Gambia Entices Tourists with Bird-watching Festival

The Gambia is offering tourists, especially adventure lovers and naturalists the opportunity to explore Mother Nature at her best. The West African nation is doubling up on efforts to draw global traffic, this time with the ongoing International Bird Festival. Tendaba Camp, located in the Lower River Region of the Gambia on the banks of the river, is hosting the festival which offers bird watchers the rare opportunity of seeing over 540 species of birds in relatively close proximity. They include the sacred ibis, African finfoot, white-backed night heron, shining blue kingfisher, goliath Heron, Pel’s fishing owl among others.

The bird festival features a wide variety of birding activities, birding field trips, lectures and workshops, inside and outdoor activities, an exhibition and a farewell gala dinner.

Visitors experience a spectacular morning across the river Gambia into the creeks of Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve back to Tendaba Camp for lunch, while they also walk around Tendaba Camp air field in the afternoon.

There is also an exciting full day of birding into Kiang West National Park as well as a trans-Gambia ferry crossing to Kaur wetland on the North Bank to bird watch along the way.

Speaking on the choice of the venue, the organisers said that Tendaba Camp, which lies between Kiang West National Park and Baobolong Wetland Reserve, was built in the 1970’s and one of the first tourist camps in the country that attracts mostly birdwatchers and naturalists.

Also, the area is characterized by a broad tidal river bed, savannah swamp and mangroves. In terms of facilities, the camp offers single and twin family rooms, two bars, a restaurant, swimming pool, and conference hall with internet facilities. These combine to make the camp a spot for short excursions and an ideal location for ecotourists interested in wildlife.

The festival is organised by The Gambia Tourism Board, in collaboration with Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, Bird Watchers Association and Conservation Organisations with the objective of promoting rural tourism development as well supporting the conservation of birds and their habitats.

It is also expected that about 50 percent of the proceeds from the event will be allocated to support the conservation of the Kotu creek and protection of the black crowned Crane.