Day 1: The tour starts this evening at Dakar Airport (DSS). Overnight in the outskirts of the city.

Days 2-3: In the early morning, we will head towards Podor, stopping en route near Richard Toll. While birding this semi-desert area for the next two days, we will be searching for several Sahelian specialities such as Cricket Warbler, Little Grey Woodpecker, Sudan Golden Sparrow, Sennar Penduline Tit, and hopefully the amazing Golden Nightjar. We should also see a recently discovered colony of Horus Swifts, Black Bush Robin, Vieillot’s Barbet, Senegal Eremomela, Senegal Batis, African Collared Dove, Fulvous Chatterer, White-rumped Seedeater, and Pygmy Sunbird, as well as other widespread African species and Palearctic migrants. Nights in Podor.

Day 4: After some early morning birding, we will embark on the long drive towards Djoudj National Park, where we will focus our attention on finding the Endangered Arabian Bustard, as well as the spectacular Black Crowned Crane. The little-known River Prinia should be seen easily too. Huge numbers of waterbirds will be present here and are definitely a highlight of any visit to Senegal! We will also see Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelicans at their breeding colony, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Allen’s Gallinule, Greater Painted Snipe, and many others. Overnight at Djoudj camp.

Day 5:  We will spend the morning doing a very enjoyable boat trip at the Djoudj, getting close-up views of many waterbirds. Afterwards, we will head towards the Saint Louis area, where we will spend the afternoon searching for the scarce Savile’s Bustard. Other species such as Temminck’s Courser and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse are possible. At night, we will search for the smart Northern White-faced Owl on the hotel grounds. Night near Saint Louis.

Day 6: Birding some coastal areas near Saint Louis should produce good numbers of shorebirds, gulls and terns, including chances for the sought-after West African Royal Tern, as well as more River Prinias. In the afternoon, we will pay another visit to the Savile’s Bustard area. Night near Saint Louis.

Day 7: Today, we will drive towards Kaolack, stopping en route in a reliable area for the enigmatic Quail-Plover, where we will spend as much time as necessary searching for this rare species. Night at Kaolack.

Day 8: Today, we will drive towards Wassadou, where we will spend two nights at the edge of Niokolo-Koba National Park. We should encounter some vultures on the journey, which can include Rüppell’s, Lappet-faced, Eurasian Griffon, Hooded, and White-backed, although sadly, numbers have greatly declined in recent times. Sahel Paradise Whydah, amongst other more widespread species, is also possible on the journey. Night near Niokolo-Koba National Park.

Day 9: Our full day at Wassadou allows us to explore the meanders of the Gambia River, here still rather narrow and overgrown! This area is great to find a number of Pan-African classics, of which the mighty Egyptian Plover is expected to put on quite the show. We expect multiple sightings of other specialties including White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Giant Kingfisher, Shining-blue Kingfisher, White-crowned Lapwing, the rare Adamawa Turtle Dove, Violet Turaco, Bronze-tailed Starling, and the interesting Oriole Warbler. Owling might produce the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl if luck is on our side, along with Northern White-faced Owl and African Scops Owl. Night near Niokolo-Koba National Park.

Day 10: Today we head south, towards the border of Guinea, and slowly head into denser savannah. Along the way, while traversing different sections of the vast Niokola-Koba National Park, we will keep an eye out for Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and the uncommon Beadouin's Snake Eagle, plus Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, and Tawny Eagle. At sunset we’ll be seeking out Neumann’s Starling and Fox’s Kestrel at the Bandafassi Escarpment, and we have our first chance for Mali Firefinch. Night in Kedougou.

Day 11: We will be at Dindefelo for dawn, where we’ll explore some lush forests. This change in habitat provides ample opportunities to try for Stone Partridge, Guinea Turaco, Narina Trogon, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, African Blue Flycatcher, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul, Olive-naped Weaver, and Lavender Waxbill. In the mid-afternoon, we visit a waterhole where the range-restricted Mali Firefinch is regularly seen, as well as Black-faced Firefinch and Black-bellied Firefinch. On our way back to Kedougou, we aim for any remaining targets which may include Fine-spotted Woodpecker, Dorst's Cisticola, Sun Lark, and Gosling’s Bunting. Night in Kedougou.

Day 12: After some morning birding near Kedougou, we will drive towards Tambacounda, where we will spend the night.

Day 13: After some early morning birding, with a second chance of going to search for Quail-Plover if needed, we will pay an afternoon visit to the incredible Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel roost site, which can hold tens of thousands of birds at this time in January! We’ll also search for White-bellied Bustard in this area. Night in Toubacouta.

Day 14-15: During our our time in the Saloum Delta, we will concentrate our efforts on finding the rare White-crested Tiger Heron by boat. We will also look for Greyish Eagle Owl, Four-banded Sandgrouse, the uncommon Yellow Penduline Tit, Blue-bellied Roller, West African Royal Tern and Fine-spotted Woodpecker, among many other species. Nights at Toubacouta.

Today we will pay a visit to the incredible Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel roost site, which can hold tens of thousands of birds at this time of year! We will then drive to our lodge by the Saloum Delta. During our time in the delta, we will concentrate our efforts on finding the rare White-crested Tiger Heron by boat. We will also look for Greyish Eagle Owl, Four-banded Sandgrouse, the uncommon Yellow Penduline Tit, Blue-bellied Roller, West African Royal Tern, and Fine-spotted Woodpecker, among many other species. Nights at Toubacouta.

Day 16: After some early morning birding, we will head north towards Dakar, where the tour will end in the evening.

Read our 2023 trip report here!