Gambia and Senegal Birdwatching and Wildlife
The River Gambia and the Sine Saloum Delta can be paradise for birdwatchers. On this tour you will adventure up rivers and wander through mangrove swamps as you go farther up the Gambia River. Turning north, this tour then crosses to Senegal, where the famous Sine Saloum Delta brings magical birdwatching opportunities.
Spot chimpanzees, baboons, hippos, and more in River Gambia National Park
Walk amongst baobabs on the man-made shell islands of the Sine Saloum Delta
Walk with lions at the Fathala Reserve
Birds and Wildlife of Senegal and Gambia
$1339+ includes:
- All accommodation
- Vehicle, driver, and fuel for the entirety of the trip
- Full-time tour guide
- All activities, including all boats, safaris
- All meals
Itinerary
Packing List
Itinerary
Day 1
As you exit the airport in Banjul, you will be greeted with a smile by a member of the Uprise team, who will take you to a quiet hotel on the edge of the city. Depending on your arrival time, you will have a short orientation session to prepare you for your trip, have your first meal in Gambia, or head straight to bed. Tomorrow is your first full day in Gambia!
Day 2
After an early morning wake up, you will take a short trip to Lamin Lodge for breakfast and a tour of the Abuko Nature Reserve. The small parks and reserves near Banjul offer a perfect warmup for the wildlife adventures in the days ahead. Today you will also visit the Tanji Bird Reserve, where you may observe the local “artisanal” fisherman coming in and out on their boats. Then you will drive out to Bintang Bolong Lodge for birdwatching activities.
Day 3
After a birdwatching and wildlife excursion in the morning, you will continue your journey upriver to Tendaba Camp, located just east of Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. This ideal location allows for exciting birdwatching and wildlife tours in the surrounding area, which you will be able to explore on an afternoon boat excursion.
Day 4
This morning you will continue your journey east in the heart of Gambia. Before lunch you will make some quick stops in Georgetown to see the Stone Circles of Senegambia, the largest known megalithic complex. By lunchtime you will catch your boat out to the famous River Gambia National Park. Established in 1978, this park is made up of five islands covering an area of about 580 hectares of savanna, forest, and swamp. It is home to the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Project, an extraordinary effort to safely reintroduce chimpanzees back into the wild. The park is also home to hippos, crocodiles, hundreds of bird species, baboons, marmosets, vervet monkeys and more.
This afternoon you will embark on your first tour of the park in a dugout canoe. Exploring the park by canoe will allow to you to see hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees, and other primates living on the park’s islands.
Day 5
Your second day in River Gambia National Park will start with a forest walk that will allow you to see a variety of birds, monkeys, baboons, and more. Traveling by foot with a guide will show you the jungle from a different perspective. After lunch you will exit the park and begin your journey toward Senegal. By dinner time you will arrive in Toubakouta, on the southern edge of the Sine Saloum Delta. Made up of hundreds of islands, channels, and forests, including a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sine Saloum Delta is the temporary home to hundreds of bird species. Depending on the season, the delta is home to greater flamingo, the Eurasian spoonbill, the curlew sandpiper, and the ruddy turnstone.
Day 6
Today you will experience a full day of birdwatching and other activities in the Sine Saloum Delta. Departing by boat in the morning, you will wind your way through islands and mangrove forests and may be lucky enough to spot birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. You will stop for lunch on the island of Sipo and visit with the local queen. Today will also include a stop on one of the many man-made shell islands within the delta.
Day 7
As you make your way back to Gambia today, you will stop at the Fathala Reserve, a small game park that facilitates lion walks with young lions in the reserve. Here you can get up close and personal with lions in an experience that is only offered in a few select countries of the world. Touring the Fathala Reserve will also allow you to see a range of other native and imported species, including antelopes, warthogs, rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes, and more. After leaving the reserve you will continue you way south to Banjul. This afternoon in Banjul, you will visit the Makasutu Cultural Forest, a private ecotourism woodland that locals believe to be sacred.
Day 8
Today is your last day to buy souvenirs, eat Gambian food, and make any last stops in Banjul before you depart for the airport or wherever your next destination may be.
Packing List
The Uprise team is happy to assist you with your luggage, but feel free to pack light and keep it simple!
- We highly recommend that you speak with your doctor about about antimalarial medications or any vaccinations that he or she may suggest.
- If your trip includes a safari, please include darker, more neutral-colored clothing in order to avoid scaring off the animals.
- Also, please consider culturally appropriate dress. While many cities and beaches in West Africa are more liberal with their dress codes, many people will be offended if you show too much skin. In some communities women should cover their shoulders and knees. Consider packing capri pants, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts, or scarves to cover your shoulders.
In your hand-luggage:
- Passport
- Photocopy of your passport
- Visa for Ghana/Togo/Benin (if applicable)
- Yellow fever vaccination card
- Wallet and money
- Waterbottle
- Medications
- Phone
- Camera
- Chargers
- Books/games
In your checked luggage:
- Underwear
- Socks
- Pants
- Shorts
- Tee shirts
- Bathing suits
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Sneakers/hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rainjacket
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Soap/facewash
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Shaving cream
- Bugspray
- Sunscreen
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SCHEDULE CHANGES
Uprise Travel reserves the right to change this itinerary at any time. We might make changes for a variety of reasons, including local holidays, road or bridge closures, flight delays or cancellations, weather or natural disasters, issues with subcontractors or external vendors, the substitution of a new activity, or any unforeseen circumstances. The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. In the event that we need to alter this schedule, we will make every effort to inform you of changes as soon as they occur.
All activities listed in this itinerary are included in the cost of the trip, unless otherwise indicated. If you have any questions, please email tours@uprisetravel.com.
Comments are closed.