Senegal

Africa’s Sahel region is sandwiched between the Sahara Desert to the north and the lush forests of Upper Guinea to the south. It consists mostly of dry savannah, dry woodland and semi-desert but it also supports some of West Africa’s most important wetlands, and a wealth of special birds not easily found elsewhere. Senegal offers the most accessible route into this remarkable region.

We’ll begin in Senegal’s northern reaches bordering the Senegal River where the dry acacia and semi-desert hold several specialties including the formerly near-mythical Golden Nightjar, now seen regularly in these parts. For a total contrast we’ll also visit the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary’s wetlands, home to vast numbers of waterbirds and perhaps a few surprises such as Allen’s Gallinule.

We’ll work our way south, stopping here and there to look for a few enigmatic birds, with Quail-plover featuring high on the most-wanted list. We’ll also be treated to the famous roost of Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel, possibly numbering in the thousands. In the hilly and more wooded southeast region, where Egyptian Plover has in recent years delighted us, we’ll hope to find Mali Firefinch and Neumann’s Starling, along with an entertaining mixture of other uncommon species.

We’ll then travel to far southwest, mainly in the Basse Casamance region. Once out of bounds due to internal strife, it’s now open, safe, and beginning to reveal its treasures. The forests here are home to some highly localized species such as Turati’s Boubou and Capuchin Babbler, and further exploration seems likely to turn up new surprises.