7 Day Itinerary for Inland Gambia

This itinerary has been designed to visit most of the key sites in Gambia with 3 nights in coastal hotels and 3 nights at inland lodges.

Day 1 :

Picked up from your coastal hotel. Kotu sewage ponds, lunch at Sailors restaurant, afternoon birding, Cape Point area. White-faced Whistling Duck, African Jacana, Black- winged stilt, Blue-bellied and Abyssinian Roller, Greater Painted-snipe, Sacred Ibis, Giant, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers. Overnight in coastal hotel.

Day 2 :

Abuko Nature Reserve, lunch at Lamin Lodge. Afternoon birding in Ousman’s woods. Ahanta Francolin, Western Bluebill, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Green Hylia, Collared Sunbird, flycatchers and apalis. Overnight in coastal hotel.

Day 3 :

Cross the ferry from Banjul to Barra with pack lunch and drive towards Georgetown. Stops at Berending forest for Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike;  peanut fields for coursers, bustards and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse;  Kaur wetland for Egyptian, White- crowned and Kittlitz’s Plover and Panchchang wetland, for snipes and Pygmy Goose. Dinner and overnight at Annex/Baobolong camp at Georgetown.

Day 4 :

After breakfast a  boat trip around the island for Western Banded and Brown Snake Eagles, African Finfoot, Turtle Dove and Shining-blue Kingfisher. Drive via the south bank road to Tendaba, with stops at Fula Bantang for Marabou Stork;  Jahally rice fields for Black Coucal, Pygmy Goose and snipe. Dinner and over night at Tendaba Camp.

Day 5 :

After breakfast a boat trip in the species rich Tendaba creek for Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, African Scops Owl and many more. Drive through Kiang West National Park, with a packed lunch on board,  looking for Bataleur, Brown Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grasshopper Buzzard, and Brown-rumped Bunting. Dinner and over night at Berefet Lodge.

Day 6 :

Early morning boat trip for Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-crested Tiger Heron and then back to the lodge for breakfast. Drive back towards the coast stopping at key sites on the route. Packed lunch on board. Overnight coastal hotel.

Day 7 :

Brufut woods followed by lunch at Paradise Beach bar. Afternoon birding in Tanjeh bird reserve. Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, White-faced Scops Owl, Yellowbill Coucal, Long- tailed Nightjar.