The Gambia, in West Africa, is only 6 hours away from the UK and is in the same time zone so no jet lag! Gambia has everything; sun, sea, fantastic bird-watching and a unique cultural experience. Flight prices from the UK are presently approximately £350 return with Thomas Cook Airlines flying from Birmingham. As The Gambia is on the migratory path of birds from Europe and beyond many of them winter over here so creating such great bird watching opportunities. There are over 550 different species of birds to be seen. The best time to visit The Gambia for bird watching is from October - April each year with January to March being the most popular - these months book-up very quickly. The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in Africa, and one of the safest to visit. It used to be a British colony so English is widely spoken. It is a poor country economically but very rich in its diverse habitats and the friendliness of its people. However, tourists can be hassled by 'bumsters' outside their hotels. These are young men who attempt to befriend the tourist wanting to show them around for cash reward and some claim to be 'expert' bird guides. The way to handle these situations is to be firm, but polite. If a trusted, experienced and licenced bird guide is engaged they will protect the tourist from this kind of attention. For visitors considering venturing into Senegal note that it used to be a French colony so mostly only French is spoken and understood. Engaging an experienced guide, such as JJ, is therefore more important here if you are not fluent in French. For lots more information on The Gambia go to the official Gambian Tourism Authority website: http://www.visitthe gambia.gm/ |
 Map of The Gambia  Abyssinian Roller |
