TOUR CODE: WA – GAM07

 Ten Days Gambia Birding. 

Day One: Arrival in Banjul

Upon your arrival at the airport, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and the transfer you to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

This will be our base for the next five nights at this fabulous hotel and its grounds are famous for being home to different bird species. Species found here include Hooded, Green Wood Hoopoe, African Grey Hornbill, Western Red-billed Hornbill, Broad-billed Roller, Bearded Barbet, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Oriole Warbler, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Beautiful Sunbird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Western Plantain-eater, Yellow-billed Shrike.

The European migrant species around the garden, many of which overwinter include Black Kite, Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Common Chiffchaff, and Western Olivaceous Warbler, while off the hotels private beach Pomarine Jaeger (Skua), Grey-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Sandwich Tern, West African Crested Tern, Common Tern, and Lesser Crested Tern can regularly be seen. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

Day Two: Brufut Forest and Tanji Bird Reserve

After breakfast, we will visit Brufut Forest, a small area of woodland and scrub about 30 minutes south of our hotel. This is one of many very productive coastal sites we will visit and Brufut is a great location to get to grips with the more common Gambian bird species like the African Green Pigeon, Guinea Turaco, Violet Turaco, African Golden Oriole, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Splendid Sunbird, and Lavender Waxbill. The birds of prey and owls will also be a key feature, with species like Black-winged Kite, Hooded Vulture, Shikra, Black Kite, Lanner Falcon, Lizard Buzzard, Palm-nut Vulture, Northern White-faced Owl, and Pearl-spotted Owlet all being frequently recorded here.

Then move to the coast and visit Tanji Bird Reserve. This area of coastal woodland, scrub, and sandy beach supports a huge number of bird species. Western Palearctic shorebirds (waders) will be the main feature here with Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Greenshank, and Common Redshank all being regular here. Gulls and terns are also a large part of the Tanji reserve experience, attracted by the nearby Tanji open air fish market, with Grey-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, and West African Crested Tern. Continue to explore the low coastal scrub, dunes, and coastal forest and look out for Stone Partridge, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Pied Crow, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, and a range of Estrildid finches (waxbills, munias, and allies) including Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Red-billed Firefinch, and Bronze Mannikin. Large flocks of Village Weaver should also be present in the area and these can be joined by the smaller and rarer Little Weaver.

This coastal scrub is also a superb migrant trap and several wintering species from the Western Palearctic can be found here including Melodious Warbler, Western Olivaceous Warbler, Willow Warbler, Western Subalpine Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, and Common Nightingale and in the neighboring coastal forest, we will search for an exciting range of species including Blue-bellied Roller, Bearded Barbet, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Blackcap Babbler, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, and several species of sunbirds, including Variable Sunbird and Splendid Sunbird. Later return to the Senegambia hotel to cool down by the pool or watching/photographing birds in the garden.  Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel

Day Three: Marakissa Wood, River Camp, and Penyem Woods

This morning, we will drive south to Marakissa, close to the border with Senegal and look out for Greater Honeyguide, Spotted Honeyguide, Northern Puffback, Violet Turaco, Fine-spotted Woodpecker, African Pied Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Northern Crombec, and the fantastically named Grey-backed Camaroptera, and Tawny-flanked Prinia. The birds of prey include Hooded Vulture, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Yellow-billed Kite, African Harrier-Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Grey Kestrel, and Red-necked Falcon. The wetlands species associated with this habitat include Black Crake, Giant Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Hamerkop, Dwarf Bittern, and Black-headed Heron, while the neighboring open areas hold good numbers of Abyssinian Roller, Blue-bellied Roller, Senegal Parrot, Yellow-billed Shrike, Piapiac, numerous sunbirds and flocks of Estrildid finches.

Have lunch at the Marakissa River Camp. Exploring the area around the river camp should give us a wide range of herons and egrets, including Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Black Heron, Western Cattle Egret, and Squacco Heron. The camp grounds could also give us new species such as White-faced Whistling Duck, Spur-winged Lapwing, African Darter, Reed Cormorant, Palm-nut Vulture, Red-chested Goshawk, Green Wood Hoopoe, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Singing Cisticola, Purple Starling, Northern Black Flycatcher, White-billed Buffalo Weaver, and much more.

After lunch, we will drive to the nearby Penjem Woods which is excellent area for species like Double-spurred Spurfowl, African Palm Swift, Black Scimitarbill, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Copper Sunbird, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Gabar Goshawk, and Yellow-bellied Hyliota. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

Day Four:  Kartong and Berending Woods

After breakfast, we will explore the area around the amazing Kartong Bird Observatory. This expansive site is a mixture of scrub, dunes, low level forest, and sub-tropical forest all bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the border with Senegal. The species that are regular at Kartong include Black-winged Stilt, Grey Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, and Wood Sandpiper. Migratory passerines are also present here with Woodchat Shrike, Western Olivaceous Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Western Subalpine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Common Nightingale, Western Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Crested Lark, and Western Bonelli’s Warbler being the most numerous species.

African species that we may not have come across so far, but are often found at Kartong, include Spur-winged Goose, African Pygmy Goose, Greater Painted-snipe, Woolly-necked Stork, African Swamphen, Namaqua Dove, Pink-backed Pelican, Black-headed Heron, Striped Kingfisher, Brubru, Oriole Warbler, Whistling Cisticola, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Quelea, Northern Red Bishop, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, and Plain-backed Pipit. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

 Day Five: Farasutu Forest and Pirang Forest

On this day, we will visit two areas of forest a few miles into the interior of the country starting with Farasutu Forest, which is one of the best sites on the coast to see Greyish Eagle-Owl, Spotted Honeyguide, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Senegal Thick-knee, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Giant Kingfisher, White-backed Night Heron, and Green-headed Sunbird, Hamerkop, Martial Eagle, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Northern White-faced Owl, Long-tailed Nightjar, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, African Green Pigeon, White-throated Bee-eater, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and White-crested Helmetshrike.

In the afternoon, we will visit Pirang Forest and fishponds. The species here includes Double-spurred Spurfowl, Namaqua Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Standard-winged Nightjar, Marsh Sandpiper, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-billed Stork, Glossy-backed Drongo, Northern Yellow White-eye, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, and Quailfinch. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

Day Six: Tendaba Camp

On this day, we will travel along the south bank road as far as Tendaba, a village 80 miles (130 kilometers) from the coast and one of The Gambia’s most famous birding locations. We will be birding en route looking out for species like Helmeted Guineafowl, Stone Partridge, Double-spurred Spurfowl, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Diederik Cuckoo, and Dark Chanting Goshawk. A tributary of the Gambia River near the start of our journey will give us more views of wetland birds, with interesting species like African Wattled Lapwing, Greater Painted-snipe, Little Stint, Dwarf Bittern, Striated Heron, and the rare Kittlitz’s Plover all possible here, and we will search nearby forests for the elusive but beautiful White-spotted Flufftail, a highly desired species.

We will proceed and pass close to the border with Senegal. This is one of the best areas in the western part of The Gambia to spot raptors, and species here can include African Harrier-Hawk, Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, Bateleur, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Grasshopper Buzzard, Black Kite, and Lanner Falcon. Then we will turn north back towards the Gambia River where we will stop to explore the Kiang West National Park. This is another chance to get familiar with many of the species we have seen previously and the national park is home to several species that are harder to find on the coast, these can include Brown Snake Eagle, Black Scimitarbill, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Sahel Bush Sparrow, and Brown-rumped Bunting.

When we arrive at Tendaba, the camp is alongside the Gambia River which has species like the beautiful Egyptian Plover. This shorebird is a monotypic family and is highly prized, and we will spend plenty of time looking for it while birding in the area. Other interesting species around Tendaba include African Pygmy Goose, European Honey Buzzard, African Fish Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Long-crested Eagle, African Hobby, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Guinea Turaco, Violet Turaco, Standard-winged Nightjar, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Brown-backed Woodpecker, and much more. Dinner and overnight at Tendaba Camp.

Days Seven and Eight: Janjangbureh

On this day, we will continue east along the Gambia River. A small tributary near the village of Soma will be our first stop, where we should come across numerous exciting species like Spotted Thick-knee, Hadada Ibis, Egyptian Plover, Hamerkop, Black Heron, Rüppell’s Vulture, Bateleur, Black Crowned Crane, Bronze-winged Courser, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black Coucal, and others. Continuing east we will explore more wetlands on the banks of the Gambia River where key species include African Pygmy Goose, Marabou Stork, Montagu’s Harrier, African Fish Eagle, and Red-necked Falcon.

When we get to Janjangbureh by the afternoon, we can begin exploring yet another fantastic birding area. The habitat is a mixture of lush riverside forest, mangroves, and interspersed open areas, meaning that the species variety is high here. Key species we will look for include Egyptian Plover, African Fish Eagle, African Finfoot, Swamp Flycatcher, Green Bee-eater, and Red-throated Bee-eater, plus numerous species of bird of prey.

The next day, we will enjoy a boat trip from Janjangbureh along the Gambia River. This is a great way to spot a great many species and get close-up views of birds like Goliath Heron, Giant Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Darter, Spur-winged Lapwing, Striated Heron, and birds of prey over the river including Palm-nut Vulture, White-backed Vulture, and Western Banded Snake Eagle. Around Janjangbureh we will have a chance to look for some of The Gambia’s large mammals and reptiles. Species in the area can include Aardvark, Guinea Baboon, Crested Porcupine, African Dwarf Crocodile, Nile Monitor, and Hippopotamus. Dinner and overnight at  Janjangbureh Camp for two nights.

 Day Nine:  Back to Banjul

We will do a brief birding around Janjangbureh. Then  we will depart westwards and retrace our steps along the south bank of the Gambia River. We will use this drive to look for improved views of any key species. Once we arrive back for a final night at the wonderful Senegambia Beach Hotel, we will have time to relax or explore the grounds of the hotel one last time. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Beach Hotel.

Day Ten: Departure

After breakfast, depending on the time of your flight, you can bird around the grounds of the beach hotel. Then the guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight home.

ENJOY AFRICA