Local visits involving half or full days
Immediate area - Kotu creek, rice fields and Fajara.
In these area within walking distance of Kotu beach and bridge many of the common bird species of Gambia can be seen together with some more unusual ones. You can expect to see spur-winged plover, Senegal thick-knee, hamerkop, wattled plover, sacred ibis, splendid sunbird, Abyssinian roller, green-wood hoopoe, pied kingfisher, little bee-eater and many more. Boat trips along the creek are available.
Abuko nature reserve
This - the oldest conservation reserve in Gambia, is within easy driving distance of Kotu and contains over 270 species of birds. Walking through the reserve you may see turaco, violet turaco,oriole warbler, lavender waxbill, and glossy-backed drongo amongst many others. Nile monitor lizards and crocodiles are also possible sightings.
Tanji Bird Reserve
Tanji bird reserve just north of Tanji fishing village and neaby Bijol Islands are a birdwatcher's paradise where almost 300 species can be seen. An easy drive from Kotuit comprises islands, shoreline, woodland,scrub and lagoons. You can expect to see osprey, a variety of gulls, godwits, green crombec, shrikes,cardinals, four banded sand grouse, various woodpeckers and many more. The islands are used as roosting sites by a large number of waders and pelicans
Brufut Woods
Brufut can be described as coastal woodland. It contains a bird pond and a hide. Species you may spot include white faced scops owl, green turaco, Klaas' cuckoo, crowned tchagra, several species of eagles, African pied hornbill, Verreau's eagle owl, greater honeyguide amongst others.
Tujering Woods and Kartons
Tujering can be described as coastal savannah with dense bush but fewer trees. It is possible to see singing and whistling cisticolas, grey-backed camaroptera, swifts (palm and pallid), woodpeckers, pink-backed pelican and osprey.
Farasutu, Bonto rice field and Pirang Forest
A community bird watching reserve with a management plan to secure its future together with its wildlife and the future of the people who use it for growing crops. Rich in biodiversity species which may be spotted include African goshawk, collared sunbird
black-bellied bustards. In gthe woods and grassland there is an excellent chance of spotting yellow throated longclaw, yellow-shouldered wido bird wax bills and many more. In Pirang forest we may see Verreau's eagle owl, yellow-bill coucal, woodpeckers and more.
Pirong shrimp ponds
Possibilities here include collared pratincole, mosque swallow, black crowned crane, yellow crowned bishop, quail finch and maybe flamingoes.
Marikissa River Camp
A mix of pools, woodland and cultivated areas. The visit involves a trip along the creek in a traditional canoe where we may see white faced scops owl, a variety of eagles including Wahlberg's eagle, several species of kingfisher. Other species which may be seen at the river camp including in the woods include fanti saw-wing, African golden oriole, bearded barbet, African thrush. There is a small restaurant from which birds can be watched at leisure and overnight accommodation in huts with comfortable beds and toilets can be arranged.
Kartong ponds
More than 260 bird species have benn recorded at Kartong in the south of Gambia near the border with Senegal. Habitats include mangroves, sand dunes, tidal mud flats, scrubland and rice fields. Species include African jacana, pygmy goose, purple swamphen, blue-naped mouse bird amongst many others.
Lamin lodge
This trip includes a boatride through mangroves and a walk through rice fields. There is a restaurant with excellent views of the surrounding area where you can sit and watch kingfishers and other birds but watch the monkeys don't grab your food!
Fathala wildlife reserve
This reserve a little over the border in Senegal is about 3 hours from Banjul. Getting there involves a ferry crossing over the river Gambia which affords an opportunity to experience the African way of life. Set in 6000 hectares of original and protected forest this African wilderness in it's original condition Here you can see lions,giraffes, rhino, zebra, warthog, buffalo, antelopes, families of monkeys and many more. If you wish you can walk with lions.
How to Book
For more information, prices or to book a trip please contact Dallu +2202219296 birdguidinggambia@gmail.com.
Alternatively you can use the form on the contact page to arrange one of these half-day trips. Trips can be combined for a fuller experience.