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There can only be one thing better than our one-week tour to Gambia, and that’s two weeks in this fabulous bird-rich country! Just by spending an extra week there will not only add an another 50 species to our trip list such as Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Exclamatory Paradise Whydah, but will also allow time for more boat trips on the river or maybe just more opportunities to relax. We have a superb range of habitats waiting for us. These include sandy beaches, coastal lagoons, mangroves, dry forest and, most productive of all, Abuko Nature Reserve. Here we'll encounter bird families endemic to the continent such as colourful woodhoopoes and turacos, alongside more familiar Palearctic migrants and other stars of the African birding scene such as the many different species of bee-eaters and rollers. The River Gambia is the lifeblood of the country and we'll spend several nights up-river at a couple of comfortable lodges to look for some different species, including, of course, the much sought-after Egyptian Plover. Friday 7 December to Friday 21 December Please note that these dates have changed since the publication of the 2007 brochure.
Day 1: The tour starts with a flight from London to Banjul, from where we'll transfer to our hotel on the Atlantic coast. Hooded Vultures and Pied Crows drifting overhead will leave us in no doubt that we are in Africa, and if time allows there will be chance for some birding around the lush tropical gardens of our hotel. Here such exotic species as Senegal Coucal, Green Woodhoopoe, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, White-crowned Robin-chat, several species of glossy starlings and Beautiful Sunbird will give us a taste of things to come. Night at Hotel Senegambia. Days 2-5: Using one hotel as a base is a perfect way to explore some of the Gambia's key birding sites at a relaxed pace, and during the heat of the day we can return to our hotel for a cooling swim in the pool (or the sea) or some more birding in the hotel grounds. Top of any Gambian agenda is a visit to Abuko, an area of gallery forest a short distance from our hotel. Here well-marked forest paths reveal woodland pools hosting an array of species from Hamerkop and Black-headed Herons to Giant and African Pygmy Kingfishers. The surrounding forest provides exciting and ever changing birding and we should see both Green and Violet Turacos, colourful enough at rest but even better in flight when they reveal their scarlet primaries. Other specialities at Abuko include Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, Grey-headed Bristlebill and the massive Verreaux's Eagle Owl. At the other end of the size scale there will be such little gems as Green-backed Eremomelas, Grey-backed Camaropteras, Northern Crombecs and Yellow-breasted Apalis to seek out. Nearby we'll spend time on the coast at Tanji where Grey-headed and Slender-billed Gulls are scattered along the beach and we hope to see the scarce White-fronted Plover among hordes of more familiar waders. The surrounding savannah should produce Vieillot's and Bearded Barbets, Yellow-billed Shrike, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-crowned Tchagra, Variable Sunbird and Oriole Warbler among many others, while Ospreys and Black-shouldered Kites regularly float overhead. We will make at least one visit to Brufut and Yundum where every available perch seems to be taken by an Abyssinian or Blue-bellied Roller and Little, Swallow-tailed and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters buzz around like paper darts. Large Mosque Swallows sail past snapping at insects while higher up the raptors drifting past could include Lizard and Grasshopper Buzzards, a Dark Chanting Goshawk or a sleek Grey Kestrel. Even closer to the hotel we may spend time around Kotu Creek and various areas of wetland where we should have unbeatable views of White-faced Whistling Duck, Sacred Ibis, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied and Malachite Kingfisher, and maybe a Greater Painted-snipe or two. On one day we'll head to Pirang where we stand our best chance of seeing Black-crowned Crane and Quailfinch, as well as Long-tailed Cormorant, African Spoonbill, Wire-tailed Swallow, Plain-backed Pipit and Crested Lark. Not far from here we will explore the area around Merakissa and the Faranabanta bush track searching for Pearl-spotted Owlet, Striped Kingfisher and Fork-tailed Drongo. More familiar European migrants will also be much in evidence and species such as Woodchat Shrike, Western Olivaceous, Subalpine and Melodious Warblers can be found among more exotic Senegal Parrots, Greater Honeyguides, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus and Lavender Waxbills. We'll check any areas of fresh water for flocks of Northern Red and Black-winged Red Bishops as well as a selection of weavers, thankfully still in their breeding plumage. Nights at Hotel Senegambia. Day 6: Gambia is dominated by the river of the same name that flows along the entire length of the country. From our base on the south side we will make an early start today following the river’s course inland stopping on route for a changing selection of birds from Chestnut-backed Sparrow-larks to Temminck’s Coursers. Scanning the skies here is always worthwhile (as it is throughout the tour) and resident Long-crested and Wahlberg's Eagles may be joined by migrant Montagu's Harriers or a passing White-backed or Rüppell's Vulture. Night at Tendaba Camp. Day 7: From Tendaba we continue inland to search for a very special bird, Egyptian Plover, which we hope to find feeding along the river edge. At this time of year the plovers can be at a number of sites so if we draw a blank today then there is always the trip to Basse the next day! Time spent searching will produce other great birds from Senegal Thick-knees to Northern Anteater-chats and Spur-winged Plovers to Marsh Harriers. Night at Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown. Day 8: Today we’ll head even further along the south shore of the river to the small town of Basse. In this area we will have chance again for Egyptian Plover and hopefully the gorgeous Northern Carmine Bee-eaters. In the afternoon we will visit Bansang quarry with its Red-throated Bee-eater colony, Grey-headed Kingfisher and aptly named Cinnamon-breasted Buntings among the more regular Namaqua Doves and Red-rumped Swallows. At night the calls of African Scops Owls echo around the camp. Night at Bird Safari Camp, Georgetown. Day 9: Our camp is right on the riverbank and African Finfoot has even been seen from the camp, but today we’ll take to the water checking several areas of mangroves for this highly elusive bird. Other species we should see include African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfishers, and possibly a Western Banded or Brown Snake Eagle, while Black-headed Weaver nests hang precariously over the water. In one particular section of the river we could even see one of the small population of Hippopotamus. After lunch we’ll return to Tendaba stopping at an area of rice paddies where a selection of birds could include African Pygmy Goose, Comb Duck, Greater Painted-snipe, and Black Coucal. Elsewhere on the journey we may come across a superb Abyssinian Ground Hornbill or a troop of Dog-faced Baboons. Night at Tendaba Camp. Day 10: We’ll spend the morning birding around Tendaba seeking out a wide selection of birds from Levaillant’s Cuckoo to Fine-spotted Woodpecker. In the afternoon we’ll take a boat trip to explore the secluded creeks of the river where we should find the mighty Goliath Heron, diminutive Striated Heron, African Darter, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Mouse-brown Sunbird and possibly White-backed Night Heron, African Blue Flycatcher and Woolly-necked Stork, although to see all of these in one go would require some luck. After dinner, for those that wish, we’ll head out on a short night drive hoping to see both Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, Spotted Thick-knee and perhaps an elusive Bushbaby. Night at Tendaba Camp. Day 11: There will be chance for a second trip on the river this morning, hoping for any missing species from the previous day, or just to enjoy the sheer tranquility of the smaller tributaries. After lunch we’ll start our journey back to the coast but not before checking out some local sites for species such as the Rufous-crowned Roller, Senegal Batis, Brubru and White-shouldered Black Tit. On the return journey we'll stop as and when we see anything of interest and there is a possibility of Bateleur on route, while common raptors will include both the nominate and "Yellow-billed" Black Kites and African Harrier-Hawks. Night at Hotel Senegambia. Days 12-14: Depending on how we fared before our trip upriver we'll spend these three days seeking out any species we may have missed earlier in the holiday. We are sure to return to the forests of Abuko and Brufut and repeat visits to Merakissa, and the Faranabanta bush track will offer a different selection to our previous visits. On one day we will head to the city of Banjul where the bustling streets are surpassed only by the bustling beaches. Here we’ll watch the local fishermen sort through their days catch, with anything discarded being picked up by a selection of gulls with maybe an Arctic or Pomarine Skua in attendance. Nights at Hotel Senegambia. Day 15: There will be chance for some final birding close to our hotel in the morning before we catch an afternoon flight back to London where the tour concludes.Cost £2090 E-mail or phone +44 (0)1767 262522 for availability.
Last updated January 2007. |
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