'The Gambia and Senegal' is a new tour, not yet in the birdwatching market, but now organised by BOLETAS. There are lots of reasons why birdwatchers should visit this area - we'll visit the southern limit of the huge Sahel rolling desert plains and the north of the western tropical forest, including the Gambia River. The Gambia and Senegal are two of the most interesting countries for birding in West Africa, with both being recognised as ideal countries in which to gain an introduction to the diverse and colourful birdlife of the African continent, offering great wildlife opportunities. The range of potential species on this tour includes Arabian Bustard, Finfoot and Pink-backed Pelicans among other waterbirds, a splendid variety of raptors and owls complemented by an incredible number of typically African beauties, such as Red-throated, Little and Carmine Bee-Eaters, with several species of rollers and woodpeckers. One of the highlights of 'The Gambia and Senegal' tour is the spectacular Egyptian Plover, which we can see in both countries. In our tour you will enjoy a unique insight into the fascinating African culture which is deeply influenced by the Gambia River. We know how much birders enjoy boat rides, and there are a minimum of four such excursions included in this holiday.
Itinerary
Day 1/ Nov 15 – UK to Banjul - The Gambia.
UK to Banjul - The Gambia. With our local guide, we will meet you at Banjul Airport, exchange our Euros or Sterling for some local money (the Dalasi), before checking in for the first of two nights at the nearby Senegambia Hotel.
Day 2 / Nov 16- Abuko.
After breakfast we'll drive to the famous Abuko Nature Reserve. There are some fresh water ponds which are good places to see crocodiles and for many interesting bird species, amongst which we can expect Bearded Barbet, Violet Turaco, Pygmy Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Grey Woodpecker, Black-necked Weaver, Little Bee-eater and African Grey Hornbill. The Nature Reserve also hosts a number of Nile Crocodiles and, although mammals are not numerous is a sactuary for monkeys, we should see Gambian Sun Squirrel, Callithrix Monkey, Western Red Colobus and Bushbuck. . Overnight at Senegambia Hotel.
Day 3 / Nov 17–From The Gambia to Senegal.
From The Gambia to Senegal through Barra, where we will take the ferry. Transitional day birding on route with several stops including good opportunities for Bee-eaters , raptors and egrets. Lunch on the way, before heading to M´Backe . Overnight in M´Bake.
Day 4 / Nov 18– Sant Louis.
Early in the morning we will drive to Sant Louis, our base for the next four days. The Acacia forest north of Sant Louis produces interesting Sahelian birds such Black Bush Chat, Rufous-tailed Bush Chat and Yellow-billed Shrikes, which share the habitat with numerous pale-arctic migrants including Northern Wheatear, Woodchat Shrike and Bonelli´s Warbler. Near Sant Louis is the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Site. It is a wetland of 16,000ha situated in the Senegal River Delta and comprises a large lake surrounded by streams, ponds and backwaters which form a sanctuary for large numbers of water birds including Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, African Spoonbill, Great Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Black Crowned Crane, both Lesser and Greater Flamingo, plus a wide range of ducks and waders, some in very high concentrations, including White-faced Whistling Duck, Garganey and Ruff. Arabian Bustard may also be seen at Djoudj on occasions. Overnight in Sant Louis.
Day 5/ Nov 19–Djoud National Bird Sanctuary.
After breakfast we will head to the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. Ospreys are common in this 'wintering headquarters' for the species. We'll take a boat trip along the Senegal River with abundant birdlife, terns, gulls, egrets and kingfishers accompanying us, before arriving at a pelican colony where White-backed and Pink-backed are both represented. After lunch in the Biological Research Centre, we will visit different hides from where waders, ducks in huge numbers and passerines are in endless activity; flying up and down or feeding close to the shores. Here we will search for one of the most attractive Sahelian birds, the smart little Cricket Warbler and we have an excellent chance of finding this charming species in this austere landscape. Overnight in Sant Louis.
Day 6 / Nov 20–Djoud National Bird Sanctuary.
After breakfast, we'll visit Ross Betio, a marshy area good for Pygmy Goose, Black Crake, Greater Painted Snipe, Malachite Kingfisher and Winding Cisticola. Great numbers of cormorants, herons, egrets, waders, gulls, terns and other waterbirds add to the avian riches of one of the most important wetlands in Africa. Visiting different hides we will see Glossy and Sacred Ibises, Eurasian and African Spoonbills, Black, White and Yellow-billed Storks, Knob-billed Duck, African Fish Eagle, African Swamphen (split from Purple), Common Moorhen, the exciting Black Crowned Crane, African Jacana, Greater Painted-snipe, Collared Pratincole, Kittlitz's Plovers, African Stonechat, Greater Swamp Warbler and Black-headed Weaver. Other birds we may encounter include Montagu's and Western Marsh Harriers, Tawny Pipit, African Scrub Winding Cisticola, Black-faced Quailfinch, Zebra Waxbill and Red-billed Quelea. Overnight in Sant Louis
Day 7 / Nov 21– The Three Marigots.
After Breaksfast we will drive with our 4x4 vehicles to the Three Marigots; a semi desert area connected with the Sahel where we will work hard to find difficult birds such as Savile´s and Denhams Bustards, Spotted Thick-Knee, Cream-coloured and Temminck's Coursers, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and the rare Bronze-winged Courser. Raptors are abundant with Pallid Harrier, Wahlberg's, Short-toed and Booted Eagles, plus other birds including Rufous-crowned Roller, Grey and Chestnut-backed Sparrow Lark. Overnight in Sant Louis.
Days 8 / Nov 22 - From Sant Louis heading to Niokolo
Transitional day birding on route with several stops including good opportunities for Bee-eaters, raptors and egrets. After lunch we will head for M´Backe. Overnight in M´Backe.
Days 9/ Nov 23– Wassadou
Early in the morning we will head east to Wassadow where we will spend the next three nights. Depending on water levels we will stop near a drinking pool that attracts vultures, with chances for close views of White-Backed, Hooded and Griffon Vultures, Marabou Stork. Black Kites are abundant here. Birding on route with comfort stops before arriving at our hotel in Wassadou, where Egyptian Plovers feed in the grounds of the hotel, while Green Monkeys fight in the nearest forest to find the best roosting branches. Other birds we can see before dusk include Palm Nut Vulture, Long-tailed and Purple Glossy Starlings , Grey-headed Bush Shrike, White-crowned Robin Chat and Yellow-crowned Gonolek. Overnight in Wassadow.
Day 10 / Nov 24 -The Gambia River
After breakfast on this day and the next, we will organize the boat trips. At the hotel there is only one boat for 6 people. Half of the group will take the boat to the east of the Gambia River, where the birdlife is spectacular. Finfoot is almost guaranteed, also five species of Kingfishers, colonies of Red-throated and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, numerous African Fish Eagles and raptors, such us Bateleur, African Cuckoo Hawk, African Harrier Hawk, African Hawk Eagle, lots of herons and egrets, not forgetting passerines such as Black Headed Weaver, Red-Billed Firefinch, Orange-cheeked Waxbill and African Silverbill. The rest of the group will walk in a nearest Palm Forest searching for local specialities including Blue-bellied Roller, Senegal Coucal, Senegal Parrot, Jacobin Cuckoo, Little Bee-eater, and the rare Senegal Batis. After lunch people boating in the morning will do the walk and walkers will take the boat. We are working with one of the locals to give us the best chance to see Pel´s Fishing Owl. Overnight In Wassadow.
Day 11 / Nov 25 – Niokolo area.
After breakfast we will visit Goulombou, close to the Sementi National Park where we will spend all morning looking for the specialities. The birdlife here is interesting, but although there are fewer species they may include Bateleur Martial Eagle, Denham's Bustard , Violet Turaco and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. The immediate area around the upper reaches of the Gambia river offer species such as Woolly-necked Stork, Beaudouin's Snake Eagle, Stone Partridge, African Finfoot, Standard-winged Nightjar, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater , Oriole Warbler , Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike and Orange-cheeked Waxbill. Back to our hotel for lunch and after a short break we will go for our second boat trip in the area, navigating to the west of the Gambia River. Wattle Lapwings, Egyptian Plover, Finfoot, Northern Carmine Bee-eater in good numbers going to roost and the static Nile Crocodile will delight us on our last night in this fantastic place. Overnight In Wasssadow.
Day 12 / Nov 26–From Wassadou to the Atlantic coast
Transitional day birding on route with several stops including good opportunities for Abyssinian Roller, Bee-eaters, raptors and egrets. Lunch on the way before heading to Toubacouta, where we will be based for two nights. Overnight in Toubacouta.
Day 13 / Nov 27– Toubacouta
Full day exploring the Sine Saloum River Delta and National Park. The park has large areas of mangroves, secondary forest and grasslands. There are many raptor species in the area including Dark Chanting Goshawk , Grasshopper Buzzard, African Hawk Eagle and Grey Kestrel. Other species found in the area include Black-headed Heron, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Pearl-spotted Owlet , White-crowned Robin-Chat , and Pygmy Sunbird. Two boat trips are planned, visiting a solitary island where Baboaks trees are so large we could park a vehicle inside the trunk. We will then visit egrets’ roosting areas in the mangrove with hundreds ‘noising’ to find a good corner. The second boat trip will head us to the beautiful and solitary Sippo island, where we will walk quietly around the village where Four-banded Sandgrouse can be seen. Black -crowned Tchagra, Yellow-fronted Canary and the beautiful Viellot´s Barbet, plus Brown, Western Violet and Scarlet Chested Sunbirds also occur here. A walk around the hotel and Toubacouta village is quite rewarding, with Shikra, Black-rumped Waxbill, African Cuckoo, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Red-tailed Lavender Waxbill, Bearded Barbet, Fine Spotted Woodpecker, Grey–billed Shrike and Senegal Eremomela. Overnight in Toubacouta.
Day 14 / Nov 28– From Senegal to The Gambia ( Brufut Woods)
From Toubacouta to Banjul, via Barra, taking the ferry, we will stop several times looking for Grey-headed Gull, Sandwich, Caspian, Lesser-crested and Gull-billed Terns, plus Pomarine Skua. Depending on the time spent crossing the border we will go to Brufut Woods. This costal area turns out to be a very good place for birding, with a diverse birdlife such as Brown Babbler, Oriole Warbler, Splendid Sunbird, African Scops Owl, Verreaux Eagle Owl, Violet Turaco, Green Turaco, Black-winged Red Bishop, Little Bee-eater, Long-tailed Nightjar, Fine-spotted Woodpecker. After lunch and on the way back to the hotel we will stop by the Atlantic coast to look for Slender-billed Gull and Osprey, Royal Tern, Broad-billed Roller and African Pied Hornbills. Overnight at Senegambia Hotel.
Day 15 / Nov 29 –Koku area
Koku Bridge. The Koku Stream is a nice place to visit with many good species at
close range. They will include Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, also we could see Western Reef Heron, Great White
Egret, Whimbrel, Black-winged Stilt and many more. Other species that occur in
the area are Blue-bellied Roller, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Red-chested and
Wire-tailed Swallow, many African Black Kites and Hooded Vultures, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Village Weavers and Senegal Thick-knee. We'll walk around the nearby rice-fields and sewage ponds to find more species to add to our list. At
a local golf course we can look for Grey Kestrel, and Broad-billed Roller amongst others. Overnight at Senegambia Hotel
Day 16 / Nov 30 –Departure day
Departure after a late breakfast when, depending on the flight timings, we will made our way to the airport for our flight back home.
