With a maximum of just 17 people on the February 2018 Kotu bird tour and 16 people on the Mandina options, there will be plenty of opportunity to learn from Chris' extensive knowledge, but it's essential to book early. Following Chris' appearance on the BBC's Springwatch and Autumnwatch programmes, theses trip prove each year to be extremely popular. Tour starting dates are shown below.
4-night tour in Kotu
This tour will include a welcome get-together on the Friday evening followed by 3 days of birding tours on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday. You'll visit various habitats for the best chance of seeing the widest range of birds, including trips to Tanji fishing village / beach, Lamin rice fields, Brufut Forest and Tujereng. In addition, there will be walking tours of Kotu stream and the local area and a boat trip, enabling you to see water birds and the added bonus of an occasional dolphin. Malick Suso will accompany Chris Packham to assist him and offer his extensive local knowledge. Please note that Chris Packham will use Bakotu Hotel as his base and prefers if the whole group are accommodated at this property for the duration of the tour. It's possible to move hotels if you wish to stay in a different property for the remainder of your holiday.
3 or 4-night tour at Mandina Lodges
At Mandina Lodges, there will be two back-to-back tours this winter, each offering fantastic birding opportunities but with differing itineraries. The first has been run for several years due to its popularity and offers a selection of walks and boat trips in and around Mandina over the 2 1/2 days of birding, including a river trip to the awe-inspiring egret roost, using the experienced Mandina guides to assist Chris Packham.The new itinerary on the second tour additionally offers two half-day trips outside Mandina for the opportunity to spot a different selection of bird species during 3 days of birding, and Chris will be accompanied by Malick Suso.
Pricing
Pricing is in addition to your holiday package price, ie flights are excluded, however Mandina pricing includes 3 or 4 nights' accommodation on half board (based on a jungle or mangrove lodge and twin occupancy). These tours can be part of a longer holiday, and the tours can be combined if required.
A taste of African Birdlife
A new and exclusive birding adventure!
This great introduction to African birding is ideal for those with a desire to seek out a wide variety of the amazing birdlife that The Gambia has to offer. Our new two or three-day tours are designed specifically with the keen amateur in mind, and you can join like-minded holidaymakers in exploring several habitats for the best opportunity to discover new species.
Stay at a resort hotel of your choice, and minibus transportation along with an English-speaking specialist bird guide is included, plus all lunches. Maximum group size 15 – tour supplement from £145 per person (excluding flights and accommodation). Various departure dates are available, please see below.
Day 1
Visit Abuko Nature Reserve, home to approximately 250 species of bird including the giant kingfishers and turacco, along with three types of monkey. After lunch, birding will be around Lamin Lodge and rice fields, offering mangrove and tidal mudflat habitats.
Day 2
Brufut Forest offers the opportunity for sightings of woodland birds, followed by an afternoon around Tanji Bird Reserve, including a boat trip to Bijol Island, home to both migrant sea birds and bush-dwelling species such as warblers. Stop also at Tanji fish market for a cultural experience on the beach.
Day 3 extension (£70 supplement)
Spend time in Farasutu Forest, close to neighbouring Baobab Island, where you'll visit its new birding site Sita Joyeh. You'll be searching for gallery forest birds, with the added opportunity to see various varieties of owl, herons and raptors.
15 Nov 2018 |
Limited places available - book now |
2 days | 3 days |
£145pp | £215pp |
17 Jan 2019 |
Limited places available - book now |
2 days | 3 days |
£145pp | £215pp |
7 Mar 2019 |
Limited places available - book now |
2 days | 3 days |
£145pp | £215pp |