Birding in The Gambia with SparrowBirding
Situated in the western part of Africa, The Gambia is known as the Smiling Coast of Africa and distinguished as one of the smallest countries in West Africa. It has a total length of about 220 km and a width of 50 km. The Gambia is bordered on three sides by Senegal, and the remaining side by the Atlantic Ocean, and has a population of about 2 million people. Having been subject to British colonization, The Gambia became independent on the 18th of February 1965, and declared itself a republic in 1970.
Capital. The capital is Banjul, while Serekunda and Brikama are the biggest cities of the country.
Currency. The Dalasi is the actual currency of The Gambia. As there are only a few ATM’s, cash is required and can easily be changed in Dallas (100 Dallas is about 1.50 Euro or 1.25 GBP).
As The Gambia is so small the concentration of birds is very high, both in numbers and species. So birdwatching in The Gambia is very interesting. More than 550 different species have been observed (in Senegal even more). Situated just below the desert, The Gambia attracts a plethora of European birds seeking refuge during the winter.
Birding with Famara Njie alias Jack Sparrow from SparrowBirding is exiting. Depending on the season, you might spot about 150 to 250 different birds within a 2-weeks trip. As The Gambia is bordered by Senegal, you can easily make a trip over there. Furthermore not only birds are covered, but also other flora and fauna you will encounter during a tour, e.g to Fathala Wildlife Reserve.
Birding how, where and when in The Gambia?
How birding in The Gambia?
There are several ways to go birdwatching in The Gambia:
Join a specialized birding tour. This can be a great option, as these tours are well-organized. However, you are tied to a group, which means you cannot determine your own schedule or pace. This can sometimes be challenging, especially if your partner has other preferences.
Book a hotel-based trip. You can book a stay at one of the hotels along the “Sunshine Coast,” such as in Kotu, and arrange various excursions from there. SparrowBirding offers excellent services for this, allowing you to decide which days (or multiple days with overnight stays) you’d like to go on an excursion and which days you’d prefer to relax. I can advise you on the best birding locations for a particular season. We call this relaxed birding, as it combines well with a beach holiday.
Tailored birding holiday. SparrowBirding can organize a fully tailored birding holiday for you. Share your preferences, and together we can plan a round trip, including selecting hotels and lodges. You book your flight to Gambia yourself (including hotel accommodation for the day of arrival and the night before departure). And I will take care of the rest, such as transportation, lodging, dinners, and more.
Note: For these services, payment in advance is necessary to secure your booking. This ensures that all arrangements, such as accommodations, transportation, (and special excursions), are confirmed and ready for your trip. Payment details and instructions will be provided during the planning process.
Birding where in The Gambia?
The first question is not so difficult to answer, because everywhere in The Gambia birding with SparrowBirding-Gambia is lovely, and many birds you may find in all regions, but some birds depend on a special habitat. Jack Sparrow knows exactly where to find them.
The Gambia is divided in five regions:
1) West coast (WC); Here you will find gulls and terns (Tanji beach) and many other birds in places like Brufut, Lamin Ricefields etc. In the hot season this region is a little bit cooler;
2) North Bank (NB), sub divided in West and East:
3) Lower Region (LR), where Tendaba is the hot spot for birders and where you will find many birds.
4) Central Region (CR): In dry Savanna Woodland you will find many raptors (Bateleur, Buzards), Bee-eaters like Red-throated and Carmine, but also Plovers Spotted Thick-knee etc;
5) Upper River (UR). Birds to be seen in this region are African Finfoot, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Carmine Bee-eater etc.
Birding when in the Gambia?
This is more difficult to answer although all seasons have their advantages. You can roughly distinguish three periods:
October – November – December
Birding at this time of the year, which is the early start of the season in the Gambia, is very good because there is the possibility to see most of the migrant birds like Waders, Egyptian Plover etc.
Furthermore birds can be seen in their beautiful breeding plumage like Northern Red Bishop, Yellow-crowned Bishop, and various Plovers. Furthermore inter African migrants like African Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Leviallant’s and Didric Cuckoo etc.
Temperatures during the day varies from 33° –38°Celcius.
January – February – March|
This is a another good period for birding. It is becoming drier and the birds migrate to the pools from where you can take nice photos. Furthermore the vegetation had dried and change to yellow, so the birds will be more visible. Birds to be seen are: Ground Hornbill, Bustards, Whydah and Coursers, some changing to non-breeding plumage.
Temperatures during the day varies between 30° and 35°C.
April – September
As the hot season starts, birding is recommended in the morning and late afternoon, preferably at the West coast region where it is a little bit cooler than in the inland regions.
Early in the season there are good possibilities to see the dry-season visitors such as Violet-backed Starling and Chestnut-bellied Starling.
Later in the season from July onward you will find birds which are associated with rain like African Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo and lots more for instance Egyptian Plover. The majority of birds like Bishops and Weavers are in full breeding plumage.
Temperatures during the day: between 33° and 40°C , but cooler in the morning.