ABS Birding tour to The Gambia February 2027 plus added tour

The Gambia Birding tour for ABS Members.

After many requests from members, we have now organized a birding tour for ABS members to The Gambia. See the full itinerary below.

We have chosen a tour of 10 nights/11 days visiting the most interesting birding spots of this country. February is one of the best month to visit the Gambia because of the relatively cool weather.

The arrival day is planned on 9th of February 2027, and the departure day is on the 19th of February, we have added a second tour due to demand, see important announcement below for dates.

There are no direct flights from Málaga, but normally one stop has to be made. Royal Air Maroc, Vueling and Turkish Airlines are organizing flights from Malaga (prices are from around €550 for a return ticket).

For this first trip we have to limit the number of participants to 24 people (minimum is 12 people). However, if there is more interest we can always add a second trip. This tour now has 20 members booked and has limited places available, see important announcement below as we have added an additional tour.

For this first trip, we will give preference for those who book and confirm first, a deposit of €300 will be required in order to book your place, those wishing to confirm their booking should email the Society in the first instance to receive instructions for making a payment. The price for the tour will be €1.250 p.p. based on double occupancy. The single supplement will be €200. This price covers all costs from arrival to departure as mentioned in the itinerary. Of course, alcoholic drinks and private costs are for your own account.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Due to an overwhelming response from members we have now added a second group to our tours to The Gambia for 2027. The new tour will commence 29th January and end 8th February 2027. The itinerary will be the same as the tour commencing 9th February, see below. Currently there is only very limited places available on this new tour.

Itinerary of Birding tour to The Gambia by Andalucia Bird Society Members from 9 – 19th of February 2027, which makes 10 nights / 11 days limited places available.

Day 1 – Arrival Day 9^th of February 2027 and 29th January 2027

Hotel: Lemon creek hotel resort

Day 2 – From Serrakunde to Kartong (ca 45 km) with several stops and a boat-trip on Allahein river. Visit to Brufut Woods.

In the morning we will drive south along the coast, visiting an old sand mining area and having a boat trip on the Allahein River. In the afternoon we will visit El Gunjur-Konoto Forest, which is a privately owned nature reserve and a globally renowned birdwatching hotspot located near Kartong in the western region of The Gambia. It is highly celebrated for its dedicated photo hides and eco-tourism initiatives, offering a sanctuary to both exotic wildlife and sustainable local development projects. During the day we will also visit Brufut Woods, located near the main coastal resort areas, which is a protected, 3.4-square-kilometer remnant of coastal forest and open woodland in The Gambia. It is highly renowned among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. It is famously one of the best locations to spot the Long-tailed Nightjar at close quarters. Other notable sightings include the Guinea Turaco, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and African Pygmy Kingfisher.

Hotel: Lemon creek hotel resort

Day 3 – From Serrakunde to Farasuto Forest (ca 40km), with visits to El Pirang-Bonto Community Forest and Markissa Woods.

Visit to Farasuto Forest (also known as Farasutu) is a 45-hectare community nature reserve in The Gambia, located approximately 8 km east of Brikama. It is a highly acclaimed birdwatching and ecotourism site, managed by the local Kuloro village to protect its rich biodiversity.

In the afternoon we will visit El Pirang-Bonto Community Forest it is a 64-hectare community nature reserve in The Gambia, managed by the local Forestry Committee and Project Wild Gambia (at around 45km distance from Banjul Airport). It is a biodiversity haven known for its evergreen gallery forest, home to 4 species of native monkeys and more than 200 species of birds.

Marakissa Woods (also known as the Marakissa River Camp) is a renowned birdwatching and eco-tourism destination in The Gambia. Located just 5 km south of Brikama near the Senegal border, it offers a tranquil retreat surrounded by a small forest, swamps, and the winding Allahein River. It is one of the most productive coastal birding sites in the country. Visitors regularly spot species like kingfishers, honeyguides, sunbirds, and the rare Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle.

Hotel: Lemon creek hotel resort

Day 4 – From Serrakunde to Tendaba Camp (ca 150km), visit to Killy Woods, Kampanti Rice Fields.

We will drive along the Gambia River on the south bank road heading toward Tendaba camp. We will have several stops on the way, having a stop at hot birding spots like Killy Woods. Killy Woods (also known as Killy Woodland) is a hidden gem for birdwatching located inland in The Gambia, tucked away between Brikama and Pirang. It is highly regarded by birders and wildlife photographers for offering excellent views of savannah bird species and localized specialities. Another place is Kampanti Rice Fields, a premier birding and agricultural hotspot in the Gambia, located about 90 km inland from the coast en route to Tendaba Camp. The area is celebrated for its vast, open croplands and wetlands, making it a globally recognized haven for diverse raptors and Palearctic migrant birds.

We will have lunch at Tendaba Camp and in the afternoon, we will search the surroundings of the camp.

Hotel: Tendaba Camp

Day 5 – Boat ride in the Bao Bolong wetlands moving to the north bank of River Gambia.

We start the day with a boat trip of around 2/3 hours in the Bao Bolong wetlands by crossing the Gambia river. The Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is a 220-square-kilometer protected park in The Gambia, on the north bank of the River Gambia. Established as the country’s first Ramsar site in 1996, it is renowned for its diverse ecosystems and exceptional birdwatching

After that we will check-out and drive to the region near Jajari (ca. 70km) taking the ferry to go the north bank of the River Gambia. Here the diverse savanna woodlands, rice paddies, and wetlands yield an incredibly high species count, ranging from colourful inland birds to raptors and waterbirds.

Hotel: Island hotel Janjanbureh

Day 6 – Searching the Kaur area finding maybe the Egyptian Plover.

Before heading towards Kaur (ca. 55 km) we will spend some hours in this very interesting area. The Kaur area, located on the North Bank of the Gambia River, is a premier inland wetland destination for birdwatchers. Its freshwater lakes, typha swamps, mudflats, and rice fields attract a massive diversity of resident and migratory species, most notably the star attraction: the striking Egyptian Plover, which can be present between July and February. We also might see the Black-bellied Bustard and the Savile’s Bustard.

Hotel: Island hotel Janjanbureh

Day 7 – Visiting several birding hotspots on the North Bank of Gambia River

Early morning breakfast and birding around the lodge before leaving and drive on the north bank road going through: Njau Water Holes, located in the drier, scrubbier Sahel zone, these seasonal and rain-filled depressions draw a wide variety of Sahelian bird specialties and waterbirds.

Punchang/Panchang Swamp is a prominent wetland field and agricultural area along the route. It is highly productive for sighting herons, egrets, and raptors, and is frequently visited alongside the nearby Tamba.

Wassu Quarry, A premier site for bird photography, famous for its nesting colonies of the stunning Red-throated Bee-eater, but also look for Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-larks, Black-headed Lapwings, Northern Anteater Chats, and Cut-throat Finches.

We cross the river to the south side to Janjanbureh (Georgetown), a small colonial city on an island of the River Gambia city (ca. 60 km). Interesting sought-after species like the African Finfoot, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Shining-blue Kingfisher, and Red-throated Bee-eater can be found here.

Hotel: Island hotel Janjanbureh

Day 8 – Boat ride and all-day birding around Janjanbureh

This day we will have a boat trip on the river, and we will visit several interesting birding sites nearby.

Hotel: Island hotel Janjanbureh

Day 9 – Back to Tendaba Camp visiting some interesting sites.

After breakfast we drive on the south bank back to Tendaba Camp (ca. 165km). On our way we will go through birding hot spots like Dankunku wetland for Northern Carmine Bee-eater and several other species, and several Water resources (waterhole database) for African Pygmy Goose and others. We hope to arrive at Tendaba Camp around lunch tiime. Afternoon birding around Tendaba towards Bateling Bush Track. The surrounding deciduous woodland and Guinea savannah provide excellent opportunities to spot the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black Crowned Crane, and Standard-winged Nightjar.

Hotel: Tendaba Camp

Day 10 – Final day of our birding tour, looking for so far missed species