Parc National Du Delta Du Saloum
The Sine-Saloum Delta occupies the area immediately north of the River Gambia. This huge area covering 760 square kilometers is one of the most beautiful in Senegal and contains the above National Park which is the fourth largest protected area in the country. The Parc National is adjacent to the Niumi National Park in The Gambia and together they form an area which is rich in both scenery and wildlife. The Parc National is located around the River Saloum where it meets the Atlantic Ocean and is a wonderful mix of habitats which include a sparsley vegetated sand island lying just off the coast. Extensive and impressive mangrove forests, tidal bolons, lagoons and huge mud flats which are exposed at low tide together with open Sudan savannah woodland and forests. The Parc National is especially noted for its fabulous birdlife which includes all the usual mix of species for this part of Africa such as pelicans, egrets, herons, raptors, gulls, terns, warblers and waders.
Niokolo Koba National Park
The Niokolo Koba National Park in south-eastern Senegal covers an area almost the size of The Gambia with 9,000 square kilometres of uninterrupted wilderness. This is the premier site in both The Gambia and Senegal for seeing large mammals and has been designated a World Heritage Site and International Bio-sphere Reserve which reflects its international importance for both wildlife and birdlife. If you are serious about wildlife and birdlife then a visit to this Park is a must! In the west of the Park the ground is relatively flat and heavily wooded although there are many low lying plains that become inundated with water during the rainy season. To the east the ground is more open with huge expanses of grassland and a few low hills. The wildlife of Niokolo Koba is simply astounding and very easy to see and is almost as good as many of the national parks in East Africa. Most of the large mammals to be found in West Africa can be found in the National Park. The only species which will not be found are those associated with high rain forest habitats. Antilope to be found include Bubal, Roan Antilope, Defassa Waterbuck, Kob, Oribi, Bohur Reed Buck, Bush Buck, Common Duiker, Red Flanked Duiker and the rare Giant Eland. Other large herbivores include African Buffalo, Common Warthog, African Elephant and Leopard. Along the rivers are to be found all three species of African crocodile as well as good numbers of hippo. Over 350 species of birds are to be found in the National Park including some that you are unlikely to see anywhere else in either Senegal or The Gambia. These include Saddle-billed Stork, Bat Hawk, Pels Fishing Owl, Secretary Bird, Green-headed Sunbird, Adamawa Turtle Dove, Sun Lark, Magpie Manikin, Ethiopian Swallow, African Pied Wagtail, Lesser Striped Swallow, White-crowned Plover, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Balaleur, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-throated Bee-eater and Hadada Ibis.
Missira
An area where Ospreys are often seen.Djoudj National Park
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and a Ramsar Site. It is a wetland of 16,000 ha situated
in the Senegal river delta and comprises a large lake surrounded by
streams, ponds and backwaters which form a sanctuary for large numbers
of waterbirds including Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, African Spoonbill, Great Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Black Crowned Crane, both Lesser and Greater Flamingo, plus a wide range of ducks and waders, some in very high concentrations, including White-faced Whistling Duck, Garganey and Ruff. Arabian Bustard
may also be seen at Djoudj on occasions. Over 300 species have been
recorded in total. The nesting area of thousands of Great White Pelicans during the nesting period is a truly amazing sight. When taking an organised boat trip to the nesting site you can witness hundreds of Pelicans taking-off from the water and flying at eye level down either side, and overhead, of the boat.
