Gambia Birding Holidays

The area around our pool

You will see for example birds such as Bronze Mannikin, Red-billed Fire-finches and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. And also Variable Sunbirds & Beautiful Sunbirds.

Take a stroll around the grounds and set up in one of the bird hides. You will be amazed by the number of beautiful birds making an appearance throughout the day. Hornbills, Turacos, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, Senegal Coucal, Plantain-Eaters, Common Wattle-eye, and Yellow-crowned Gonolek.

Bird trips and birdwatching itinerary

First & foremost, Footsteps offers a variety of Gambia Birding Trips in the company of an expert and experienced bird guide. An opportunity not to be missed. Secondly, you can also visit Nature Reserves, Bird Reserves, Paddy Fields, Wetlands and a trip along the River Gambia. Each with its own ecosystem and also each with an abundance of flora and fauna.

Thirdly, and in addition to our Birding holidays in The Gambia, photography in Gambia is simply superb, whether its birds and wildlife or sunsets.

When is the best time for birdwatching in Gambia?

• September the rainy season draws to a close, September is an exciting month for birdwatchers. You might spot the Rufous-crowned Roller, African Green Pigeon, Lizard Buzzard, Broad-billed Roller, and a variety of raptors.
• October is characterized by the transition from the wet season to the dry season, creating an ideal habitat for different bird species. Keep an eye out for the African Marsh Harrier, Grey Kestrel, Long-tailed Nightjar, Violet-backed Starling, and several species of finches and buntings.
• November sees the arrival of a multitude of migratory birds in Gambia. Keep your binoculars ready for the European Roller, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Pied Wagtail, African-wattled lapwing, and various species of swallows.
• December offers pleasant weather for birdwatching. Look for species like the African Hobby, Northern White-faced Owl, Pygmy Sunbird, Yellow-billed Kite, and various species of ducks and geese.

Our bird-watching in Gambia trips are listed below. All come with a top-class bird guide of your choice. However, with around 100 bird species visiting us, you would be forgiven for simply making yourself comfortable and enjoying the best nature offers at the lodge. Enjoy a taste of a small fraction of the species we have local to us at Footsteps. All the photos were taken by our guests between November and June.

If you have specific birds you want to see, contact us and we will tell you exactly where to find them.

Birds you will find locally

Birdwatching trips

Lamin Lodge & Abuko Nature Reserve

Lamin Lodge – We have an early breakfast and travel 40 minutes to Lamin Lodge. 

Here we enjoy a short one-hour boat trip on the river. 

We expect to see the Common Wattle-eye, Royal Tern, African Darter, Long-Tailed Cormorant, Western Bluebill, Greater Honeyguide also Cut-Throat Finch.

Abuko Nature Reserve – Picnic-style lunch around 1 pm and then on to Abuko Nature Reserve. 

Disclaimer – Abuko used to be the pride of the Gambia but in recent years we feel it has fallen behind with its standards ie. rubbish in the reserve, however, it still has birds you will struggle to see elsewhere so we still run this trip. 

Here you will see Giant Kingfisher, Pin-tailed whydah, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher also Senegal Batis.

Tanji bird reserve

Tanji Bird Reserve is 30 minutes away along the coast so as a result, we have more time for breakfast.

Expect to see for example. Black-crowned Tchagra, Osprey, Yellow-crowned Gonolek, Broad-billed Roller, Abyssinian Roller also Purple Glossy Starlings, and Violet Backed Starlings.

Marakissa camp, Darsalami woods & Siffoe

Marakissa is approximately one hour away. 

Because the morning is spent there, Darsalami Woods and Siffoe are on the way back in the afternoon.

In addition to Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike, Exclamatory Paradise Whydah, Wilson Indigo, African Blue Flycatcher, Yellow Shouldered Widowbird, also see Northern Puffback, Senegal Eremomela and Woodchat Shrike.

Mandinaba shrimp farm, Faraba rice fields

Likewise, Mandinaba Pirang Shrimp Farm is one and a half hours away, so we need to be up at dawn.

And, for example, you can expect sightings of Quail Finch, Village Indigo, Pin-tailed Whydah, and also Cut-Throat Finch.

Banjul, Kotu & Fajara golf course

Because Banjul is an hour away, we need an early start.

Later, we will be visiting Kotu and Fajara Golf Club. Also for those who want to have a 9 or 18-hole round, this can be arranged.

An example of some of the birds you can see here is Grey Plover, Senegal Thick-knee, Wattle Plovers, Wire Tailed Swallow and Little Ring Plover. 

Also, Stone Partridge, Sand Grouse, European Hoopoe with Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike and Woodland Kingfisher.

Wetlands close to Footsteps

This Gambia birding trip is on our doorstep and is simply a fantastic day of birding.

In fact, it’s so good you will want to revisit it again and again.

An example of some of the birds you can see here is Osprey, the White-faced whistling duck, Pelicans, Storks, Grey-backed Camaroptera and Woodland Kingfisher.

We are proud to use one of Gambia´s finest bird guides Lamin Bojang, please pre-book by emailing David

Want a Gambia Bird Identifier?, then purchase The Birds of The Gambia book, considered to be the best for birdwatchers.