Private birding tours · The Gambia

Discover The Gambia's birds with a guide who knows every trail

Yaya Barry has been guiding birders across The Gambia since 1996. Personal, expert-led tours built around what you want to see.

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A Northern Carmine Bee-eater, one of the vivid species found on Yaya's Gambia birding tours

Featured itineraries

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15 daysFrom £1,910

15-Day Birding, Wildlife & Cultural Tour of The Gambia

A carefully paced 15-day tour from the Atlantic coast through the mangrove-lined River Gambia and into the eastern part of the country, balancing serious birding with rest, wildlife and Gambian culture. Around 300 species are possible depending on season.

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15 daysFrom £2,250

15-Day Gambia & Eastern Senegal Birdwatching Adventure

A fully guided private birding tour combining the best of coastal and inland Gambia with the forests, wetlands and wildlife-rich landscapes of Eastern Senegal, including Niokolo-Koba National Park. Designed for serious birders seeking Gambian specialities, Sahelian species, woodland birds and waterbirds, at a comfortable and enjoyable pace.

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Key birding sites

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Abuko Nature Reserve

Western Region, near Lamin/Abuko, south of Serekunda on the Banjul–Brikama highway

Abuko is The Gambia's oldest protected wildlife area, a small but botanically rich pocket of gallery forest along the Lamin Stream, easily reached from the coastal resorts. It's one of the country's most reliable sites for forest-dependent species, with an easy circular trail and hides making close encounters straightforward even on a short visit.

Tanji Bird Reserve

West Coast Region, Atlantic coast of The Gambia

Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve, gazetted in 1993, is widely regarded as the richest single site for bird species in The Gambia. It combines coastal lagoons, mangrove, and dune scrub woodland with the offshore Bijol Islands, which hold The Gambia's only breeding seabird colonies.

Species you might see

Full bird list

Abyssinian Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus abyssinicus

Vulnerable

Abyssinian Roller

Coracias abyssinicus

Least Concern

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Least Concern

Yaya Barry with a group of birders on a Gambia tour

Guided by Yaya, every step of the way

Yaya doesn't just point out birds — he knows the trails, the tides and the seasons that bring in the species you're hoping to see. Every tour is personally guided by Yaya himself, built around your interests and pace.

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What visitors say

Gordon Simpson MBE, BA, BSc

United Kingdom

“I have known Yaya for about 20 years. His knowledge about Gambia and Senegal birds is phenomenal. The bird life in the grounds where he lives, when seen from the lodge, can keep any ornithologist occupied for hours. Yaya's trips around Gambia and into Senegal are enthralling as he knows where numerous bird and animal species can be located off the beaten track. He certainly looks after his groups of naturalists which have booked trips with him.”

Kathy Baker

Canada · 2020

“Yaya is an excellent birder and a well respected member of his community. I birded with Yaya in 2020 for three weeks. During that time he demonstrated extreme patience in helping everyone locate and get a good view of the birds. He was also very adept at navigating the borders between Senegal and Gambia. Yaya's English is excellent and he is very personable. Therefore, I would highly recommend him as a guide.”

Chris Day

Facebook review · Aug 2025

“YaYa's knowledge of The Gambia and its wildlife, especially its birds is truly remarkable! We had an incredible trip with him in January and can't wait to return to The Gambia and Senegal this December.”

Barry

TripAdvisor · London, United Kingdom · Dec 2021

“This is how to experience amazing birds in Gambia - Simply magical. Yaya is an internationally recognised birdwatching guide who oversees the management of several reserves. We took a day tour and even in that short space of time we saw so many amazing species including lots of birds of prey, kingfishers, bee-eaters, hornbills, waders and warblers. Yaya is super friendly and helped to make the day truly magical which we won't forget.”