7 Day Itinerary for Birdwatching in Gambia and Senegal

This itinerary has been designed for the slightly more adventurous birder who is prepared to travel and stay at lodges inland. We will visit many of the key sites inland which will give access to a greater variety of birds.

Day 1 :

Kotu sewage ponds followed by lunch at Sailors restaurant. Afternoon birding in the Cape Point area. Whistling ducks, Pied Kingfisher, stilts, cormorants, jacanas, snipe, Lizard Buzzard, plovers and spoonbills . Overnight at a coastal hotel.

Day 2 :

Pick up from your coastal hotel with a packed lunch on board. Take the ferry from Banjul to Barra, on the north bank of the river. Travel to Kaolak in Senegal with stops on the way for raptors, Bataleur, Martial Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Tawny Eagle and Grasshopper Buzzard. Spotted Thick-knee, Brown-rumped Bunting, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, storks and flamingos . Dinner and overnight at Kaolak.

Day 3 :

After breakfast drive towards Georgetown, with packed lunch on board. Stop at the peanut fields for bustards, starlings and sandgrouse. Other important stops, would be Kaur wetland, for Egyptian Plover, ducks, pratincoles and pelicans. Dinner and over night at Baobolong Camp, Georgetown.

Day 4 :

After breakfast take a boat trip around the island for Western Banded and Brown Snake Eagle, African Finfoot, Shining-blue Kingfisher and Adamawa Turtle Dove. Drive via the south bank road towards Tendaba, with packed lunch on board. Stops at Fula Bantang for Marabou Stork, Jahally rice fields for Black Coucal, Pygmy Goose, and snipe. Dinner and overnight at Tendaba camp.

Day 5 :

After breakfast take a boat trip along the species rich Tendaba creek for Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, Goliath Heron, Martial Eagle and African Scops Owl. Drive through Kiang West National park, with packed lunch on board. Dinner and overnight at Berefet Lodge.

Day 6 :

An early morning boat trip for Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-crested Tiger Heron. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then drive to the coast with packed lunch on board making stops on the way. Overnight coastal hotel.

Day 7 :

Abuko Nature Reserve, lunch at Lamin lodge. Afternoon birding in Tanjeh bird reserve. These sites have a good variety of Gambian birds and it is an opportunity to fill any gaps in our bird list.

Sample Itineraries for Bird Watching in the Gambia

For further information on the bird watching tours in Gambia that I can provide please contact me.