Langue de Barbarie National Park
Langue de Barbarie National Park occupies a narrow sandy peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal River. Established in 1976, this dynamic estuarine landscape combines mudflats, dunes, river channels and maritime vegetation, creating an important refuge for resident and migratory birds.
Key Birds of Langue de Barbarie
The park is internationally important for Caspian Terns and also supports Grey-headed Gulls, Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Lesser Crested Terns and large numbers of Palearctic waders. Grey Herons, Great Egrets and Little Egrets feed throughout the shallow estuary.
Estuary, Dunes and Coastal Habitats
The sandy peninsula provides nesting and resting areas, while tidal mudflats offer rich feeding grounds. The Atlantic shoreline, coastal scrub and sheltered river channels allow visitors to experience several habitats during a single guided outing, usually including a traditional pirogue journey.
Best Time to Visit
Birdwatching is especially rewarding from November to April, when European migrants join the park's resident species. Important populations remain throughout the year, while the breeding season for terns provides another memorable wildlife spectacle.