Price: £2295/person
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE GAMBIA WITH RICHARD BIRCHETT
Day 1: Arrive in Banjul
Arrival at Banjul International Airport and transfer to Belgambia Lodge Mandinari. Depending on arrival time, there may be time for a first short walk around the lodge gardens and nearby wetlands.
Overnight in Mandinari.
Meals included: None
Day 2: Mandinari woodlands, wetlands and photo hides
A full day around Mandinari, with a mix of woodland, wetland and garden habitats. We can use the photo hides and feeding/drinking areas around the lodge, which are especially useful for relaxed bird photography.
Possible species include various doves, weavers, finches, kingfishers, bee-eaters, sunbirds, hornbills, rollers and raptors. The Tanbi Wetlands area is also very good for herons, egrets, waders and wetland birds.
Overnight in Mandinari.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Farasuto Forest, Mr Bah’s hide and drive to Tendaba
Morning visit to Farasuto Forest and Mr Bah’s hide, one of the well-known birding sites in The Gambia. This is a good location for forest and woodland species, with opportunities for owls, kingfishers, barbets, turacos, woodpeckers and other forest birds.
Afterwards we continue inland towards Tendaba, with birding stops in the Kwinella woodland area.
Overnight near Tendaba.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Kiang West boat trip / Drive to Kuntaur / Wassu Quarry
Morning boat trip in the Kiang West / Tendaba area. This is one of the classic boat excursions in The Gambia, with good chances for African Fish Eagle, herons, egrets, kingfishers, bee-eaters, waders and other riverine species.
After lunch we drive further inland towards Kuntaur, with a stop at Wassu Quarry, which is known for Red-throated Bee-eaters and other open-country birds.
Overnight near Kuntaur.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Kuntaur rice fields / Chimpanzee and hippo boat trip
Morning birding around Kuntaur rice fields and surrounding habitats. This area can be good for wetland species, finches, weavers, raptors and open-country birds.
In the afternoon we take the boat trip towards the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project area, with chances for hippos, chimpanzees from the boat, crocodiles and river birds.
Overnight near Kuntaur.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Day 6: Njau, Kaur wetlands and drive to Bintang Bolong
Morning visit to Njau and Kaur wetlands. This area is especially interesting for inland wetland species and can offer excellent photographic opportunities. Depending on conditions, Egyptian Plover is one of the special target species in this region.
Later we continue towards Bintang Bolong, with birding around Kassagne wetlands.
Overnight near Bintang Bolong.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Day 7: Killy photo hide / Drive to Marakissa
Morning visit to the photo hide at Killy, where there can be good opportunities for close photography of drinking and feeding birds.
Afterwards we drive to Marakissa. In the late afternoon we can explore the Marakissa wetlands and lodge surroundings.
Overnight near Marakissa.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Day 8: Dasilameh, Halahin River boat trip and Marakissa wetlands
A very strong bird photography day around Marakissa and Dasilameh. We include a boat trip on the Halahin River, which is excellent for kingfishers, herons, egrets, waders and other wetland birds.
The Marakissa area also offers woodland and wetland habitats, with chances for species such as Green Turaco, Shining-blue Kingfisher, bee-eaters, hornbills, sunbirds and many others.
Overnight near Marakissa.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Day 9: Kartong wetlands and beach / Lamin rice fields / Mandinari
Morning visit to Kartong wetlands and beach area. This is a very different habitat, with coastal wetlands, open water and beach habitat. It can be good for waders, terns, gulls, herons, egrets, kingfishers and other wetland birds.
Later we return towards Mandinari, with an afternoon visit to Lamin rice fields if time allows.
Overnight near Mandinari.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, dinner
Day 10: Departure day
Depending on flight time, we can include a final relaxed walk around Mandinari before transfer to Banjul Airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Throughout the holiday we will be staying at simple lodges. Most of these are community-owned, so your stay helps the local people. All accommodation will be en-suite. Accommodation is comfortable, but get more rustic the more central we go.
Mandinari
Belgambia Lodge Mandinari (Standard)
Belgambia Lodge Mandinari is a hidden gem along the Tanbi wetlands. The lodge is only 40-miutes away from the International Airport and is surrounded by 4800 hectares of mangrove forest and 6000 hectares of untouched nature. On the top of it it also has a private bird photography hide.
Jarjari Village
Morgan Kunda Lodge (Standard)
The lodge is located in the Jarjari village and is a part of the local community. It is situated next to the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve, offering a very unique location to be explored.
Kuntaur
Kairoh Garden Lodge (Standard)
These family owned guesthouses are located in the Kuntaur region. the location gives us very good access to the rice fields, Wassu, Kaur/Njau wetlands and the river excursions for hippos, chimpanzees and birdlife.
Marakissa
Belgambia Lodge Marakissa (Standard)
It is a simpler lodge than the one in Mandinari, but its location will make up for it. It is located near the bird-rich Dasilameh wetlands, near the border of Senegal. You will stay in round, traditional huts with a double bed, private bathroom and fan.
Prices & Inclusions
3rd to 12th November 2027 – 6 Spots
|
Holiday Price: |
£2295/person |
|
| Single Supplement | £200/person |
Inclusions
- Accommodation at mentioned hotels or similar for 9 nights on a twin share basis
- Daily breakfasts, lunches and dinner from the morning of day2, till the morning of day 10
- Transportation as per the itinerary
- 1x Local Guide throughout the holiday
- 1x International Photographer Guide: Richard Birchett
- Boat excursions, field walks, use of photography hides
- Full financial protection by Protected Trust Services
Exclusions
- International flights
- Airport transfers
- Drinks
- Tips
- Travel Insurance
TOUR SUMMARY
On this holiday we will explore this tiny West African country, The Gambia. It is home to an incredible array of birds and we will have excellent photography opportunities. The tour runs during the dry season, the weather will be hot and humid. We use photography hides, do field walks and also boat cruises to maximise our chances to see a great variation of birds. Richard Birchett’s presence will be a guarantee for an excellent photography-mentorship.
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The Gambia: The Gambia is Africa’s smallest (non-island) country that is dominated by the Gambia River. The country is quite flat and is surrounded by Senegal. The vegetation on the uplands is savanna, but inland and mangrove swamps can also be found along the river. It is a birding hotspot, but the country is also home to mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
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