16-Day Ornithological Tour in Senegal – 2027

Upon your arrival at Blaise Diagne Airport (DSS), we will depart to Thies for dinner and accommodation at the Blue Hotel Residence (39km ~ 42 minutes).

After breakfast, we drive to Richard Toll with a lunch break at the Ocean and Savanne hotel before continuing our journey. We arrive at the lodge around 3pm and after a short break, we go birdwatching around the airport zones to see Sahelian Scrubs and dryland specialities; dinner and accommodation at the Teranga Walo Residence (295 km ~ 5:00 h)

Birding in the surrounding acacia and grasslands to try Cricket Longtail, Temminck’s Courser, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, etc. Afternoon, we drive to Podor (100 km ~ 1h30). After checking in at the lodger we visit the savannah of Podor to try the Golden Nightjar; accommodation and dinner are at the Tekrour Inn.

After breakfast, we are birding in acacia scrub and farmland to try Sahelian specials, desert-adapted species and various migratory birds before we travel to Djoudj National Park (225km ~ 3h50). After lunch, we try Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos and White-faced Whistling Ducks; accommodation at the Njagabar Village Camp

Djoudj is one of the world’s premier ornithological reserves, it serves as the crucial first stopover for birds migrating along the East Atlantic Flyway after crossing the Sahara Desert. We are seing Pink-backed Pelican, Great White Pelicans, African Fish eagle, African Jacana, etc. Later afternoon we drive to Saint Louis; dinner and accommodation at Hôtel Étoile du Sud (56km^^1h20).

After breakfast, we drive to Kaolack via Louga and Touba towns. After lunch in Touba, we will continue our journey with a stop in Kaolack to see the Square-tailed Saw-wing; accommodation at the Hôtel de Paris in Kaolack (295km, 4h20min).

We will start with a visit to the outskirts of Kaolack in the hope that the White-bellied Elanion may appear as they leave their roost in the Saloum Delta. Once in Wassadou, we will drive to the river where we can see the African Plover, the African Finfoot, the Giant Kingfisher, and the Carmine Bee-eater; in the afternoon, we relax at the hotel; accommodation at Campement Wassadou.

Both days will be spent on the Gambian River, with a morning and an evening on the boat, or along the trails, but also with plenty of time devoted to simple spotting from the camp’s lookout to try Sahelian and dense woodland species. We hope to see the White-crowned Lapwing, African Finfoot, Red-throated Bee-eater, Woodland Turtle Dove, and many others; accommodation at Campement Wassadou.

Both days will be spent on the Gambian River, with a morning and an evening on the boat, or along the trails, but also with plenty of time devoted to simple spotting from the camp’s lookout to try Sahelian and dense woodland species. We hope to see the White-crowned Lapwing, African Finfoot, Red-throated Bee-eater, Woodland Turtle Dove, and many others; accommodation at Campement Wassadou.

After breakfast, we drive to Kédougou with birdwatching along the way. After checking in and lunch, we do birdwatching around Kédougou to try Mali Firefinch, Egyptian Plover, etc; accommodation at Hôtel Le Bedik.

After breakfast, we will explore the eastern escarpment to see Martial Eagles, Neumann’s Starling. In the afternoon, we will head west of Kédougou in search of the Little Lark, Black-spotted Woodpecker, etc; accommodation at Hôtel Le Bedik.

After breakfast, we head to Dindefelo and make a few roadside stops to try Violet Turaco and Grey-breasted Prinia. Once in Dindefelo, we go in search of Fox’s Kestrel and we may also see Guinea Turaco; overnight at Hotel Le Bedik.

One last morning in the Kédougou region will focus on the escarpment near Fongolimbi, with a stop along the way to try Common Kestrel. We may see the Bateleur Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle and African Hawk-Eagle; accommodation at Keur Horison Tambacounda.

We make a long journey to the coast. Along the way, we may see Swainson’s Spurfowl, the White-eared Prinia, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, the Striated Eagle; accommodation at Hakuna Lodge (or similar) in Ndangane.

Very early in the morning, we drive to Palmarin (25 km ^^ 30 minutes) where we mainly try to water-birds, waders, and raptors (many species of Gulls, Terns and raptors). We return to the hotel for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we take a boat excursion around the delta where birdwatching and village visits are organized to see the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Brown-thorated Sunbird, Beaudouin’s Snake-eagle, etc; accommodation at Hakuna Lodge

In the morning we will walk along a track through the bush to see Broad-billed Roller, Savile’s Bustard, Four-banded Sandgrouse. After lunch, we relax/swim around the beachbefore driving to the airport for the evening flight; END