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Africa - Gambia

The Gambia is situated in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. It's a stretch of land, some 320 km long, north and south of the river Gambia. Inland, the longest distance from north to south is only 35 km. At the coast this is almost 70 km. The surface is about 11,000 sq. km.

The landscape is dominated by the river Gambia. Where the river is tidal (up to 200 km inland) mangroves are abundant. The north bank is, due to desertification, largely covered with desert scrub while the south bank is more savannah-like. Little is left of the original gallery (riverine) forest. Quite new to the landscape (and very "birdy") are the tourist areas with flower-filled gardens and park-like vegetation.

"The lure of Basse and the Egyptian Plovers proved too strong and we decided to head up-river. The trip took three days (two nights) and was perfectly manageable within the confines of a one-week holiday: obviously we had to sacrifice some time on the coast but no key sites were missed. The up-river trip was a great experience and definitely recommended." (see David Steele's trip report)

Egyptian Plover
Egyptian Plover © Peter Basterfield

Trip Reports

The Gambia, August 22nd - September 4th 2006, author Sander Bot (added September 15, 2006)
(Birding the hard way: wet season, public transport, no bird guides.)

The Gambia - warning about Gambian guides!, author Attila Simay (added October 29, 2006)
(Gambia, guides)

Gambia November 16th - December 3rd 2004, author John Wright (added October 11, 2005)
(Pygmy Geese, Egyptian Plovers, Guineafowl, Ground Hornbills, Y-b Hyliota, Carmine Bee-eaters.)

The Gambia - February 2006 - A photographic trip alone, author Ian Tew (added November 2, 2006)

Gambia - 17th November to 1st December 2006, author John Wright (added May 13, 2007)
(Abuko, Western Bluebill, Faraba Banta, W-b Cuckoo Shrike, Bunaidou Woods, Y-b Hyliota)

Gambia 21January - 4 February, tripreport bij Extreembirding, author bas van de meulengraaf (link created March 7, 2005)
(Abuko, Georgetown, Kotu, Marakissa, Yundum, Brufut, Kampanti, Kaur, Tendaba, Kiang west NP, Egyptian plover, African emerald cuckoo, Red billed quelea, Little green woodpecker, European storm petrel, Kelp gull, Martial eagle, Bateleur)

The Gambia - February 2007, author Polly Mair (added March 27, 2007)

Gambia - 7th - 21st March 2008, author Grant Lewis Brooke (added March 24, 2008)
(Lesser Honeyguide, Spotted Honeyguide, Yellow Throated Longclaw)

The Gambia - 26th February to March 12th 2007, author Grant Lewis Brooke (added March 19, 2007)
(Tendaba, Finfoot, White-backed Night Herons, Blue Flycatcher)

Gambia - staying at the Senegambia hotel - 4th -18th December 2007, author Robert Brown (added January 9, 2008)

The Gambia - December 2006, author Martyn Hall and Steve Preddy (added January 16, 2007)

Gambia November 2004, author Richard Sutton (added January 16, 2005)
(Abuko, Tendaba, Oriole Warbler, Black-crowned Crane)

The Gambia and Senegal 28th November to 12th December, 2003, author The Travelling Naturalist (link created February 3, 2005)
(Dwarf Bittern at Marakissa Bridge, Exclamatory Paradise-whydahs,Four-banded Sandgrouse,Janjangbureh,Red-throated Bee-eaters, Bansang quarry,Martial Eagle)

The Gambia and Senegal - 20th January - 3rd February 2006, author Mark Hows (link created February 14, 2006)
(This trip report hopefully covers not only the birding as in a typical trip report but also provide lots of other general information which might be of use when planning a trip.)

Gambia 17th - 24th November 2005, author Grant Lewis Brooke (added December 12, 2005)

New Year in The Gambia, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

Birding The Gambia, 28th January to 18th February 2002, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia 15th -29th November 2002, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia, an independent birding trip 15-22 November 2002, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia with Birdseekers, Friday 6th - Friday 13th Dec 2002, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia - March 7th-21st 2002, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia, 28th November to 12th December 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia 25th November to 9th December 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia 28th November to 5th December 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia, 20th- 30th January 2004, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia 27th November - 8th December 2000, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia December 19th 2000 - January 2nd 2001, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia: 4th July 2001-19th July 2001, author Surfbirds Admin (added August 26, 2004)

The Gambia 28th February – 14th March 2006, author Graham Masters (added April 24, 2006)
(Two week birding trip with 200 plus species concentrating on Kotu Creek, Bijilo Forest Park, Abuko Nature Reserve, Sindola Lodge, Lamin Lodge and Pirang)


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Recent Sightings

Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Pirang Shrimp Farm; Jacobin Cuckoos - Senegambia Hotel, Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Pirang Shrimp Farm on author John Wright (added December 23, 2006)

The Gambia - Bao Bolon/Kisi Bolon opposite Tendaba Camp, Whilst leading a tour for BIRDSEEKERS in The author Nick Bray (added December 17, 2004)

Gambia - eastern side of No-kunda wetlands North bank, Whilst leading a tour for BIRDSEEKERS in early author Nick Bray (added December 17, 2004)


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Local Birders

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