Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
Established in 1971 and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is one of the world's most important wetland ecosystems. Located in the Senegal River Delta, its seasonal floodplains and brackish lakes provide sanctuary for more than three million migratory waterfowl between November and April.
Key Species and Habitats
Djoudj is renowned for its vast Great White Pelican colony and large gatherings of Greater and Lesser Flamingos. African Spoonbills, Yellow-billed Storks, cormorants, herons, egrets, ibises, Palearctic ducks and numerous waders feed across its shallow lakes, reedbeds and mudflats.
Best Time to Visit Djoudj
The prime birdwatching period is the dry season from November to April, when lower water levels concentrate birds and the greatest numbers of Palearctic migrants are present. A guided pirogue trip offers exceptional views across the sanctuary’s bird-rich channels and lagoons.