November 2025 schedule - dates to be confirmed soon!
Escorted birding & bird photography tour of The Gambia
Since 2019, Al Henderson, lead birding guide with EBRO DELTA BIRDING, has been making annual visits to The Gambia - a small country in west Africa with an amazing diversity of bird-life!
We are now offering escorted, small group tours to this 'bucket list' birding destination co-guided by top local expert Fansu Bojang.
Escorted birding & bird photography tours of The Gambia
Join Al on an amazing birds & wildlife adventure in The Gambia - a truly unforgettable experience!
The Gambia is a small country on the west African coast, completely surrounded by Senegal. This tropical oasis has a simply stunning array of birds and other wildlife, with many opportunities to observe and take photos at surprisingly close distances. After visiting The Gambia on four previous occasions, Al has come together with local expert Fansu Bojang to create the perfect itinerary which will allow you to see the whole of the country and enjoy some of the very best bird watching & bird photography opportunities that this country has to offer.
Our week-long birding tour will begin with 2 nights at the coast where we will embark on fantastic day trips to locations such as Kartong and Gunjur Forest reserve, before enjoying the incredible canoe trip from Kotu bridge - where multiple species of Kingfisher can be observed just a few meters away!
After completing the first leg of the tour at the coast, we will then embark on a 4 day voyage following the Gambia river towards the country's interior, staying at some charming nature camps along the route. This journey will allow us to see the whole country with many birding highlights along the route, including the opportunity to watch & photograph the incredible Red-throated Bee-eater at two separate breeding sites. We will also venture out on some spectacular boat trips, where we may encounter other wildlife including Chimpanzees, Hippos, Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards and different varieties of monkeys.
We return to the coast for the final night of the trip - with one last canoe trip in Kotu creek on departure day. Any photographers in the group can also benefit from a bird photo editing session with Al prior to leaving. This will include tips on cropping, composition and editing in Adobe Lightroom using Topaz plug-ins to help you get the best from your images.
Included in the price:
- Return Flights from Barcelona to Banjul (upgraded for seats with extra legroom & increased cabin baggage allowance)
- Local ground transport from Banjul Airport to Hotel at coast (return)
- 7 nights accommodation in The Gambia
- Guiding fees for 6.5 days of birding & bird photography
- All boat trips
- All breakfasts
- 5 lunches & 4 evening meals
Not included in the price:
- Entry / exit airport tax in Gambia (total €40 per person)
- Small local tips for boat captains, park rangers etc.
- Guide gratuities
- Drinks at Hotels & Camps
- 3 evening meals & 2 lunches
This nature holiday will be run as a fixed start date small group tour for between 4 - 6 people. If you would prefer to arrange a private tour to The Gambia for either bird photography or bird watching with Al, then simply message for a bespoke quotation - with trips of longer duration than 1 week also possible to arrange including itineraries to encompass some of the birding opportunities in neighbouring Senegal.
Tour Facts
Upcoming Schedules: November 2025 - exact dates to be confirmed soon, upon release of flight schedules.
- Flights: Vueling Barcelona to Banjul direct flight 5 hours 20 minutes, seats upgraded for extra legroom / cabin bag.
- Accommodation: 3 nights at Palm Beach Hotel, Kotu / 4 nights at nature camps in the Gambian interior (Tendaba Camp x 2 nights, Kairo Gardens at Kuntaur x 1 night, Riverside Lodge at Bansang 1 x night)
- Locations: Kachumeh woods, Kartong, Alahine River by boat, Gunjur forest hide, Kotu Creek & surrounding area, Farasutu forest reserve, Killy woods, Njau ponds, Wassu sand quarry, Baboon Island boat trip, Gambia river boat trip @ George Town, Bansang sand quarry, Tendaba and others.
- Trip Duration: This is a full week tour (7 nights with 6.5 days of birding)
- Time Zone: CET -1 hour
- Group Size: 4 - 6 people
- Tour Leaders: Al Henderson & Fansu Bojang
- Language of guides: English
- Price: EURO 2500 per person (based on 2 people sharing bedroom)
- Single room supplement: EURO 200
Latest tour availability - Gambia 2024 / 25
November 18th - 25th 2024
November 2025, exact dates TBC pending release of flight schedules
November 18th - 25th 2024
5 going, 1 place available
February 10th - 17th 2025
November 2025, exact dates TBC pending release of flight schedules
November 18th - 25th 2024
SOLD OUT
November 2025, exact dates TBC pending release of flight schedules
November 2025, exact dates TBC pending release of flight schedules
November 2025, exact dates TBC pending release of flight schedules
6 places available to reserve
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Monday - Departure Day.
Flight Departs Barcelona T1 at 15.50 and lands in Banjul 20.10 local time. After clearing the airport, we will be met by Fansu and transferred to Palm Beach Hotel in Kotu. We will arrive at the Hotel around 21.15, in time to grab an evening meal ( not included).
Day 2 - Tuesday - Kachumeh woods. Kartong & Alahine River Boat Trip. Gunjur forest.
Breakfast at the Hotel 07.00 (included). We will be met by Fansu for an early morning start at 07.30. We travel to the southern edge of The Gambia with birding stops along the route (Kachumeh woods & around Kartong). After a riverside lunch (included) at Stala Lodge, we take a bird watching boat trip along the Alahine river. On the route back to the Hotel we will make a stop at Gunjur Forest hide, before returning back to our coastal base. Evening meal at Hotel or local restaurant (not included).
Day 3 - Wednesday - Kotu Creek by canoe. Farasutu Forest. Tendaba bird hide.
Following breakfast at the Hotel (included) we will meet with Fansu at the famous Kotu bridge which is just a short walk away, and then have a wonderful canoe trip on Kotu Creek which has many opportunities to get close up views of spectacular birds. We will also do some walk around birding in Kotu, including the golf course. Around late morning we will check out from our hotel and begin our journey inland. We will make a brief stop at Farasutu Forest to check for multiple roosting owl species. Lunch (included) will be at Bintang Bolong, a beautiful & relaxing river front location. After lunch we continue towards Tendaba Camp making opportunistic stops for roadside raptors. In the late part of the afternoon we arrive at Tendaba Camp and check in, before having a short session in the bird watching hide at Tendaba. Evening meal at Tendaba Camp (included).
Day 4 - Thursday - Boat trip from Tendaba, Njau Ponds & Baboon Island boat trip.
On day 4 of the trip we will take breakfast at 07.30 and then head out on a boat trip from Tendaba, exploring some of the small back channels of the Gambia river. This activity will last for a couple of hours, and on conclusion we will depart from Tendaba Camp heading further inland. On our route we will make a stop at Njau ponds - a great site for the Egyptian Plover and then take a sandwich lunch (included). We progress further inland and check in for an over night stay at Kairo Gardens in Kuntaur. Our late afternoon / evening activity will be a boat trip to Baboon Island where we have a very good chance of seeing Chimpanzees and Hippos. Evening meal will be at Kairo Gardens (included)
Day 5 - Friday - Wassu sand quarry & surrounding area. Boat trip from George Town.
Breakfast will be at Kairo Gardens, and we will then check out and travel a short distance to Wassu sand quarry - a reliable spot to observe and photograph the spectacular Red-throated Bee-eaters at their breeding site. We will continue with some more birding locations around Wassu. Lunch will be a sandwich (included) and our afternoon activity will be a boat trip from George Town which is good for numerous birds including the elusive African Finfoot. On conclusion of this boat trip, we will make the short journey onwards to Bansang Riverside Lodge, where we will check in and have dinner (included). We may encounter both African Scops Owl and Pearl-spotted Owlet in the gardens here, and it may even be possible to achieve photos!
Day 6 - Saturday - Bansang sand quarry and the road to Tendaba Camp.
Following breakfast at Bansang Riverside Lodge and a quick session of walk around birding at the property, we will visit Bansang sand quarry, our second location for breeding Red-throated Bee-eaters & other birds in the early morning light. We will then begin our journey back along the south bank road with a bird watching stop at Kudan wetland which, in November, offers a good possibility for Northern Carmine Bee-eater . Lunch will be a sandwich (included). We will then be making our way back towards Tendaba Camp, with a stop at Dalaba ponds. Early evening arrival at Tendaba Camp, check in and enjoy a buffet dinner (included).
Day 7 - Sunday - Kampanti raptor hotspot, Killy woods, Pirang ponds & Bonto forest
Breakfast will be served at Tendaba Camp (included) and we will then depart and make our way back towards the coast. We have a number of birding stops on the route back including Kampanti raptor hotspot, Killy woods, Pirang ponds & Bongo forest reserve. Lunch will be taken at Bintang Bolong along the route (included). By late afternoon we will return to the coast and check in at Palm Beach. Dinner will be either at the Hotel or alternatively a beach restaurant (not included)
Day 8 - Monday - Kotu Creek, photo editing session & return flight to Barcelona.
The final day of the tour. Following breakfast at the Hotel (included) we will take another canoe trip on Kotu Creek in the early part of the morning with spectacular bird observation & photography possibilities. The remainder of the day we will have time for a photo editing session where Al will offer hints & tips on composition, cropping and photo editing in Adobe Lightroom with Topaz plug-ins. Lunch (not included) will be at the Hotel or a beach restaurant. We depart for the airport around 17.00 with Fansu in good time for our return flight to Barcelona at 21.15
Our man in the Gambia - Fansu Bojang
Collaboration with one of The Gambia's top bird watching guides..
In order to get the most out of this bird watching holiday in The Gambia, we will be teaming up with expert local bird watching guide Fansu Bojang.
Fascinated by the extraordinary birds of his country from an early age, Fansu dedicated himself to his passion by studying for two years at the Department of Parks & Wildlife Management. Now a senior member of the executive commitee of the Bird Watchers Association based in Kotu, Fansu fulfils the role of treasurer of the organisation. Fansu has over 16 years of experience as a fully qualified professional bird watching guide and in this time has been operating tours for private groups around the coast and interior of The Gambia. Along with his exceptional knowledge of birds, Fansu also has an extensive understanding of other flora and fauna that we will encounter as we journey through the country.
Professional, knowledgeable and great company - Fansu is the perfect partner to lead our birding tour in The Gambia.
Top Birding Highlights in The Gambia!
Bee-eaters
Kingfishers
Kingfishers
It's possible to encounter 8 different Bee-eater species when traveling around The Gambia! Red-throated (above) is one of the stand outs - and we can also expect Little, African Green, Blue-cheeked, White-throated, European, Swallow-tailed and maybe even the elusive Northern Carmine!
Kingfishers
Kingfishers
Kingfishers
Colourful Kingfishers are a guarantee in The Gambia and there are a huge variety to see, both great and small! The 9 Kingfishers that it's possible to find are: Pied, Giant, Blue-breasted, Pygmy, Woodland, Striped, Malachite, Grey-headed (pictured above) and maybe even the scarce Shining Blue.
Raptors
Kingfishers
Sunbirds
Birds of Prey and Vultures are seen almost everywhere as we journey through the country. There is an extensive list that can be seen but some highlights from previous trips have included: African Fish-Eagle, Osprey, Palm-nut Vulture,Black-winged Kite, Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, Long-crested Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Grasshopper Buzzard, Lizard Buzzard, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Wahlberg's Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Lanner Falcon and others!
Sunbirds
Egyptian Plover
Sunbirds
In Africa the Sunbirds are some of the most spectacular passerines that will be encountered! Adult males have spectacular coloration while females & juveniles are a more drab brown. Feed on nectar, insects & spiders. Regularly encountered varieties include: Pygmy, Scarlet-chested, Beautiful (pictured above), Variable, Splendid & Copper.
Owls
Egyptian Plover
Egyptian Plover
We will be visiting some woodland and forest locations which have resident owls. Local park attendants will know the locations where the owls are resting during the day time and be able to lead us to them. Species likely to be seen include: Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Greyish Eagle Owl, African Wood Owl, African Scops Owl, Northern White-faced Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet (see above) and perhaps even the rare Pels Fishing Owl at Tendaba.
Egyptian Plover
Egyptian Plover
Egyptian Plover
One of the top targets for any birder visiting the Gambia will be the unique and beautiful Egyptian Plover. This distinctive looking wader, with its powder blue wings and peachy belly, can be reliably found during the earlier part of the winter season as we venture towards the country's interior. Once located this bird can be quite confiding, making it possible to get excellent views and good photographic potential.
Other Wildlife encountered on the tour
Chimpanzees can be seen reliably on the boat trip from Kuntaur to Baboon Island. The Chimps, which live on 3 different islands in The Gambia river, are part of a rehabilitation project started in 1979. Supplemental feeding is provided during the boat excursion to provide an extremely good chance of a close up sighting from the safety of the boat.
There is also a very good chance that we will encounter Hippopotamus on the same boat trip to Baboon Island. These huge mammals can usually be seen wallowing in a shallow area close to the river bank, and emerge regularly from the water to keep an eye on 'passers by'!
We may be lucky enough to encounter Crocodiles on any of the boat trips on the tour. This mid sized croc was spotted basking on a log on the Feb '23 tour.
We will see different types of monkeys as we travel through The Gambia, such as this Green Vervet. Other varieties include Red Colobus and Common Patas Monkey. Troops of Baboons may also be encountered.