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THIS TOUR IS A CONFIRMED DEPARTURE

 

Combine this tour with our
South Africa Raptor Tour, 15-28 January 2023 

I envy a man who has never been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to.”

Ernest Hemingway

 

A Western Africa Raptor Crossroads

Fifty-one species of diurnal raptors occur in Senegal, 47 of which are believed to migrate in at least part of their range. The Arid and Moist West African woodland and savannas that dominate the landscape provide suitable habitat to a host of bird species. This tour visits all the top birding locations in the country including Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Kaolack, Kousmar Island, where we will wait for the multi-thousand bird flocks of Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel to settle for the night, Wassadou, an area of impressive raptor diversity, and the Niokolo-Koba National Park of 913,000 ha, where the raptor community of 26 resident and 12 migrant species remain “intact and in natural state”. This tour has been designed to target 40 species of diurnal birds of prey including three Critically Endangered vultures occurring in Senegal: Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, and Rüppell’s Vulture.

 

 

Get up to speed before you leave home!

The hot-off-the-press African Raptors field guide covers 106 species of dirunal raptors occurring in Africa, featuring stunning 52 color plates, and more than 300 color photographs. 

Sign up for this tour and get a free copy delivered directly to your home so you can get up to speed with the bewildering variability of plumage, flight silhouettes, and behavior of African raptors even before you check your bags! Kindle and Hardcover Editions available. (Offer valid for continental US customers only.)

Make A Difference!

®, L.L.C. makes a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation!

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1

1 February

Arrive at the Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA Code: DSS) and transfer to the Massa Massa Hôtel, at Thiés (c. 1h drive). We are likely to see Yellow-billed Kite along the way. Check-in at the hotel.

Day 2

2 February

Breakfast and then checkout and head for Saint-Louis, with many stops to watch raptors including Osprey, Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Common Kestrel, Lanner, Peregrine and “Barbary Falcons” (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides), and many other birds along the way. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Ranch de Bango, in Saint-Louis.

Day 3

3 February

Breakfast and then full-day excursion to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, where we’ll take a boat ride, and visit Le Grand Lac (the Great Lake) in the afternoon. Picnic lunch. We expect to see Black-winged Kite, African Fish-Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Ranch de Bango.

Day 4

4 February

Breakfast and check-out. This is a driving day (300 km) with stops in Darou Mousty, Tip, and other localities to look for raptors such as Egyptian, White-backed, and Lappet-faced Vultures, plus Ruppell’s Griffon, and Montagu’s Harriers, Lesser Kestrel, Lanner and Peregrine Falcons. Dinner and overnight at Le Relais Hôtel in Kaolack.

Day 5

5 February

Breakfast and head out to explore the Kaolack area looking for Black, and Black-winged Kites, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Booted Eagle, and Peregine Falcon, among other birds. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon we will visit Kousmar Island. In 2007 a large roost of two species of raptors was discovered there. Up to 28,000 Lesser Kestrels, and an astonishing 30,000 Scissor-tailed Kites were reported at this site in 2011! We will stay at the site until dusk and wait for the kites and kestrels to settle in. Dinner and overnight at the Le Relais Hôtel.

Day 6

6 February

Another driving day (450 Km) with many stops at productive locations to target Grasshopper Buzzard, Red-necked Buzzard, and Tawny Eagle. Lunch en route at Hôtel Relais of Tambacounda. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Campament de Wassadou.

Day 7

7 February

Explore the surrounding areas in Wassadou looking for raptors. We’ll take a boat ride, and then visit the Wassdou forest. This area boasts an impressive raptor diversity. Target species here will include Palm-nut Vulture, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Bateleur, African Harrier Hawk, Gabar Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Grasshopper Buzzard, Lizzard Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, plus Gray Kestrel, and Red-necked, Lanner, and Peregrine Falcons. Dinner and overnight in Hôtel Campament de Wassadou.

Day 8

8 February

Another great exploration day in Wassadou! Today we’ll take a boat trip on the Gambia River. We’ll pay another visit at the forests near Wassadou.

Day 9

9 February

Breakfast and checkout. Drive to Niokolo-Koba National Park (280 Km) stopping along the way for raptors and other birds. Dinner and overnight within the park.

Day 10

10 February

All day exploring the Niokolo-Koba National Park. Target species here include Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle. Dinner and overnight within the park. 

Day 11

11 February

Early breakfast and checkout. Then drive (500 Km) to the Saloum Delta stopping along the way to bird and eat lunch. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Keur Saloum. 

Day 12

12 February

Explore the area around Toubacouta. Boat ride to explore the delta. Raptors likely to be seen here include Osprey, African Fish Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Harrier Hawk, Montagu’s Harrier, Gabar Goshawk, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Grasshopper Buzzard, Lizzard Buzzard, African Hawk-Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Martial Eagle, Gray Kestrel, and Red-necked, Lanner Falcons. Then visit the forest at Sangako.  Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Keur Saloum.

Day 13

13 February 

Another day exploring the área round Toubacouta, with a second boat trip on the Saloum River Delta. Look for raptors on the road to Missirah. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Keur Saloum.

Day 14

14 February

Breakfast at the hotel. Then explore the area once more. Lunch. Checkout and head back to Blaise Diagne International Airport, where the tour ends at 5:00 PM. Extra nights in Dakar and transfer from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport (at either end of the tour) can be arranged at extra cost.

Target Species

common name

1. Osprey (LC)
2. Black-winged Kite (LC)
3. Scissor-tailed Kite (VU)
4. African Harrier-Hawk (LC)
5. Palm-nut Vulture (LC)
6. Egyptian Vulture (EN)
7. Hooded Vulture (CR)
8. White-backed Vulture (CR)
9. Rüppell’s Vulture (CR)
10. Griffon Vulture (LC)
11. Lappet-faced Vulture (EN)
12. Short-toed Snake Eagle (LC)
13. Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle (VU)
14. Brown Snake Eagle (LC)
15. Western Banded Snake Eagle (LC)
16. Bateleur (EN)
17. Martial Eagle (EN)
18. Long-crested Eagle (LC)
19. Wahlberg’s Eagle (LC)
20. Booted Eagle (LC)
21. Tawny Eagle (VU)
22. African Hawk-Eagle (LC)
23. Lizard Buzzard (LC)
24. Gabar Goshawk (LC)
25. Dark Chanting Goshawk (LC)
26. Shikra (LC)
27. Western Marsh Harrier (LC)
28. Hen Harrier (LC)
29. Pallid Harrier (NT)
30. Montagu’s Harrier (VU)
31. Black Kite (LC)
32. Yellow-billed Kite (LC) 
33. African Fish Eagle (LC)
34. Grasshopper Buzzard (LC)
35. Lesser Kestrel (LC)
36. Gray Kestrel (LC)
37. Red-necked Falcon (LC)
38. African Hobby (LC)
39. Lanner Falcon (LC)
40. Peregine Falcon (LC)

latin name

1. Pandion haliaetus
2. Elanus caeruleus
3. Chelictinia riocourii
4. Polyboroides typus
5. Gypohierax angolensis
6. Neophron percnopterus
7. Necrosyrtes monachus
8. Gyps africanus
9. Gyps rueppelli
10. Gyps fulvus
11. Torgos tracheliotos
12. Circaetus gallicus
13. Circaetus beaudouini
14. Circaetus cinereus
15. Circaetus cinerascens
16. Terathopius ecaudatus
17. Polemaetus bellicosus
18. Lophaetus occipitalis
19. Hieraaetus wahlbergi
20. Hieraaetus pennatus
21. Aquila rapax
22. Aquila spilogaster
23. Kaupifalco monogrammicus
24. Micronisus gabar
25. Melierax metabates
26. Accipiter badius
27. Circus aeruginosus
28. Circus cyaneus
29. Circus macrourus
30. Circus pygargus
31. Milvus migrans
32. Milvus aegyptius
33. Haliaeetus vocifer
34. Butastur rufipennis
35. Falco naumanni
36. Falco ardosiaceus
37. Falco chicquera
38. Falco cuvierii
39. Falco biarmicus
40. Falco peregrinus

Suggested Field Guides

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Borrow, N, and R. Demey. 2012. Birds of Senegal and The Gambia. Paperback. Helm Field Guides.

Need to Know

TOUR DATES & AVAILABILITY

1-14 February 2023 | 6 Places

GROUP SIZE LIMITS

3-10 Participants

ALL-INCLUSIVE TOUR PRICE

Tour price is US$5,490 and includes hotels (double occupancy), all meals with non-alcoholic beverages, bottled water, ground transportation, boat rides, NP entry fees, and tour leader, local guide, and driver fees.

Flights to and from Senegal, entrance visas (if applicable to you), extra nights, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind are not included.

A non-refundable Registration Fee of US$250 will be requested at the time of booking. This fee counts against the total tour price.

Single supplement is US$350.

Roommates will be assigned to those participants willing to share a room. If a roommate is not available, you will be required to pay the single supplement.

BOOKING & PAYMENT

Use the ‘Book This Tour’ button above to fill out the online booking form at your earliest convenience. Participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This online form is contractual. 

Once your application information is reviewed, and your application approved, the non-refundable Registration Fee will be requested (credit cards via PayPal only).

Once we have reached the minimum number of participants (3) the remaining balance, plus any applicable Single Supplement fees will be requested. Wire transfer is the preferred method of payment. Credit card payments are also accepted but a $190 handling fee applies.

TRIP CANCELLATIONS

All cancellation requests must be made in writing to, L.L.C.

Cancellations requested before 1 November 2022 will be subject to a full refund minus the non-refundable $250 Registration Fee.

No refunds will be made for cancelations requested on 1 November 2022 or after.

, L.L.C. reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time with full refund (including the Registration Fee) to participants.

Travel cancellation insurance is recommended.

DIFFICULTY

Easy. No strenuous walks are necessary. Some long drives involved.

COMFORT

Good to Very Good | Guide-to-participant ratio 1:5 or better

We will stay in clean, comfortable hotels (some quite basic). Internet availability may be limited. We will travel in a comfortable van with AC and a devoted, experienced driver. 

WEATHER & CLOTHING

The good news is February is the coolest month in coastal Senegal with an average low of 65 F (18 C) and an average high of 78 F (25 C). The bad news is that temps rise considerably as we go inland and south reaching an average low of 74 F (23 C) and an average high of 98 F (37 C) in Niokolo Koba NP. February is the core of the dry season, and we expect no rain. Bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses. Bring a camera, a refillable water bottle, and of course, binoculars.

TOUR START & END POINTS

Tour starts at the Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA Code: DSS) where your will meet the tour leader on Day 1 and transfer to the hotel (1 h drive). Tour ends at the same airport.

Tour Leader

Over the course of his career, Yeray Seminario has gone from wildlife veterinarian to field biologist, to finally dedicate himself to leading birding and photography tours. A passionate traveler, he’s lived and worked in several countries of Europe, America, and Asia. He has also led tours in Africa, from the extraordinary island of Madagascar to magical Morocco. As a tour leader, he watches over every detail of the trip and takes good care of his group, making sure that everyone sees all the birds. Yeray is an enthusiast of bird ID and a raptor fanatic!

Tour Showcase

 

 

Terms

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, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Johannesburg.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)