Birding Sites in The Gambia
The following are popular birding sites inland
TENDABA AREA/CAMP
Tendaba camp is an eco-tourism camp located on the Gambia River, on the lower River region about 150km from coastal area. A popular destination for birders, while staying overnight at the Tendaba, you can undertake activities such as boat trip, guided walks around the vicinity of the Camp, and access to photo hide.Species expected in the area. Goliath Heron, African Blue Flycatcher, Wolly Necked Stork, Mouse Brown Sunbird, White Backed Night Heron, Red Winged Pythlia, Senegal Batis, Bru Bru Shrike, Striped Kingfisher, White Shouldered Black Tit, Grasshopper Buzzard, Brown Rumped Bunting, African Hawk Eagle, Bateleur Eagle amongst others.
BAOBOLONG WETLAND
Spanning about 296.5 sq km, the baobolong is the largest wetland reserve in the Gambia, located on the North bank of the Gambia River, the area comprises of diverse including a chunk of mangrove habitat, salt marsh, and dry savannah, it’s hold a rich diversity of birdlife that include water birds such as Great White Pelican, Yellow Billed Stork, Wolly Necked Stork, African Blue Flycatcher, White Backed Night Heron, Goliath Heron, Mouse Brown Sunbird, African Fish Eagle, African Spoonbill, various species of Kingfisher, Pale arctic Wader, a sizeable Colonies of Great Cormorant and the very rare Pel’s Fishing Owl.
KAUR WETLAND AND NJAW WATER HOLE
Kaur wetland and Njaw water hole lies on the north bank of the Gambia River, this freshwater lake along the north bank route is home to some of the most sought after species including the elegant and beautiful Egyptian Plover, White Crowned Lapwing, Mosque Swallow, Black Crowned Crane, Cut throat Finch, Sahel Paradise Whydah, African Silver bill, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Red Necked Falcon, and a whole of water birds and wading birds.
WASSU SAND QUARRY
Wassu sand quarry is located on the central river region of the Gambia. The sand quarry host the second largest nesting colony of the colourful Red throated Bee Eater, a couple of hours at this site allow you to get good photos of this attractive bee eaters alongside many species such as Little Green Bee Eater, Northern Carmine Bee Eater, Northern Ant Eater Chat, Greater Painted Snipe, White Backed Vulture, Lizard Buzzard, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Sahel Paradise Whydah and many more.
RIVER GAMBIA NATIONAL PARK
River Gambia National Park AKA Baboon Island is home to the Chimpanzee Reb Project, area comprises of 5 lushly vegetated island that play host to a small population of re-wild Chimpanzees living alongside Guinea Baboon, Western Colobus Monkey and Callithrix Monkey as well as plenty of birdlife.
JANJANGBUREH ISLAND
Formerly known as McCarthy Island on central river region roughly 300km from the coast, this small island town is famous for its relaxing river trip and ornithology wise, the offer some of the birding in the up river, a couple of hours boat trip produces some mouth-watering species such as elusive African Finfoot, African Fish Eagle, Hadada Ibis, Swamp Flycatcher, Crimson Seed Cracker, and many others
BANSANG QUARRY
Bansang quarry the Gambia’s oldest breeding site for the colourful Red throated Bee Eater, the site lies on the outskirt of Bansang and holds a diverse habitats and species, including Red Throated Bee Eater, Gosling Bunting, Scarlet Sunbird, Pygmy Sunbird, Yellow Penduline Tit, Ruppell’s griffon vulture, black rumped waxbill and host of others.
BANSANG RIVERSIDE LODGE AND KUNKILLING FOREST PARK
Kunkiling Forest is a mixture of dry savannah woodland and laterite quarries located on the south bank road, the area boast an impressive diversity of birds that including Raptors such as the African Hawk Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, alongside Yellow Bellied Hyliota, African Golden Oriole, Brown Backed Woodpecker, Black Scimitar bill, Vieillot’s Barbet, Bearded Barbet, Abyssinian Roller , Bruces’s Green Pigeon, and many more.
