The Gambia

 

Tucked away on Africa’s west coast, the unassuming and tiny nation of The Gambia is one of the continent’s best-kept secrets. Flanking both banks of its mighty namesake river, it is located in a transition zone between the dry north and the humid south and hosts a surprising and remarkably diverse array of birds. It is ironically the rarity of large and dangerous mammals that make this a fantastic location for an immersion in Africa’s tropical bird life, for it is possible to walk in safety along trails through various ecosystems: farm fields and rice paddies; nut groves and woodlands; and along sandy shorelines and marshes. One can also course along the ubiquitous mangroves that line the omnipresent River Gambia itself. The rewards are numerous in the fine assortment of birds, including various stunning kingfishers, herons, rollers, glossy starlings, sunbirds, and more — “eye candy” that speaks to the variety and beauty of African birdlife!