18-Day Bird Photography Tour in Gambia and Senegal – Niokolo-Koba National Park
More Time and Deeper Exploration in the Heart of West Africa
Niokolo-Koba National Park
Niokolo-Koba National Park is located in the south-east of Senegal and is one of the largest and most biodiverse protected areas in West Africa. The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to an exceptional richness of wildlife, with hundreds of bird species spread across savannas, forests, riverbanks and gallery woodlands.
What makes Niokolo-Koba so remarkable is its low visitor numbers and the vast scale including savannas, river systems, gallery forests and wetlands. This creates an authentic wilderness experience and excellent opportunities to observe and photograph birds in their natural environment. Thanks to the multi-day stay within the park, locations can be explored at a relaxed pace, allowing time to truly understand behaviour, habitat and species diversity.
Tour Highlights
Duration: 18 days / 17 nights
Tour type: Fully private, tailored to your own pace
Board basis: Full board
Guidance: Personally guided by Fatou Colley
From €2,000 per person (based on 2 people sharing)
Single room supplement: €150
(Flights not included)
Itinerary for this tour.
Day 10: Travel to Kakuba Garden Hotel
We travel to the Kakuba Garden Hotel in Gambia, with stops along the way at wetlands and rice fields. After lunch, we explore the surroundings of the lodge during an interesting excursion.
Day 11: Return to Tendaba Camp and Bird Hide
After breakfast, we depart back to Tendaba Camp for an overnight stay. In the afternoon, we visit one of the bird hides for the chance to photograph various bird species in their natural habitat.
Day 12: Exploration of Bintang Bolong
Today, we move to Bintang Bolong, located by a river and surrounded by a beautiful mangrove forest. This is the ideal location to photograph different bird species.
Day 13: Walk around Bintang Bolong Lodge
In the morning, we take a walk around the lodge, with stunning views of open areas and forested wetlands. Here, you can photograph typical bird species that inhabit this unique ecosystem.
Day 14: Travel to Marakissa via Killy Bird Hide
Today, we travel to Marakissa, where we experience one of the day's highlights: a visit to the Killy bird hide to capture various bird species. After lunch, we take an outing in the surroundings of the camp.
Day 15: Marakissa Wetlands and Camp Garden
In the morning, we explore the Marakissa wetlands, discovering the unique flora and fauna. In the afternoon, we return to the camp, famous for its breathtaking garden, which is ideal for bird photography.
Day 16: Travel to Kartong and Exploration of Wetlands
After breakfast, we depart for Kartong, close to the border with Senegal. We stay overnight at Stala Lodge, and in the evening, we take a trip to the wetlands in the area.
Day 17: Visit to Kartong Bird Watching Observatory
Today, we visit the Kartong Bird Watching Observatory, an ideal location for bird photography. In the afternoon, we enjoy a boat trip on the Halahin River, with plenty of opportunities to photograph birds and other animals.
Day 18: Return to Mandinari River Lodge
On the last day of our journey, we return to Mandinari River Lodge, where our adventure began. Depending on flight times, we can take a final outing to the beautiful Lamin rice fields, a perfect conclusion to this unforgettable bird photography experience.
Day 1: Arrival and Exploration of the Tanbi Wetlands
Upon arrival at Banjul Airport, we depart for the charming Mandinari River Lodge, situated in a tranquil, natural oasis. Explore the beautiful surroundings of the Tanbi Wetlands and the lush garden of the lodge. This is the perfect start to your bird photography adventure, with numerous colorful birds to spot and capture.
Day 2: Mangroves, Rice Fields, and Raptors
Begin the day with an outing through the mangroves, rice fields, and wetlands of Mandinari. In the afternoon, we visit hotspots rich in raptors, with unique opportunities to capture these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
Day 3: Nature Photography in Rice Fields and Wetlands
In the morning, we photograph raptors at a hotspot, followed by an afternoon excursion to the rice fields and wetlands, where you can enrich your nature photography with unique bird and nature scenes.
Day 4: Travel to Tendaba Camp and Visit Farasutu Forest After breakfast,
we depart for Tendaba Camp, 140 km inland, with various stops at bird hotspots along the way, including the Farasutu Forest. Upon arrival at the camp, we visit a bird hide.
Day 5: Boat Trip through the Mangroves and Kwinella Bushtrack
In the morning, we take a breathtaking boat trip through the mangroves along the Gambia River. In the afternoon, we explore the Kwinella bushtrack, where we further enjoy the local flora and fauna.
Day 6: Arrival at Bansang Riverside Lodge
After a short journey, we arrive at the beautiful Bansang Riverside Lodge, located on the banks of the Gambia River. Upon arrival, we take an afternoon excursion into the surrounding nature, ideal for bird photography.
Day 7: Crossing into Senegal - Campement de Wassadou
Today, we cross the border into Senegal and travel further to Campement de Wassadou. Along the way, we make various stops to photograph the fantastic birds in this region.
Day 8: Exploration of Niokolo Koba National Park Today features an unforgettable tour through Niokolo Koba National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers the chance to photograph an impressive variety of bird species and wildlife in their natural environment.
Day 9: Exploration of Camp Wassadou and Boat Trip
Today, we explore the surroundings of Camp Wassadou with an exciting outing. In the afternoon, we enjoy a beautiful boat trip focused on photographing hippos.
During this 18-day private bird photography tour, the emphasis is on time, tranquillity, and deeper exploration. The programme is built around a multi-day stay in the exceptionally bird-rich Niokolo-Koba National Park, one of West Africa’s most impressive protected areas. Spending longer in this region allows for repeated observations, relaxed photography, and meaningful encounters with a wide variety of species. Carefully selected locations across The Gambia and Senegal complement the park experience, offering savannas, river systems, gallery forests, and wetlands. The result is an immersive journey that combines comfort, biodiversity, and authentic wilderness.
Why this photo tour is unique:
Multi-day stay in the bird-rich Niokolo-Koba National Park
Great variety of habitats across Gambia and Senegal
Extra opportunities to observe and photograph special and less common bird species
One of the most popular 18-day bird photography tours in West Africa
Route map 18-Day Bird Photography Tour in Gambia and Senegal – Niokolo-Koba National Park
The species listed below are just a few examples of birds regularly observed at these sites. The actual number of species encountered during the tour is significantly higher and varies depending on the season, weather conditions, and migration periods.
1 Mandinari River Lodge Focus: Violet Turaco, Shikra, Sunbirds
African Pygmy, Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Grey Woodpecker, Northern Black Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher,......
2. Mangroves, Rice Fields, and Raptors
Long-crested Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Beaudouin's Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Lanner Falcon,.....
3. Nature Photography in Rice Fields and Wetlands
African Fish Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, Western Osprey, Yellow-billed Kite, Shikra, Lizard Buzzard, African Harrier-Hawk, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher,.....
4. Tendaba Camp and Farasutu Forest
Violet Turaco, African Green Pigeon, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Bearded Barbet, Vieillot's Barbet, African Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Beautiful Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird,......
5. Boat Trip through the Mangroves and Kwinella Bushtrack Focus: African Blue Flycatcher
African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, Goliath Heron, African Darter, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Mangrove Sunbird, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, African Fish Eagle,......
6. Bansang Riverside Lodge and Afternoon Excursion
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Village Indigobird, African green turaco, black coucal ,.....
7. Campement de Wassadou with Stops Along the Way
Abyssinian Roller, African Grey Hornbill, Blue-naped Mousebird, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, African Fish Eagle, Pin-tailed Whydah, Village Indigobird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Beautiful Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher,........
8. Niokolo Koba National Park, Bird Species and Wildlife
African Finfoot, Pel's Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, Egyptian Plover, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Violet Turaco, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, Giant Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, White-crested Helmetshrike,........
9. Camp Wassadou and Boat Trip with an Exciting Outing focus on Carmine Bee-eaters
African Finfoot, Giant Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, African Fish Eagle, African Darter, Yellow-billed Stork,.........
10. Kakuba Garden Hotel, Wetlands and Rice Fields
African Jacana, Greater Painted-snipe, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Black Crake, Yellow-billed Stork, Collared Pratincole, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, African Fish Eagle, Yellow-crowned Gonolek,........
11. Tendaba Camp and Bird Hide
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Violet Turaco, African Green Pigeon, Bearded Barbet, African Paradise Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu,.......
12. Bintang Bolong Lodge, a Beautiful Mangrove Forest
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron, African Darter, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Pygmy Sunbird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Mangrove Sunbird,.......
13. Walk Around Bintang Bolong Lodge
African Paradise Flycatcher, Common Wattle-eye, Beautiful Sunbird, Pygmy Sunbird, Red-billed Firefinch, Village Indigobird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Long-tailed Glossy Starling, Purple Glossy Starling,.......
14. Marakissa via Killy Bird Hide
Little Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, White-throated Bee-eater, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Common Wattle-eye, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fork-tailed Drongo,......
15. Marakissa Wetlands and Camp Garden
African Jacana, Black Crake, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Stork, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Beautiful Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher,......
16. Kartong, Stala Lodge
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Osprey, Western Reef Heron, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Mangrove Sunbird, Beautiful Sunbird, African Paradise Flycatcher,.......
17. Bird Watching Observatory and Boat Trip on the Halahin River
African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, Goliath Heron, African Darter, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Mangrove Sunbird, Yellow-crowned Gonolek,.......
18. Return to Mandinari River Lodge
Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Palm-nut Vulture, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, African Paradise Flycatcher,......
Your partner for birding tours and bird photography in The Gambia and Senegal.
Fatou Colley
Location: Serrekunda, Western Gambia
WhatsApp (English spoken)
+220 779 0535
Owned by Fatou Colley, professional bird and wildlife guide in The Gambia and Senegal.
Officially registered with the Gambia Tourism Board and a certified guide of the Gambia Birdwatchers Association.
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