Taking you all the way to Tendaba and basse
This is an example of a 4 days expedition. Please contact us and let us know your needs to arrange the best itinerary for your tour.
DAY 1
We pick you up at your hotel anywhere near the Bijilo or Kololi area about 6.30 am, heading east along the Gambia highway and stopping at interesting sites to birdwatchers and photographers such as Pirang rice fields, Faraba Banta groundnut field or Faraba Sutu woods. A stop will be made at Brumang bridge for half an hour and refreshment made available. From there we proceed to Kwinclah village to find one of the spectacular colonies of Pink-backed Pelican. Our accommodation at Tendaba Camp is basic comfortable, nicely situated on the bank of the river Gambia, including a pool for cooling off.
Expected birds at Pirang rice fields: Yellow-billed Stork, Greater Flamingo, Black Crowned Crane, Lanner Falcon, Brown-necked Parrot, Collared Pratincole, White-fronted Bee-eater, Rufous-rumped and Crested Larks, Plain-backed Pipit, Wire-tailed and Grey-rumped Swallows, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Yellow-crowned Bishop, African Quailfinch and more.
Expected birds on the stops along the road: White-headed and African White-backed Vultures, Bateleur, African and Ayres Hawk-eagles, Western Banded Snake-eagle, Tawny and Martial Eagles, Bronze-winged Courser, Rollers, Yellow-fronted Canary, Lesser Blue-eared, Greater Blue-eared and Bronze-tailed Glossy Starlings, White-shouldered Black Tit, White-fronted Black-chat, Pygmy Sunbird, Southern Masked and Heuglins Weavers, Red-winged Pytilia and more.
Expected birds at Brumang bridge: Great White Pelican, Yellow-billed and Woolly-necked Storks, Marabou, Rüppells Griffon, White-headed and African White-backed Vultures, African Fish-eagle, Bateleur, Brown Snake-eagle and more.
Expected birds at Tendaba airport: Saddlebill, White-rumped Seedeater, Long-crested Eagle, African Little Sparrowhawk, African Hobby, Bronze-winged Courser, Northern Ground-hornbill, Long-tailed Nightjar, Plain-backed Pipit, Western Bonellis and Melodious Warbler, Pygmy Sunbird, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Melba Finch, White-rumped Seedeater and more.
Expected birds at creeks at Tendaba: White-backed Night-heron, Goliath Heron, African Finfoot, Pels Fishing-owl, Blue Crested-flycatcher, Mouse-brown Sunbird, Black-headed Weaver and more.
DAY 2
Early in the morning we will explore the camp area before breakfast is served at 8.00 am. After, a creek tour to the interesting North Bank Creeks, Tunku and Kisi Bolon is included. Later, we will drive to various good sites as Pakaliba, Buiba, Dalaba or Jahali Swamp. We will also cross the river for the North Bank, where the African Cuckoo-hawk was reported recently, new to the Gambian list. Well spend the night at Baobalong Camp or at Bird Safari Camp in Georgetown, 150 m east of river Gambia.
Expected birds at Tendaba Camp area: Squacco Heron, African Spoonbill, Village Indigobird, Brown-necked Parrot, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Bruces Green-pigeon, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark, White-shouldered Black Tit, White-crowned Robin-chat, Black-rumped Waxbill, Cut-throat Finch, Red-billed and Red-headed Queleas, Pin-tailed Whydah and more.Expected birds at Baobalong area: Dwarf Bittern, Isabelline Shrike, Black-rumped Waxbill, Exclamatory Paradise-whydah and more.
DAY 3
After breakfast is served, we will drive to Basse and arrive to the terminal, where it is often possible to get good views of the Egyptian Plover, which is local here and in a few other localities. We will also visit Bansang Sandpit and adjacent areas.
Expected birds along the road to Basse: Long-legged and Red-necked Buzzards, Brown Snake-eagle, Booted Eagle, Black-bellied Bustard, Bronze-winged Courser, African Skimmer, Adamawa Turtle-dove, Great Spotted and African Cuckoos, Greater and Lesser Honeyguides, Flappet Lark, Singing Bushlark, White-browed Forest-flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Hyliota and more.
Expected birds at Bansang Sandpit area: Amethyst Starling, Sudan Golden Sparrow, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Croaking Cisticola, Brown-rumped Bunting, African Yellow White-eye and more.
DAY 4
We will look for aquatic birds at Basse river and nearby rice fields, trying to get all the common and the most elusive ones.
Expected birds at Basse river and rice fields: Long-tailed Cormorant, Black and Ovambo Sparrowhawks, African Crake, African Finfoot, White-bellied Bustard, Greater Painted-snipe, Senegal Thick-knee, Egyptian Plover, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, African Black Coucal, Zebra Waxbill, African Shrike-flycatcher and more.
our in The Gambia and Senegal with river cruise.
OVERVIEW:
We discover tropic Gambia and exotic Senegal, could be a very good experience for nature lovers and historians. The tour starts in the Gambia anywhere near the Bijilo or Kololi area and we venture into Senegal through the Saloum Delta, visit to a game park in Fatala and spend the first night in Tubakuta.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
BIRD WATCHING:
The Gambia and Senegal have many excellent reserves for bird watching. During the annual migration from November to April, millions more arrive from Europe. Over 650 species have been recorded. If you are keen, remember to pack a pair of binoculars and note that there are several bird books available on this area.
ITINERARY:
Day 1. DRIVE TO SALOUM DELTA
Today we cross the river to the north, heading to the Saloum delta via the Fatala park then to Toubakouta ,where we will spend the first night.
Day 2. IN SALOUM DELTA WE WILL HAVE A PIROGUE TRIP NORTH THROUGH THE DELTA
Day 3. DRIVE TO DAKAR
Day 4. CROSS THE FERRY TO THE ISLAND OF GOREE
We begin our tour by taking a ferry to Isle de Goree, a small and peaceful island without any traffic. We make a walking tour of Isle de Goree. This was a busy trading center during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is now UNESCO world heritage center colonial-style houses, wrought-iron balconies, narrow streets and brightly coloured bougainvillea. Le castel is situated on a rocky plateau from where there are good view across to Dakar. The fortifications dates back to different periods. Also worth visiting is the slave house originally built in 1786.
Day 5. FERRY TO DAKAR; Drive to St Louis.
This morning we return to the mainland by ferry and drive to Lac Rose, the pink lake. This large shallow lagoon is extremely salty and is also renowned for its pink tinge, due to the high concentrations of minerals in the water. We continue north to St.Louis.
Day 6. In St.LOUIS; Visit Djoudj National Park.
St .Louis is a marvelous old town full of 19th century French colonial buildings St.Louis was the first French settlement in Africa and the headquarters of Senegambia [the term use to describe the whole region]. By the late 18th century it was a busy port and trading center .On our second day in St.Louis well explore and visit the Djoudj National Park. Regarded as one of the most important bird reserves in the world, it provides the first major water source for migratory birds after their long grueling flight over the Sahara desert. We travel by motorized boat along the complex network of channel which lead off the Senegal river. The bird count reaches millions, some species are prevalent such as Pelicans. There are as many as 15,000 in the park. We may see them performing an amazing display of synchronized diving for fish and will see a breeding colony. Around three million birds pass through the park annually which includes 400 different species: Herons, White-breasted Cormorants, Spoonbills, Jakanas, Egyptian Gees, West African Fish Eagles and Flamingos to name but a few. You may also see Crocodile, Wild hog, Monitor Lizard and Water Python.
Day 7. In St.LOUIS;Visit Langue de Barbarie NP.
Today we plan to visit the Langue de Barbarie National Park, home to water birds such as flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, heron, egrets and duck. From November to April they are joined by many more migratory birds from Europe .The afternoon is left free for you to follow your own interest.
Overnight standard hotel, including meals.
Day 8. Drive and ferry to Georgetown
Early this morning we head to the Gambia, en route we stop to view the overwhelming mosue in Touba, the sacred focus of the Mourid Islamic brotherhood. Their founder Amadou Bamber , Senegal’s most famous and influential marabout [holy man] is buried here and pilgrims visit the town all year round. We try to pass through here when the mosue is busy with worshipers. Continuing through the town of Kaolack, we enter the Gambia and head east following the route of the river to our night accommodation in Georgetown which was an important administrative center during the colonial period. It may be possible to experience local traditional dancing after dinner in the camp.
Day 9. CRUISE ON GAMBIA RIVE. Visit river Gambia National park and Wassu Stone Circle.
The Gambia river flows along the entire length of the country for 300 miles from east to west into the Atlantic Ocean. Slave ship once traveled along its course exporting slaves. We spend the morning cruising down stream, passing tropical forest, bamboo groves, rice paddies and mangrove swamps. Amongs the varied fauna present in this area are monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and of course a great number of bird species. The bank of the rive have been inhabited since 2000 bc. On the first day we will visit the stone circle after the boat trip. There are several circles each consisting of about 10 to 24 reddisbrown stones between one and 2.5m high and weighing several tons. These were once burial sites dating back to 500 to 1000 AD, however very little is known about the people who were buried here and the stone still present a mystery to archaeologists. From there we will drive and cross the ferry to Tendaba Camp, where we will spend two nights.
Day 10. At TENDABA ;Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve.
Day 11. CREEK TOUR AT TENDABA TO BAOBOLONG WETLAND.
Day 12. BACK TO THE COAST ,BIRDING ON THE WAY.
Day 13. ABUKO NATURE RESERVE.
Day 14. FREE DAY. BEFORE GOING TO THE AIRPORT
Day 1
As an exception, this tour begins in Dakar, I will receive you at the airport in Dakar and take you to the hotel for our first night stop.
Of course it is also possible to take you from your hotel in The Gambia to Dakar if needed.
Day 2
After breakfast from our hotel in Dakar we will visit the Il de Madlien for the Red bill Tropic bird, Northern Gannet and Brown Booby, just to name few. In the afternoon we will visit Technopole area. This is a wetland area for Wader and some migrants. After that we go back to the hotel in Dakar for our second night stop.
Day 3
After breakfast we will depart towards the northern part of Senegal to the Sahel region and past St Louis to Djoudj National Park for our night stay in hotel Djoudj. As we travel to the north, we will pass huge Baobab and Acacia savanna of Dakar as we enter Sahel region. On the way going there we will have several stops to see big Vultures and Scrub Robin, Blue Nape Mouse bird, Chestnut-bellied Starlings, just to name a few.
We will have a night stop in hotel Djoudj.
Day 4
After breakfast at Djoudj, we will have a field walk to scan for the Arabian Bustard, Black Crown Crane and migrants. In the afternoon we will have boat trip in river Djoudj to the breeding ground of the Great White Pelican. From there we go back to the camp for our second night stop in Djoudj.
Day 5
After breakfast, we will depart to Richard Tall. As we enter the Sahel, the great band of drought-prone, semi-arid area along the southern edge of the advancing Sahara. We will drive past the irrigated sugar cane plantation and extensive dry, sandy landscape that is use by goat and cattle chewed grassland and acacia scrub. As we explore the arid landscape of Richart Tall.
Here we will be concentrating on looking for very special birds that are in the semi desert area of tropical Africa. This is the area of one of the most attractive Sahelian birds: The Cricket Warbler, Little Grey Woodpecker and the Senner Penduline Tit. Both can be found feeding quietly in the small acacias that dot the area. We can also expect to see the flocks of Sudan Golden Sparrows and with a bit of chance, we can come across a Golden nightjar.
From there we will drive back to St Louis for a night stop.
Day 6
After breakfast, we will depart to Kaolack. There we will have two nights. On the way to Kaolack we will drive through Touba down to Gossas, and we will have several stops on the way as well.
Night stop is in Kaolack.
Day 7
After breakfast in the Hotel in Kaolack we will go to the roosting ground of the Swallow tail Kites and Lesser Kestrel. And from there we will have the chance to spot the Saveles Bustards. In the the afternoon, we bird around Kaolack and back to the hotel for our second night.
Day 8
After breakfast, we will depart to Wassadou where we will have two nights. On the way going there we will have several stops and past Tambakounda down to Wassadou for our first night.
Day 9
After breakfast we will visit the Niokolokoba National Park in the morning. In the afternoon we will have a boat trip in Wassadou to see the Egyptian Plovers and the White Crown Plovers and Adamawa Toutle Dove which are quite good in that area.
And another night stop in Wassadou.
Day 10
After breakfast we will depart to Kedougou and to Dindefello for two nights.
Day 11
At Dindefello. We may see here: Familiar Chat, Mockin Cliff Chat, Neumanns Starling and both Turacos. In there we will have the chance to climb up the mountain and to the Waterfall.
Day 12
After break fast we will depart to Tambakounda. We will have several stops on the way and have our night stop in the hotel at Tambakounda.
Day 13
We will drive back, not to Dakar but we will have a night stop in Mburr close to the airport .On the way to Mburr we will have several stops before arriving there late in the evening .
Day 14
After breakfast we will go birding around Somoun area before going to the airport for you to fly back.
This is a tour that covers seven destinations in one day.
We start at your hotel anywhere near the Bijilo or Kololi area and go to:
…and back to your hotel!
This is a half day trip to banjul
This is a half day trip to Banjul, starting at your hotel anywhere near the Senegambia area.
To tendaba and Back in two days
…and back to your hotel
Depart from your hotel anywhere near the Bijilo or Kololi area to Tendaba .On the way going we will have the chance to interact with the locals and to visit local homes along the way. Also you will have the chance to see big Raptors and very beautiful birds, since you will be guided by a bird and nature specialist. Night stop will be in Tendaba camp. The following day you will have a boat trip across the river Gambia to a creeks call Tunku and Kissi Bolong to see birds, mammals and Crocodiles. From there we depart back after lunch
3 DAY TOUR TO TENDABA AND GEORGETOWN
In three days to the eastern part of the Gambia
We will depart from your hotel anywhere near the Bijilo or Kololi area and drive eastwards to Tendaba. We will have several stops to the local villages to interact with the locals to see how they live. When we arrive in Tendaba we will have a boat trip across the River Gambia to Tunku and Kissi bolong. From there we will have one night stop
Day 2
After breakfast w will depart to Georgetown. This time we will cross the Ferry to the north of the river Gambia to Farafenni. We will visit the Stone circle and then to the river Gambia national parc. We will go by boat to see the Chimpanzee and Hippos in the River Gambia. Later we cross another ferry to enter the island of Georgetown.
Day 3
After breakfast we will visit the island down to the Slave market and then we drive back to the hotel.
