12 day Tours
Specially designed for bird photographers and serious birders. Extended time at prime locations with optimal lighting conditions and photography guidance throughout Gambia and Senegal.
Tour Statistics
Expected Species : 200+
Habitats Visited : 12 Different
Accommodation Level : Mid-range
Physical Difficulty : Easy-Moderate
12 Day Photography & Birding Expedition package
Please contact us for further information about cost
Pricing per person
Minimum pax is two. Otherwise, a private tour is possible based on arrangement.
1 to 2 pax
€1500
2 to 3 pax
€1400
4 to 6 pax
€1200
7 to 10 pax
€ 1000
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Water during outings
- Transportation (airport transfer )
- Tickets
Golden Hour Focus
Scheduled around optimal lighting conditions for bird photography
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable 12-day birding adventure through The Gambia and northern Senegal, two of West Africa’s most rewarding birding destinations. From the moment you arrive at Lemon Creek Hotel on the Gambian coast, you’ll be immersed in a variety of rich habitats, each teeming with unique bird species.
Throughout the tour, you will explore rice fields, savannahs, wetlands, forests, and coastal lagoons, searching for an incredible array of birds including raptors, waterbirds, songbirds, nightjars, kingfishers, rollers, and more. Highlights include boat trips along the creeks and rivers, offering up-close encounters with herons, storks, eagles, and other waterbirds in their natural habitats.
The journey also takes you into Senegal, where the Parc de Djoud and the Podor region offer excellent birdwatching opportunities, featuring species that are rare or absent in The Gambia. After returning south, you will stay at Bansang Riverside Lodge and Tendaba Camp, both situated in prime birding areas along the River Gambia, with easy access to forest, wetlands, and riverine habitats.
Your tour concludes with a memorable boat trip along the River Gambia, providing an excellent final opportunity for photography and close wildlife encounters. As you drift quietly through the waterways, expect superb views of herons, egrets, kingfishers, storks, fish eagles, cormorants, and many other wetland species, often at remarkably close range. The peaceful river scenery and golden light make this a fitting finale to your West African birding adventure.
Daily Itinerary
1
Coastal Birding at Lemon Creek Hotel
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to Lemon Creek Hotel Resort on the coast. Along the way, we will begin our birding familiarisation, introducing you to some of the common coastal and woodland species that provide your first taste of The Gambia’s remarkable birdlife. Depending on your arrival time, we will also explore the hotel’s immediate surroundings and attractive gardens, an excellent first birding location where a surprising variety of species can often be found. Possible sightings include Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Pearl-spotted Owlet, and several species of Bee-eater. This relaxed first afternoon provides the perfect introduction to the tour, allowing you to settle in comfortably while already beginning what promises to be an exciting and rewarding birding adventure.
- Hotel check-in
- Afternoon at Kotu Bridge
- Welcome dinner
Key Species:
At Lemon Creek Hotel Resort and its surroundings, you have an excellent mix of coastal gardens, mature trees, freshwater creek habitat, scrub, beach, and nearby woodland, making it one of the better coastal hotel birding locations in The Gambia.
A short walk around the grounds, nearby lanes, creek edge, and beach can produce a very good first-day species list. 1. Hotel Gardens & Mature Trees
Commonly seen around lawns, flowering trees, and shaded paths:
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- Beautiful Sunbird
- Splendid Sunbird
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- Bearded Barbet
- Grey Woodpecker
- Common Bulbul
2
Kotu Creek, Rice Fields & Gunjur-Kartong Wetlands
Today’s birding adventure begins with a short drive to Kotu Creek, one of the most productive coastal birding sites in The Gambia. We will spend a couple of hours exploring the Nature Trail, rice paddies, cycle track, and nearby golf course, all of which support a wide variety of species. A relaxing one-hour boat trip along the creek offers excellent close-up views of waterbirds and kingfishers, as well as wonderful photographic opportunities. Typical sightings in this area may include Black Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Egret, African Jacana, Purple Swamphen, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, and Pied Kingfisher. Later, we continue along the South Gambia Road toward Gunjur Forest and Kartong Wetlands, approximately 47 km south of the coast. En route, the changing habitats of farmland, woodland, scrub, wetlands, and coastal lagoons provide further birding opportunities. Possible species during the afternoon include Lizard Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, African Golden Oriole, Osprey, Palm-nut Vulture, Capuchin Babbler, Green Hylia, Greater Painted-snipe, Grey-headed Kingfisher, and White-fronted Plover. Waders and waterbirds are often plentiful around the beaches, pools, scrub edges, and reedbeds, making this a rewarding day for both birdwatching and photography, with a rich variety of habitats and species from dawn until sunset.
Key Species:
Lizard Buzzard,Black-shouldered Kite,Greater Painted Snipe and many more
3
Upcountry Journey to Morgan Kunda Lodge
After breakfast, we begin an early morning journey inland from the south coast, travelling approximately 160 km toward the North Bank via Soma and Farafenni, crossing the impressive Senegambia Bridge before reaching our overnight stop at Morgan Kunda Lodge. Although this is a longer travel day, the route passes through a variety of productive habitats, and frequent birding stops make the journey highly rewarding. Our key birding stops may include Mandinaba Rice Fields, Farasutu Forest, Pirang Forest, Kampanti Rice Fields, Bamakuno Forest, and sections of Kiang West National Park. These areas offer an excellent mix of wetlands, woodland, farmland, and savannah. Possible species along the route include Long-crested Eagle, Greyish Eagle-Owl, African Goshawk, Key stops include Mandinaba Rice Fields, Farasutu and Pirang Forest, Kampanti Rice Fields, Bamakuno Forest, and Kiang West Lower River Region. These diverse habitats are ideal for spotting raptors, owls, forest specialists, and savannah species.
Key Species:
include Long-crested Eagle, Greyish Eagle-Owl, African Goshawk, Pygmy Kingfisher, African Scops Owl, Northern White-faced Scops Owl, White-spotted Flufftail, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Bateleur Eagle, Martial Eagle, Bronze-winged Courser, Yellow Penduline Tit, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and many more.
4
Crossing into Senegal & Koalack Birding
After an early breakfast, we begin the day with a short drive to the Senegal border, where the visa and border formalities typically take around 30 minutes. Once completed, we continue approximately 95 km to Kaolack for our overnight stay, travelling through open Sahel landscapes, farmland, and scattered woodland that provide excellent roadside birding opportunities. Along the route, we make several carefully selected birding stops, including a visit to Île de Kousmar, one of West Africa’s most famous raptor roosting sites. This island is renowned for its spectacular gatherings of Scissor-tailed Kite (often referred to locally as Swallow-tailed Kite), where thousands may be seen assembling in the late afternoon—a truly unforgettable wildlife spectacle. The surrounding dry-country habitat also supports a variety of sought-after Sahel species, including Black-bellied Bustard, From Farafenni to Kaolack, including the famous Île de Kousmar, you cross a superb Sahel transition birding zone with open plains, millet fields, acacia scrub, seasonal wetlands, villages, and dry grassland. This route can be extremely productive for raptors, bustards, larks, rollers, sparrows, and dry-country specials.
Key Species:
- White-bellied Bustard
- Savile’s Bustard
- Temminck’s Courser
- Bronze-winged Courser
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Scissor-tailed Kite
- Lesser Kestrel
- Black Kite
- Yellow-billed Kit
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Bush Petronia
- Northern White-faced Owl
- Little Green Bee-eater
5
Senegal Adventure – Saint-Louis & Parc de Djoud
Senegal, around eighteen times larger than The Gambia, offers vast and varied habitats, meaning longer drives are often rewarded with access to some of the finest birding areas in West Africa. Today we continue north, first heading toward the historic city of Saint-Louis before travelling onward to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary for our overnight stay. Along the route, we will make carefully planned birding stops around Richard Toll, Touba, Rosso, and other productive areas where changing habitats include Sahel savannah, wetlands, floodplains, irrigated farmland, and riverine vegetation. These landscapes support an excellent variety of both scarce and widespread West African species. Possible sightings during the day include Black Scrub Robin, Green-winged Pytilia, Cricket Warbler, Senegal Thick-knee, Sennar Penduline Tit, Cream-colored Courser, Greater Flamingo, .
Key Species:
1. Saint-Louis Town / Estuary / Coast
River mouth & beach species
- Grey-headed Gull
- Slender-billed Gull
- Royal Tern
- Sandwich Tern
- Caspian Tern
- Whimbrel
- Western Reef Heron
🦩 2. Wetlands / Salt Flats North & East of Saint-Louis
Iconic species
- Greater Flamingo
- Lesser Flamingo
- Great White Pelican
- Pink-backed Pelican
- African Spoonbill
- Glossy Ibis
- Yellow-billed Stork
🌾 3. Rice Fields / Irrigation Areas (Ross Béthio / Richard Toll roads)
- African Jacana
- Purple Swamphen
- Black-winged Stilt
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Garganey
- Northern Pintail
- Marsh Sandpiper
🌵 4. Dry Sahel Scrub / Inland Roads
Special northern Senegal birds
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Sennar Penduline Tit
- Black Scrub Robin
- Cricket Warbler
- Cream-colored Courser
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Arabian Bustard (rare/local)
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
- Yellow-billed Kite
- Black Kite
- Lanner Falcon
- Western Marsh Harrier
- Osprey
⭐ Top Target Birds from Saint-Louis Area
- Greater Flamingo
- Lesser Flamingo
- Sennar Penduline Tit
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Cream-colored Courser
6
Extended Exploration at Parc de Djoud
We spend a second night at Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, allowing a full extra day to explore deeper and more remote sections of this world-renowned wetland reserve in Senegal. This extended stay gives access to quieter channels, hidden lagoons, and less-visited marshes where more elusive and localized species are often encountered. Throughout the day, we explore a range of habitats including open water, reedbeds, floodplains, mudflats, savannah edges, and scattered woodland patches, ensuring a highly diverse birding experience. These varied environments support some of the richest bird concentrations in West Africa, especially during the dry season when migratory birds are present in large numbers.
Key Species:
Key bird species expected at Djoudj (extended day)
Flamingos, pelicans & large waterbirds
- Greater Flamingo
- Pink-backed Pelican
- Great White Pelican
- African Spoonbill
- Yellow-billed Stork
- Grey Heron
- Purple Heron
- Black Heron
- Great Egret
- Glossy Ibis
Ducks & waterfowl (seasonal abundance)
- Northern Shoveler
- Northern Pintail
- Garganey
- White-faced Whistling Duck
Waders & shorebirds
- Black-winged Stilt
- Ruff
- Common Greenshank
- Wood Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper
Raptors & hunters
- Western Marsh Harrier
- African Fish Eagle
- Osprey
- Yellow-billed Kite
Reedbed & edge specialists
- Purple Swamphen
- African Jacana
- Little Grebe
7
Northern Senegal – Podor Birding Expedition
After an early breakfast, we set out for Podor in northern Senegal, a remote Sahelian region close to the Mauritanian border, well known for its highly specialized and often hard-to-find bird species. This is one of the most rewarding areas for dry-country birding in West Africa, where open plains, sandy tracks, acacia scrub, and seasonal wetlands create ideal conditions for a unique bird community. The journey is a full-day drive, but it is broken up by strategic birding stops in productive habitats along the way. These roadside and village-edge areas often provide excellent sightings of Sahel specialists, raptors, and ground-dwelling species, making the travel itself an important part of the birding experience.
Key Species:
ey bird species expected en route to Podor
🌵 Sahel desert-edge specialists
- Cream-colored Courser
- Temminck’s Courser
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Four-banded Sandgrouse
- Black Scrub Robin
- Cricket Warbler
🦅 Raptors and open-country hunters
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
- Lanner Falcon
- Yellow-billed Kite
- Brown Snake Eagle
- Western Marsh Harrier
🌳 Village & acacia woodland species
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Sennar Penduline Tit
- Abyssinian Roller
- Little Green Bee-eater
- Piapiac
🌾 Wetlands & irrigation zones (where present)
- Black-winged Stilt
- African Jacana
- Purple Heron
- Yellow-billed Stork
🌙 Special nocturnal target (high interest species)
- Golden Nightjar
- Standard-winged Nightjar (possible in wider region)
8
Saint-Louis to Kaolack – Additional Birding En Route
We begin the day with an early departure from Saint-Louis, travelling southward toward Kaolack for an overnight stop. This return journey offers an excellent opportunity for strategic birding en route, as we explore additional habitats not previously visited, helping to further expand the overall species list of the trip. Because of the vast size and ecological diversity of Senegal, it is not possible to cover all productive birding areas on a single pass. This southbound drive therefore becomes a valuable “second chance” route, allowing access to new wetlands, Sahel scrub, farmland mosaics, and river-edge habitats that often produce different species from the northbound journey.
Key Species:
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
- Black Scrub Robin
- Cricket Warbler
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Cream-colored Courser
- Temminck’s Courser
9
Departure From St- Louis To Kaolack
We begin the day with an early departure from Saint-Louis, travelling southward toward Kaolack for an overnight stop. This return journey offers an excellent opportunity for strategic birding en route, as we explore additional habitats not previously visited, helping to further expand the overall species list of the trip. Because of the vast size and ecological diversity of Senegal, it is not possible to cover all productive birding areas on a single pass. This southbound drive therefore becomes a valuable “second chance” route, allowing access to new wetlands, Sahel scrub, farmland mosaics, and river-edge habitats that often produce different species from the northbound journey.
Key Species:
- African Finfoot
- African Fish Eagle
- Giant Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- Malachite Kingfisher
- African Darter
- Goliath Heron
🌳 Forest & riverine woodland species
- Adamawa Turtle Dove
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- White-crowned Robin-Chat
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher
- Bearded Barbet
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- African Grey Hornbill
🦅 Raptors and large birds of prey
- Western Banded Snake Eagle
- Brown Snake Eagle
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
- Palm-nut Vulture
10
The Gambia – Farafenyi & North Bank Birding
On our final morning in Senegal, we depart after breakfast and head toward the border at Farafenni, re-entering The Gambia and continuing through the North Bank region with an overnight stay at Bansang Riverside Lodge on the South Bank. Although this is a full travel day, it is carefully structured with frequent birding stops in productive habitats. A key focus is the Farafenni wetlands and surrounding rice fields, one of the most rewarding inland birding areas in The Gambia. The mix of flooded paddies, seasonal pools, scrub, and open savanna provides excellent opportunities for both waterbirds and raptors, especially in the early morning and late afternoon.
Key Species:
🐦 Key bird species expected en route (Farafenni → Bansang)
🌾 Wetlands, rice fields & floodplains (Farafenni area)
- Black Crowned Crane
- Spotted Thick-knee
- African Jacana
- Black-winged Stilt
- Squacco Heron
- Yellow-crowned Bishop
- White-faced Whistling Duck
🦅 Raptors and open-country hunters
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
- Western Banded Snake Eagle
- African Hawk-Eagle
- Red-necked Falcon
- Yellow-billed Kite
- Brown Snake Eagle
🌵 Sahel scrub & dry-country specialists
- Sahel Paradise Whydah
- Exclamatory Paradise Whydah
- Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
- Abyssinian Roller
- Sudan Golden Sparrow
11
Kunkilling Forest & Tendaba Camp Excursion
After breakfast at Bansang Riverside Lodge, we begin the day with a relaxing boat trip along the River Gambia, one of the most important wildlife corridors in West Africa. This river excursion offers excellent chances to observe both aquatic birds and forest-edge species before we continue inland to the rich gallery forest of Kunkilling Forest. We then enjoy a guided forest walk in Kunkilling Forest before leaving the island, exploring one of the most productive inland habitats in The Gambia. The forest’s tall trees, riverine vegetation, and open glades support a wide diversity of birds, primates, and other wildlife.
Key Species:
Key bird species expected at Kunkilling Forest
🌳 Forest & woodland specialists
- Adamawa Turtle Dove
- Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
- White-crested Helmetshrike
- African Paradise Flycatcher
- Western Bluebill
- Green Hylia
🦅 Raptors and larger forest birds
- Martial Eagle
- African Harrier-Hawk
- Palm-nut Vulture
- Dark Chanting Goshawk
🐦 Ground & edge species
- Stone Partridge
- Blue-spotted Wood Dove
- Bearded Barbet
12
River Gambia Boat Trip & Return to the Coast
On our final day, after an early breakfast, we set out for a memorable boat excursion along the creeks of the River Gambia at Kissi and Tunku Belongs. This tranquil stretch of river offers some of the best opportunities of the entire tour for close-up encounters with water-associated and forest-edge species in calm, photogenic conditions.
Key Species:
🚤 River creeks (Kissi & Tunku Belongs)
This section is especially good for shy riverine specialists and nocturnal forest species roosting in daytime.
🌊 Key species expected
- White-backed Night Heron
- African Finfoot
- Giant Kingfisher
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher
- Malachite Kingfisher
- African Fish Eagle
- Goliath Heron