Birdwatching in The Gambia has long been a favourite for the travelling birdwatcher and not just for its tropical climate, unsophisticated charm and easy reach - only 6 hours flight from Europe! The variety of habitats is outstanding, as is the birdlife with an amazing 540 species in such a small country.

Birding in The Gambia is an all year round activity, though there are two distinct seasons in terms of climate. Nine months of unbroken sunshine eventually gives way to brief but impressive thunderstorms in the summer (June to October) and during this time the countryside is fresh green with many birds in their summer plumage (e.g. red bishops, village weavers). The first 2 months - June and July - are particularly pleasant (with few mosquitoes), though flights are more expensive at this time, at least from the UK.

In the drier months, the vegetation thins out and raptors, amongst other birds, can be sighted more easily. The Egyptian Plover aka. Crocodile bird leaves the Gambia around the end of February (and only returns in June), so birders for whom this is a "must-see species" prefer to visit sometime during November, December, January and February. Most "specialist birding tours" e.g. Ornitholidays, Limosa, Naturetrek, Birdfinders etc. operate their one-trip-a-year birdwatching holidays in November or January so these tend to be the busiest time of year. Feel free to compare their prices with ours and judge for yourself which is best (both in terms of itinerary - boat travel etc.) and value-for-money!

We offer you the opportunity to go birding with some of the best local guides in the country and discover the whole spectrum of habitats from the mud flats, sandy beaches and saltwater mangroves of the Atlantic coast, to the freshwater reaches of Bird Safari Camp on MacCarthy Island and beyond.