Jewels of The Gambia Birding Tour
With the added benefit of fantastic weather right when we need to escape the winter, The Gambia has long been regarded as a fantastic destination for seeing a wide variety of vibrant and fascinating bird species. Because of the gentle pace of this trip, both photographers and birders will have plenty of opportunity to take pictures and enjoy the wildlife and birds in their natural environment. In order to accommodate various agendas, we have two knowledgeable local guides, a driver, and experienced UK based guide Ashley Grove who has successfully led more than 25 tours to The Gambia. If more than 8 participants register for this tour, Gavin McKinnon will join the trip as a second tour leader.
Tour Information
Dates: November 5-16, 2027
Start/End City: London, UK
Tour Leader: Gavin McKinnon + local guides
Cost: $5195 CAD
The tour fee above is based on double occupancy and includes all ground transportation, internal flights, accommodation, all meals and professional guiding services. Single supplement is available for $650 CAD. The deposit for this tour is $1000 CAD, final payment is due July 1, 2027.
Maximum of 12 participants
Start/End City: London, UK
Tour Leader: Gavin McKinnon + local guides
Cost: $5195 CAD
The tour fee above is based on double occupancy and includes all ground transportation, internal flights, accommodation, all meals and professional guiding services. Single supplement is available for $650 CAD. The deposit for this tour is $1000 CAD, final payment is due July 1, 2027.
Maximum of 12 participants
Itinerary
November 5: On the first day, we will fly from Gatwick to The Gambia, arriving around mid-day, and check into our beachside hotel for three nights. When we reach to the hotel, we'll have time to settle in before taking a quick stroll to see some of the birds that The Gambia has to offer.
November 6: In the morning we will walk from the hotel to a prime habitat for some of the most exciting birds in The Gambia. Before lunch, one might easily count 70 species, including Blue-breasted, Malachite, Pied, Woodland, and perhaps Stripped Kingfishers. In fact, there are so many birds that it can take up to an hour to exit the hotel entrance!
November 7: A early visit to Kartong Wetlands offers us a wide variety of aquatic birds. White-faced Whistling Ducks, Herons, African Spoonbills, African Jacanas, Purple Swamphens, Little Crakes, Painted Snipes, Black Heron, and other shorebirds. Among the primary target species, there are Purple Roller and Blue-bellied Roller as well as Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, the latter of which are typically very easy to photograph here. Also, keep an eye out for African Harrier Hawks and Ospreys fishing nearby. A boat ride on the Allahein River, which separates Senegal and The Gambia, is our plan for the afternoon. This brings us in close proximity to a variety of terns, waders, and, once more, ospreys. Goliath Heron, a bird, has recently been seen from this location.
November 8: We depart from our base on the coast and head inland to Tendaba, where we will spend the next two nights. One of the stops along the way will be a forest reserve, where we will have our first chance to see and take photograph Giant Kingfishers. We may also be able to spot Gray-headed Kingfishers and potentially African Pygmy Kngfishers. Although Violet Turaco is possible and there is a good variety of birds in the reserves, it is challenging to get excellent views. We will have a high possibility of observing and taking pictures of a wide range of forest species during our half-day stay at the reserve.
November 9: In search of kingfishers, as well as a variety of heron species, Spur-winged Goose, Pelicans, and many more, including crocodiles lounging on the riverbanks, we spend this morning on a boat cruising the river tributaries of the Baobalong Wetlands. Frequently seen here is the elusive African Finfoot. We spend the remainder of the day searching for Coursers, Abysinian Ground Hornbills, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Larks, Striped Kingfishers, and a variety of raptors such as Grasshopper Buzzards, Dark Chanting Goshawks, and Batleur at the Batalan track area after taking a lunch break. We'll search for Owls and Nightjars on the way back before dinner; Standard-winged and Long-tailed Nightjars are likely to be seen.
November 10: We travel further afield from Tendaba and spend three nights in the Georgetown region. The first destination is Messenbeh, a popular location for Abyssinian Ground Hornbills and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters. On the way, we'll look for bush fires, which can be a great place to see rollers and bee-eaters. A nice location for Pygmy Sunbirds, African Pygmy Goose, and other wetland specialties, such as large numbers of Namaqua Doves and African Jacanas, is Dalaba Wetlands, where we also make a stop.
November 11: We visit the Jahally rice fields from our new base in Georgetown in order to see a variety of wader species, including Collard Pratincole, and herons. After that, head to Brikama-ba to where a Verreauxs Eagle Owl roosts. After that, it's back to Georgetown for a boat excursion in the afternoon to look for the African Fish Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Broad-billed Roller, Malachite, Pied, and Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Hippos are highly likely to be seen, along with White-faced Whistling Ducks.
November 12: The Red-throated Bee-eaters' colony at Bansang Quarry is where we spend the greater part of the day. There will be plenty of opportunities to photograph and enjoy these vibrantly colored birds today. The convenient watering pools draw weavers, doves, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, exclamatory Sahel Paradise-Whydah, and other local birds, making for a delightful day of birdwatching. For the Spotted Thick-knee, we also go to another neighboring location.
November 13: Leaving Georgetown behind we head back toward Tendaba, but cross to the north bank of the Gambia and visit Wassu for a second Red-throated Bee-eater Colony. This is a fantastic place to see the lovely Black-headed Plover, Northern Ant-eater Chat, and Little Bee-eater. We'll be stopping along the way, so keep an eye out for coursers and bustards, which can be found on the north bank of the river. We'll also visit a few locations where we have the best chance of spotting Egyptian Plover. Our chances are really good because this is the ideal time of year to find them. After that, we'll return to the south for one night at Tendaba.
November 14: After leaving Tendaba, we return to the the coast for our final two nights at the Palm Beech. We will have the opportunity to stop at Abuko Reserve and Lamin Rice Fields en route for a chance to see Painted Snipe, along with many other woodland species, Abuko is home to the Green and Violet Turaco, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and Black-headed and African Paradise Flycatchers.
November 15: We continue our exploration of Kotu this morning, which is perhaps the most varied location on the itinerary, with the hopes of capturing the ideal photo or catching up with one that escaped us the prior time. In the afternoon, we will go to Brufut Woods to seek for Klaus's Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and Long-tailed Nightjars that are roosting, as well as Northern White-faced Owls. Additionally, there is a drinking area here that draws finches, sunbirds, weavers, and even the occasional African Pygmy Kingfisher.
November 16: With the wonders of Kotu’s birdlife in touching distance of the hotel, it would be a shame not to squeeze in few more hours on our last morning before we need to check out and leave for the airport around midday. We will depart for London's Gatwick airport in the afternoon.
November 6: In the morning we will walk from the hotel to a prime habitat for some of the most exciting birds in The Gambia. Before lunch, one might easily count 70 species, including Blue-breasted, Malachite, Pied, Woodland, and perhaps Stripped Kingfishers. In fact, there are so many birds that it can take up to an hour to exit the hotel entrance!
November 7: A early visit to Kartong Wetlands offers us a wide variety of aquatic birds. White-faced Whistling Ducks, Herons, African Spoonbills, African Jacanas, Purple Swamphens, Little Crakes, Painted Snipes, Black Heron, and other shorebirds. Among the primary target species, there are Purple Roller and Blue-bellied Roller as well as Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, the latter of which are typically very easy to photograph here. Also, keep an eye out for African Harrier Hawks and Ospreys fishing nearby. A boat ride on the Allahein River, which separates Senegal and The Gambia, is our plan for the afternoon. This brings us in close proximity to a variety of terns, waders, and, once more, ospreys. Goliath Heron, a bird, has recently been seen from this location.
November 8: We depart from our base on the coast and head inland to Tendaba, where we will spend the next two nights. One of the stops along the way will be a forest reserve, where we will have our first chance to see and take photograph Giant Kingfishers. We may also be able to spot Gray-headed Kingfishers and potentially African Pygmy Kngfishers. Although Violet Turaco is possible and there is a good variety of birds in the reserves, it is challenging to get excellent views. We will have a high possibility of observing and taking pictures of a wide range of forest species during our half-day stay at the reserve.
November 9: In search of kingfishers, as well as a variety of heron species, Spur-winged Goose, Pelicans, and many more, including crocodiles lounging on the riverbanks, we spend this morning on a boat cruising the river tributaries of the Baobalong Wetlands. Frequently seen here is the elusive African Finfoot. We spend the remainder of the day searching for Coursers, Abysinian Ground Hornbills, Chestnut-backed Sparrow Larks, Striped Kingfishers, and a variety of raptors such as Grasshopper Buzzards, Dark Chanting Goshawks, and Batleur at the Batalan track area after taking a lunch break. We'll search for Owls and Nightjars on the way back before dinner; Standard-winged and Long-tailed Nightjars are likely to be seen.
November 10: We travel further afield from Tendaba and spend three nights in the Georgetown region. The first destination is Messenbeh, a popular location for Abyssinian Ground Hornbills and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters. On the way, we'll look for bush fires, which can be a great place to see rollers and bee-eaters. A nice location for Pygmy Sunbirds, African Pygmy Goose, and other wetland specialties, such as large numbers of Namaqua Doves and African Jacanas, is Dalaba Wetlands, where we also make a stop.
November 11: We visit the Jahally rice fields from our new base in Georgetown in order to see a variety of wader species, including Collard Pratincole, and herons. After that, head to Brikama-ba to where a Verreauxs Eagle Owl roosts. After that, it's back to Georgetown for a boat excursion in the afternoon to look for the African Fish Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Broad-billed Roller, Malachite, Pied, and Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Hippos are highly likely to be seen, along with White-faced Whistling Ducks.
November 12: The Red-throated Bee-eaters' colony at Bansang Quarry is where we spend the greater part of the day. There will be plenty of opportunities to photograph and enjoy these vibrantly colored birds today. The convenient watering pools draw weavers, doves, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, exclamatory Sahel Paradise-Whydah, and other local birds, making for a delightful day of birdwatching. For the Spotted Thick-knee, we also go to another neighboring location.
November 13: Leaving Georgetown behind we head back toward Tendaba, but cross to the north bank of the Gambia and visit Wassu for a second Red-throated Bee-eater Colony. This is a fantastic place to see the lovely Black-headed Plover, Northern Ant-eater Chat, and Little Bee-eater. We'll be stopping along the way, so keep an eye out for coursers and bustards, which can be found on the north bank of the river. We'll also visit a few locations where we have the best chance of spotting Egyptian Plover. Our chances are really good because this is the ideal time of year to find them. After that, we'll return to the south for one night at Tendaba.
November 14: After leaving Tendaba, we return to the the coast for our final two nights at the Palm Beech. We will have the opportunity to stop at Abuko Reserve and Lamin Rice Fields en route for a chance to see Painted Snipe, along with many other woodland species, Abuko is home to the Green and Violet Turaco, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, and Black-headed and African Paradise Flycatchers.
November 15: We continue our exploration of Kotu this morning, which is perhaps the most varied location on the itinerary, with the hopes of capturing the ideal photo or catching up with one that escaped us the prior time. In the afternoon, we will go to Brufut Woods to seek for Klaus's Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and Long-tailed Nightjars that are roosting, as well as Northern White-faced Owls. Additionally, there is a drinking area here that draws finches, sunbirds, weavers, and even the occasional African Pygmy Kingfisher.
November 16: With the wonders of Kotu’s birdlife in touching distance of the hotel, it would be a shame not to squeeze in few more hours on our last morning before we need to check out and leave for the airport around midday. We will depart for London's Gatwick airport in the afternoon.