Following last year's popular trip, once again you can join TV presenter and keen birdwatcher Chris Packham for three days of birdwatching and photography in The Gambia with the additional option of spending an additional three days with him at Mandina Lodges in Makasutu Forest.
An Introduction From Chris Packham
Is it nine or ten times I've been to The Gambia? I've lost count but lost no enthusiasm for this fabulous country and the amazing birdwatching opportunities it offers. In fact, unlike so many places that one returns to, The Gambia actually seems to get better and better.
So why is it so good? Short flights, no time difference, great hotels, fabulous food, friendly people, no crime, perfect climate, good value, and more birds than you could shake a stick at on your doorstep. Not that we shake sticks at birds of course! Many of the hotels have 'garden lists' that would make you envious and many others are just a short walk from a fantastic diversity of species, many of which will be entirely new to you if you have not 'done Africa' bird-wise. And they are tame 'ish', so it's an amazing place to perfect your photographic skills.
Megan, my little girl who likes her wildlife (what did you expect?), loves it here too. You see it's not 'off the beaten track'; you can combine lots of fun with the fauna and keep everyone happy. Perfect for families who want a little more wildlife than lives around the pool! Lastly I'm starting a club. Nothing exclusive - please join. It's called the 'Kotu 100 Club' and you get instant lifelong membership when you've seen a hundred different bird species from the Kotu stream bridge. And you get to be president if you can do it in a day! Not easy but not impossible and on my next trip I'm going to 'dawn till dusk' it on the bridge and I bet fifty species is easy, seventy five. a hundred? I can't wait. See you there. 
Chris Packham
Also see our guest blog post from Chris on The Gambia Blog a diary of day one and day two of the 2010 tour, also on the blog, plus our brand new Flickr group, featuring images from the Feb 2010 Chris Packham bird tour.
Download a PDF checklist of all the bird species in The Gambia (569 species!)
