Gambia & Senegal: 15-Day Bird Photography Tour (10 Days Senegal / 5 Days Gambia)
Tour Highlights
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
Tour Type: Fully private, tailored to your own pace
Board Basis: Full board
Guidance: Personally guided by Fatou Colley
Price: From €2,500 per person (based on 2 people sharing)
(Flights not included)
This unique 15-day birding and photography expedition combines the very best of The Gambia and Senegal: two neighbours boasting an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and avian life across West Africa. During this fully inclusive tour, you will spend 5 days in The Gambia and 10 days in Senegal, creating a true cross-border birding experience with distinct photographic highlights.
The journey begins in the tranquil surroundings of Mandinari, where you can capture the colourful birdlife of the river and mangroves from a well-equipped photography hide. From there, you cross the border into Senegal’s Saloum Delta, a breathtaking mosaic of creeks, mangroves, and sandbanks along the Atlantic flyway migration route. Here, you will enjoy an exclusive boat trip in search of the rare White-crested Tiger Heron, followed by woodland walks where numerous forest species reveal themselves.
Heading further north, you will discover the bird-rich areas around Kaolack, the vast wetlands of the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, and the savannas and riverbanks of Richard Toll and Podor, part of the Sahelian wetlands and river systems that support remarkable species diversity. A visit to Saint-Louis and Touba, where the elusive Egyptian Plover can be found, represents an absolute highlight for any bird photographer interested in West African bird photography.
After ten immersive days in Senegal, you return to The Gambia to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Morgan Kunda Lodge and a final stay at Mandinari River Lodge. The tour concludes with relaxed photography at the Lamin rice paddies and Kotu Bridge, two iconic birding spots that symbolise the beauty and diversity of this unique West African region.
This journey is a dream come true for nature lovers and photographers wishing to experience authentic West Africa, combining habitat diversity, regional specialties, and expert personal guidance.
Why This Photo Tour Is Unique:
Ten days of intensive bird photography in Senegal, focused on species richness and habitat diversity
Five days of bird photography in Gambia, with an emphasis on accessible and bird-rich locations
Great variety of bird species, landscapes and photographic conditions
Wide diversity of habitats within one well-balanced round tour
The itinerary for this tour
Day 1 – Arrival at Banjul Airport – Transfer to Mandinari River Lodge
Arrival at Banjul International Airport. Meet & greet with your guide and driver. Transfer to Mandinari River Lodge. After check-in, relax from your journey or enjoy a short walk around the lodge grounds.
Evening: dinner and briefing about the coming days.
Day 2 – Photo Hide Mandinari
A full day dedicated to bird photography from the photo hide at Mandinari River Lodge, located on the edge of mangroves and forest (as featured on the website).
Optional afternoon or evening photo session along the river or in the nearby wetlands.
Day 3 – Crossing to Senegal – Drive to Delta Saloum
After breakfast, cross the border into Senegal and continue to the Saloum Delta region. Transfer to your lodge or camp near the delta.
In the afternoon, enjoy a short exploration of the area – a mangrove boat ride or shorebird photography on the tidal flats.
Day 4 – Boat Trip in the Creek & Forest Walk
Morning: boat trip through the creeks of the Saloum Delta, specially focused on photographing the White-crested Tiger Heron, a rare and highly sought-after species found in the mangroves.
Afternoon: guided walk through the nearby forest around the camp, searching for woodland birds and other photo opportunities.
Day 5 – Drive to Kaolack – Focus on Swallow-tailed Kite
Transfer to Kaolack with stops along the way. The highlight today is photographing the Swallow-tailed Kite (or Black-winged Kite, depending on location).
Late-afternoon photo opportunities near Kaolack. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 – To Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary – Roadbirding en route
Early departure from Kaolack to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, one of West Africa’s best birding sites. Roadbirding along the way with multiple stops for raptors, rollers, and waterbirds.
Arrival at camp, check-in, and optional evening photo session.
Day 7 – Boat Safari & Bird Photography in Djoudj National Park
Full day in Djoudj. Morning boat safari through the park – photographing pelicans, herons, cormorants, spoonbills, and more.
Afternoon at leisure or additional photo session in the park. Return to the lodge in the evening.
Day 8 – Drive to Richard Toll – Roadbirding Stops
After breakfast, drive to Richard Toll with several birding stops along the route: open savanna, farmlands, and wetlands near the Senegal River.
Arrival and overnight near Richard Toll.
Day 9 – From Richard Toll to Podor – Golden Nightjar & Swallow Species
Morning departure for Podor, with late-afternoon focus on photographing the Golden Nightjar and Horo Swallow (species name to be confirmed).
Evening session for nightjar photography. Overnight in the camp at Podor.
Day 10 – Podor to Saint-Louis – Roadbirding along the Way
Drive to Saint-Louis with several birding stops on the way: wetlands, farmland, and riverbanks.
Arrival in Saint-Louis, a charming coastal city at the mouth of the Senegal River. Optional evening birding or sunset photography.
Day 11 – Saint-Louis to Touba – Target Species: Quail Plover
After breakfast, drive to Touba with the main goal of finding and photographing the Quail Plover (an elusive West African specialty).
Photo session in the right habitat before continuing to Touba for the night.
Day 12 – Touba to Kaolack – Birding Hotspots en route
Departure from Touba to Kaolack, visiting various birding hotspots along the way: open fields, acacia scrub, and seasonal wetlands.
Evening arrival and overnight in Kaolack.
Day 13 – Return to Gambia – Border Crossing at Farafenni – Morgan Kunda Lodge
Early start from Kaolack to the Gambian border at Farafenni.
Multiple road stops for birding and photography. Continue to Morgan Kunda Lodge, a well-known base for bird photographers.
Evening at leisure or short walk around the lodge.
Day 14 – From Morgan Kunda to Mandinari River Lodge – Birding Stops
Drive from Morgan Kunda Lodge back to Mandinari River Lodge with several birding and photography stops at known hotspots: rice fields, wetlands, and woodland areas.
Late-afternoon photo session at the lodge or from the hide.
Day 15 – Depending on Flight Schedule – Visit Lamin Rice Fields & Kotu Bridge
Depending on your departure time, enjoy a final morning of bird photography at Lamin Rice Fields and Kotu Bridge, two of Gambia’s most popular birding sites.
Transfer to Banjul International Airport for your departure flight.