little Green Bee Eater, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Bateleur White Headed Vultures, Little Button Quells, White Throated Francolin, White Shouldered Black Tits, Great Sparrow Hawk, Ovambo Sparrow Hawk and more.

Day 9

Still at Wassadu during our second day after breakfast boat trip will be conducted in the morning in the River Gambia for maximum three hours then lunch break later embark on the safari tour at the Niokolokoba Park for the rest  of the day this park is the biggest and wildest park in the region consist of mix forest from Rain forest to thick and savanna wood lands Gallery forest with very tall trees over the river bank  house the most exotic species of birds and wild animals, like Leopards, Lions, Warthogs Antelopes  and many more, some rarities like White throated Francolins, Fairy Blue Flycatcher, Saddled Billed Stork, White Headed Plovers, Egyptian Plovers, Hadada Ibis, Colony of Red Throated Bee Eaters, African Finfoots, African Fish Eagles  Pell’s Fishing Owl, White Backed Night Herons and Shinning Blue Kingfishers and many more. We will then driver back to the Camp for our second night stay.

Day 10

Early start as usual from Wassadu heading back to Gambia after breakfast, we will drive back through the same route to the border at Wellingera passport stamp then back in The Gambia, we will be have our night stop at Bansang at Maggie’s Lodge in the Town. We will be birding all the way from Wassadu entering in to Gambia making various stops at key birding sites with our picnic lunch under a big tree. species on the this way expected are Ahanta Francolin, Garber Goshawk, African Goshawk, Chesnutt Backed Sparrow Lark, African Hobby, Splendid Glossy Starling and more. We will be experiencing the same landscapes return to on our way back to The Gambia no differences.

Day 11

The journey will begin still on the South of The Gambia from our Breakfast table we will head on to check out at the Bansang Quarry to the breeding holes of the Red Throated bee Eater’s breeding colony briefly then head on towards the coast. The distance is 315 kilometres taking us another whole about 7hours journey. This stretch of landscape consist of vast woodlands at both side of the Road with big Trees, Farmlands water hole and valleys, hills and Wetlands plus rice fields along the way giving us the opportunity to see variaties of species in their respective habitats. We will make a stop at Jahally Rice Fields in Sapu, Sambang Wetland, Dalaba Waterhole, Tonyataba Woods, Wurrokang/Bateling Tracks, and many other stops on the way all the way to the hotel at the coast, lunch break will be done under the big Tree at a convenient time during the day. Species expect on the way includes Black Crown crane, Spur Wing Goose, Martial Eagle, White Headed Vulture European Griffon Vulture, African Hawk Eagle,  Yellow Crown Bishops, African Pygmy Goose, Red and Green Winged Pytilias, African Cuckoo, Brubru Shrike, Bearded Barbet,  and many more. We will get back the Hotel late evening for an overnight stay at Marakissa River Camp where we will have our evening meal.

Day 12

Early breakfast at the Lodge then start our day at 7am in to the surrounding woods of the area going all the way to Darslame and Seffoe Wetland for Half a  day which only 10 minutes’ drive then later back to the Camp for lunch break while we will taking good advantage of water jars organised by the Lodge within the premises where different species of birds visits, from Violet Turacos, Yellow Throated Leafloves, Lesser, Spotted and Greater Honey Guides, Malachite, Blue Breasted and Giant Kingfishers, Palmnutt Vulture, African Harrier Hawk. Later we will head back in to the woods of Penyem 10 kilometres from the Camp for the rest of the day these habitats consist of semi- savanna wood lands with some big trees and Gallery forest with farmlands and rice fields and gardens. Species expected to see are White Breasted Cuckoo Shrike, Red Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, African Scoops Owl, African Gold Oriole, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Lizard Buzzard, White Crested Helmet Shrike, White Throated Bee Eater and more. We will return back to the camp for another night stay.

Day 13

After breakfast we will be heading to Farasutu Forest for a day trip lunch at Sitajoyeh Lodge in the Island, We will visit the community Forest this is about 30 kilometres drive, this area consist of wood land with Gallery forest and farm lands, also there are riverine stretches along the forest edges making it a favourite site for some migratory birds. Expected species to be African Wood Owl, Greyish Eagle Owl, Grey Headed Bristle Bill, Vieillot's Barbet, yellow - Bellied - Hyliota, Black Wood Hoopoe, Stripe Kingfisher, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Yellow Penduline Tit, Cardinal Wood Pecker, Brown Backed Wood Pecker, Fine-spotted Wood Pecker, Buff- Spotted Wood Pecker and many more. We will wrap our day by sitting in a hide at one of the local photo hide in the area to close photos of wonderful species like Green headed Sun Bird, Purple Glossy Starling, Splendid Glossy Starling, Klaas' Cuckoo, Black Faced Fire Finch, Brown Naked Parrot and many more. We will go back to the camp for the final night.

Day 14

After the usual morning breakfast we will have few hours at the outskate of the camp before departure if the time is available or else we drives straight to the Airport which is only less the than 20 minutes’ drive for your departure back home with an indelible memories of the wonderful birding and a lots of good bird record of The Gambia which will always hunt you down to come back for more and more.

The conditions at some of the Lodges we will use are basic standard accommodation facilities due to the fact that they are the only suitable facilities around the areas where we will be visiting. The services there  are excellent.

Questions & reservations

Do you have any questions about this trip or do you want to make a reservation?