Your holiday with Halcyon Gambia consists of 6 or 13 full days’ birding encompassing a wide range of habitats from dry savannah to riverine forest.

Holidays are full board, giving you the convenience of knowing all your meals are provided. Included are all airport transfers, tour transportation in our own 4x4 vehicles and all bird excursions with our own qualified local guides. Where possible we will have one guide for every four guests.

With bird trips each day we expect to show you a great diversity of habitats and, depending on the time of year, many birds which are visitors as well as those resident in The Gambia.

Bottled water will be provided on daily excursions at no extra charge.

Please note that itineraries are subject to change depending on local conditions. Shown below are examples of the itineraries we offer.

Please click the links below for more detailed description of each place visited.

Tendaba & Georgetown - 7 nights

Day 1: Arrival Day - After your 6 hour flight from the UK you will be met at Yundum Airport and transferred in our own 4x4 vehicle to Halcyon Gambia where you will be met with cold drinks and a warm welcome. Spend the late afternoon and early evening relaxing and enjoying the variety of birds found in the landscaped gardens including Red-Billed Firefinches, Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu, Lavender Waxbill and Beautiful and Splendid Sunbirds amongst others.

Day 2: We will be spending the morning at Kotu Creek where we will visit Kotu Bridge, Kotu Sewage Ponds, the Lily Ponds and the Casino Cycle Track. After lunch back at the lodge we will head for Fajara Golf Course and Bijilo Forest Park for the afternoon.

Day 3: The morning will be spent at Abuko Nature Reserve, a must for any birder! We will then make our way to Lamin Lodge where we will have lunch. The afternoon will be spent at Lamin Rice Fields, Bund Road, Cape Creek and Camaloo Corner.

Day 4: Faraba Banta Bush Track, Pirang and Farasuto Forest in Kuloro. (packed lunch)

Day 5: After an early breakfast the drive to Tendaba will offer a great variety of wildlife as you travel inland. Tendaba Camp, where we will spend one night, We will arrive at Tendaba Camp late afternoon and after a freshen up we will take a late evening drive for Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars. Dinner and overnight at Tendaba Camp.

Day 6: Morning boat trip around the river and mangroves. Leave Tendaba to catch ferry at Farrafeni to Cross to the North Bank. We will be stopping at various birding sites en route to Georgetown looking for the beautiful Egyptian Plover.

Day 7: Leave Georgetown for our drive back to Halcyon stopping at various sites on the way back.

Day 8: Morning at leisure and transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

Gambia including Senegal - 14 nights

Day 1: Arrival Day - After your 6 hour flight from the UK you will be met at Yundum Airport and transferred in our own 4x4 vehicle to Halcyon Gambia where you will be met with cold drinks and a warm welcome. Spend the late afternoon and early evening relaxing and enjoying the variety of birds found in the landscaped gardens including Red-Billed Firefinches, Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu, Lavender Waxbill and Beautiful and Splendid Sunbirds amongst others.

Day 2: We will be spending the morning at Kotu Creek where we will visit Kotu Bridge, Kotu Sewage Ponds, the Lily Ponds and the Casino Cycle Track. After lunch back at the lodge we will head for Fajara Golf Course and Bijilo Forest Park for the afternoon.

Day 3: The morning will be spent at Abuko Nature Reserve, a must for any birder! We will then make our way to Lamin Lodge where we will have lunch. The afternoon will be spent at Lamin Rice Fields, Bund Road, Cape Creek and Camaloo Corner.

Day 4: Faraba Banta Bush Track, Pirang and Farasuto Forest in Kuloro. (packed lunch)

Day 5: After an early breakfast the drive to Tendaba will offer a great variety of wildlife as you travel inland. Tendaba Camp, where we will spend one night, We will arrive at Tendaba Camp late afternoon and after a freshen up we will take a late evening drive for Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars. Dinner and overnight at Tendaba Camp.

Day 6: Leave Tendaba to catch ferry at Farrafeni to Cross to the North Bank. We will be stopping at various birding sites en route to Georgetown looking for the beautiful Egyptian Plover.

Day 7 - Day 9: Leave Georgetown for our drive over the border into Senegal and the Niokola Koba National Park where we will spend 3 nights birding in and around the park. Simenti Hotel is situated overlooking the River Gambia where hippos, baboons and crocodiles can be seen together with Egyptian Plovers and African Finfoot. Other target species include Black-Crowned Cranes and Saddle-Billed Storks.

Day 10: Early start back to Georgetown stopping at various sites along the way.

Day 11: Back to Tendaba via Bansang Quarry, Jahally Rice Field and Fula Bantang.

Day 12: Morning boat trip before departing Tendaba to head back to the coast.

Day 13: Brufut Woods and Tanji Beach in morning. Lunch at Paradise Beach Club followed by Tuejering in the afternoon.

Day 14: Marakissa in morning and afternoon re-visiting any sites where birds may have been missed.

Day 15: You will have the morning at leisure followed by lunch. We will then transfer you back to Yundum Airport for your return flight.

 

PLEASE NOTE that you may be travelling for long periods of time on very bumpy, hot and dusty roads and at times it may be uncomfortable. Please be advised that the vehicle shown on this website may not be the one you actually travel in - depending on group numbers, other vehicles are used/hired.
When going inland to Tendaba, Georgetown and Senegal please take minimal luggage with you and bear in mind that the power may not always be very reliable at the camps you stay at and the accommodation is very basic.
It would be a good idea to bring a torch with you and please feel free to bring your scope as ours may not always available.