Birding Holidays in The Gambia & Senegal
Explore with Lamin Jobaate, a local bird guide with more than 30 years of experience. Choose a small-group holiday, a private itinerary or a guided day trip, with birdwatching and photography at your preferred pace.
Choose your trip
Scheduled small-group holidays — the 7-day Gambia tour or longer Gambia & Senegal journey, with a maximum of six guests. Request itemised quotation.
Private & tailor-made holidays — your dates, interests and target birds. Explore private trips.
Half-day & full-day trips — guided outings if you are already staying in The Gambia. See day-trip options.
Holiday prices are land-only; flights are arranged separately. Your availability and written quotation are confirmed personally before payment.
Why Choose West African Birding?
Local knowledge
Lamin brings more than 30 years of field experience across The Gambia’s coastal, forest and upriver habitats.
Birdwatching & photography
Choose the trip and pace that suit your interests. Private itineraries can be planned around target birds, hides and patient observation.
Small groups
Scheduled holidays have a maximum of six guests. Private trips are quoted for your own group.
Conservation
Five percent of website revenue supports conservation and community projects in The Gambia.
Must-See Birds of The Gambia
Discover Egyptian Plovers, colourful kingfishers, elusive night birds and other sought-after Gambian species. Explore identification guides, habitats and advice on where each bird may be found.
Discover The Gambia's Best Birding Locations
Featured Birding Locations
Kotu Creek Birdwatching Guide – Find 250+ Species
✔ Beginner friendly ✔ 250+ species
Our Birding & Wildlife Experiences
Whether you’re a dedicated birder, wildlife photographer or nature enthusiast, we offer unforgettable experiences across The Gambia and Senegal, led by expert local guide Lamin Jobaate.
Birding Tours in The Gambia
Discover the diverse birdlife of The Gambia with our expertly guided birding tours, designed for enthusiasts of all levels.
Photography Tours
Capture stunning images of West Africa's avian wonders with our specialized photography tours, tailored for bird photographers.
Our Conservation
Your holiday leaves a legacy. Five percent of all revenue generated through this website is donated to conservation and community projects in The Gambia, including mangrove planting and restoration, forest and bird-habitat protection, environmental education and sustainable ecotourism.
Hire an Expert West African Endemic Birds Guide
Meet Lamin Jobaate, one of The Gambia’s most respected bird guides, specializing in tracking down elusive West African endemics and leading customized birding holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
While resident species can be spotted year-round, the peak birding window runs from November to April when millions of migratory Palearctic birds arrive along the West African coast. You can view our comprehensive monthly matrix on our Bird Migration Calendar.
Yes, absolutely. All excursions are fully customized around your target checklist, preferred pacing, and physical needs. We organize everything from relaxed half-day trips up to multi-day regional travel circuits. Learn more on our Birding Tours page.
Yes. We regularly conduct deep upriver travel circuits to premier inland hotspots like the Kaur Wetlands, Tendaba Camp, and Janjanbureh Island to spot elusive freshwater and interior specialists.
“With his expert guidance, we saw an extraordinary variety of birds and enjoyed a genuinely memorable day.”
★★★★★ Tony Cragg, UK — December 2025
“His knowledge of the birds is amazing… Best guide ever!”
Wendy, Belgium — January 2026
“Lamin tailored the trips to our needs… Nothing felt rushed with him.”
Julie & Nigel Mallett, UK — 2026