Big chance the day after your arrival we will visit a whole day Kotu Creek, without doubt the best known hotspot of The Gambia. And being very close to the hotels, we can spend a whole day birding the creek and the surrounding fields. The perfect way to start a trip.
Kotu creek is an east-west creek, perfect light for photographing, surrounded by rice fields and the Fajara golf field, also home of many birds. So lots if things to do :
- A boattrip of an hour between the mangroves brings us very close to the birds, especially when the tide is low and many waders are active. A favorite is certainly the black heron, also known as the umbrella-bird because of his unique way of making shade to see the fishes better. But certainly the kingfishers will keep us busy. The Malachite, the Pied, the Blue-breasted and the Giant : already 4 kingfishers on day one!!!! Some very close, be prepared with the correct lens.
- Several walks in the rice fields around the creek are great to see many more birds. Maybe the pearl spotted owlet, or the hadada ibis, or some spoonbills and of course there will be great surprises. Between the walks in we can have a relaxing lunch in a nearby restaurant.
- The bridge itself is also a great hotspot with in the late afternoon perfect light for photographing. And a great spot for action pictures, from caspian tern to the giant kingfisher and hamerkop. Don’t worry, we will bring you a cold drink so that you can photograph hours and hours.
In the late afternoon we will bring you back to your hotel for relaxing, for a drink and a dinner. And maybe for….birding, in the garden of the hotel.
In June 2025 they were repairing the bridge, and also a new bridge will be build. But no problem: we still can do a lot of birding.
Kotu creek is the best known hotspot of The Gambia. Discovering it is a perfect way to start your trip.
blue-breasted kingfisher
Pied kingfisher
Malachite kingfisher