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Senegal - Birding the Sahel
Tour Code: SEN01A 15-day holiday exploring the Sahel region in search of specialities such as Golden Nightjar, Arabian Bustard and Quail-plover.
£5,495 (Inc flights)
£4,845
Highlights
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Summary
Africa’s Sahel region spans the whole of Africa, from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, with the Sahara Desert to the north and the rainforests of Upper Guinea to the south. It consists mostly of dry savannah and grassland, dry woodland and semi-desert but it is also home some of West Africa’s most important wetlands. Senegal is the safest and friendliest country in which to visit this unique region, and to see the multitude of Sahelian and West African specialities that are hard to find elsewhere. Neighbouring country The Gambia has been a favourite birding destination for many years, but Senegal has only recently opened up to wildlife tourism and a trip here provides a completely different experience and a more diverse range of species and specialities.
- Sahelian specialities such as Golden Nightjar, Quail-plover and Cricket Warbler
- Chance of Arabian and Savile's Bustard
- Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel roosting sites
- Boat trips on the River Gambia and Saloum Delta
Grading
B. Even though the terrain is generally flat and walking distances relatively short, the weather is likely to be hot and some of the days long, with lengthy drives.
After indirect flights via Madrid and a night in Dakar, we immediately head north to the Senegal River and the border with Mauritania where we will spend 3 nights. Here the Sahel is semi-desert with limited vegetation, and is the best place to look for sought after species such as Cricket Warbler, Little Grey Woodpecker, Sennar Penduline Tit and the enigmatic Golden Nightjar. We then head to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary for 2 nights, home to some of the most important wetlands in the Sahel, where enormous numbers of waterbirds can be found including Marbled Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Greater Painted-snipe and Greater Swamp Warbler. The scrubland here also affords a good chance to see the critically endangered Arabian Bustard and species such as Egyptian Nightjar and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse.
We then head south to an area where Quail-plover is a possibility, and then another location for the night where Scissor-tailed Kites and Lesser Kestrels are known to roost in large numbers for the night. We then continue south-east to reach the River Gambia for another night and here we’ll look for Egyptian Plover, African Finfoot, Red-throated Bee-eater, amongst others, before driving south to a hilly, forested part of the country for the next two nights, close to the Guinea and Mali borders. This change of habitat introduces a wealth of species not seen so far, such as Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah, Fox Kestrel, Narina Trogon and five species of firefinch. Our final destination is the Saloum Delta (after a night on the Gambia River to break up the journey) where a host of other special birds can be found, including the elusive White-crested Tiger-Heron. After two nights on the delta, we’ll head north to Dakar, in time for our overnight flight back to London.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Senegal has yet to develop the same standard of tourist infrastructure as some other mainland Africa countries. All of the hotels, lodges and permanent camps we use are the best available in the area. Rooms all have private facilities, though the rooms can be a little spartan in nature and the food quite simple.
- Food:
All food included from breakfast on day 2 to dinner on day 14.
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
