Senegal Raptor Tour

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Senegal Raptor Tour

 

THIS TOUR IS A CONFIRMED DEPARTURE

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I envy a man who has never been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to."

Ernest Hemingway

A Western Africa Raptor Crossroads

Fifty-one species of diurnal raptors occur in Senegal, 47 of which are believed to migrate in at least part of their range. The Arid and Moist West African woodland and savannas that dominate the landscape provide suitable habitat to a host of bird species. This tour visits all the top birding locations in the country including Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Kaolack, Kousmar Island, where we will wait for the multi-thousand bird flocks of Scissor-tailed Kite and Lesser Kestrel to settle for the night, Wassadou, an area of impressive raptor diversity, and the Niokolo-Koba National Park of 913,000 ha, where the raptor community of 26 resident and 12 migrant species remain “intact and in natural state”. We added a new destination: the Kedougou area, and the Dindefelo Natural Reserve, where we will target the handsome Fox Kestrel. This tour has been designed to target 40 species of diurnal birds of prey including three Critically Endangered vultures occurring in Senegal: Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture, and Rüppell’s Vulture.

Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens), by Yeray Seminario
Four species of snake eagles can be seen on this raptor tour to Senegal. The Western Banded Snake Eagle is the smallest of them all. It is partial to riparian forest, wooded savanas, and forest edges. © Yeray Seminario

 

African Raptors, by Wiliam S. Clark & Rob Davies
Bill Clark & Rob Davies's African Raptors (2018) is the definitive raptor guide for the continent.

Get up to speed before you leave home!

The African Raptors field guide covers 106 species of dirunal raptors occurring in Africa, featuring stunning 52 color plates, and more than 300 color photographs.

Get it at Amazon.com. Kindle and Hardcover Editions available.

Make A Difference!

Raptours®, L.L.C. makes a financial contribution to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us on this tour and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation!

Day-by-day Itinerary

Day 1

Sunday, March 3

Arrive at the Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA Code: DSS) before 5 PM where you will be greeted by your tour leader. Transfer to the Afrika Keur Lodge, in Saly (c. 40 m drive). We are likely to see Yellow-billed Kite along the way. If you arrive the day before or after 5 PM, please contact us before so we can coordinate your airport pickup and transfer. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Afrika Keur.

Day 2

Monday, March 4

Breakfast and check-out. Then drive to Kaolack stopping for raptors such as Egyptian, White-backed, and Lappet-faced Vultures, plus Ruppell’s Vulture, and Montagu’s Harriers, Lesser Kestrel, Lanner and Peregrine Falcons along the way. Lunch around 13.00 at Le Relais Hôtel, in Kaolack. Then drive to Kousmar Island looking for raptors including Black, and Black-winged Kites, Dark Chanting Goshawk, and Booted Eagle, along the way. In 2007 a large roost of two species of raptors was discovered in Kousmar Is. Up to 28,000 Lesser Kestrels, and an astonishing 30,000 Scissor-tailed Kites were reported at this site in 2011! We will stay at the site until dusk and wait for the kites and kestrels to settle in. Then drive to the hotel and check-in. Dinner and overnight at the Keur Saloum, in Toubakouta.

Scissor-tailed Kites, by Yeray Seminario
Thousands of Scissor-tailed Kites come to roost on the Kousmar Island. Watching them interact as they land is quite a spectacle! © Y. Seminario

Day 3-4

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 5-6

Breakfast at the hotel. Then spend the day exploring the Toubakuta looking for raptors and other birds. Dinner and overnight a the Keur Saloum, in Toubakouta.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus), by Yeray Seminario
The Pallid Harrier is a winter visitor from Eurasia. It occurs in steppe, dry grasslands, and open savannas. © Yeray Seminario

Day 5

Thursday, March 7

Breakfast. Then one more outing to explore the bird riches of the Toubakuta area. Lunch at the hotel. Then drive back to Kaolack stopping for birds along the way. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Relais, in Kaolack.

Day 6

Friday, March 8

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the surrounding areas in Wassadou looking for raptors. We’ll take a boat ride, and then visit the Wassdou forest. This area boasts an impressive raptor diversity. Target species here will include Palm-nut Vulture, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Bateleur, African Harrier Hawk, Gabar Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Shikra, Grasshopper Buzzard, Lizard Buzzard, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, plus Gray Kestrel, and Red-necked, Lanner, and Peregrine Falcons. Dinner and overnight in Campement Hôtel Wassadou.

Scissor-tailed Kite roost at Kousmar Island, Senegal, by Yeray Seminario.
Up to 30,000 Scissor-tailed Kites have been tallied at communal roosts in Kousmar Island. This is the largest known concentration of this species anywhere in Africa. © Y. Seminario

Day 7

Saturday, March 9

Keep exploring the area. We may encounter many species of raptors along the way including Gabar Goshawk, Shikra, Lizard Buzzard, Grasshopper Buzzard, Red-necked Buzzard, and Tawny Eagle, among others. Check-in at the camp by the Gambia River. Dinner and overnight at the Campement Hôtel Wassadou.

Day 8

Sunday, March 10

Breakfast at the hotel, and check-out. Drive southeast towards Kedougou (180 Km) stopping along the way for raptors, other birds, and lunch. We will drive through Niokolo Koba NP on the way. Target species here include Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, and Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Bedik, in Kedougou.

Day 9

Monday, March 11

Breakfast at the hotel, and checkout. Then head for Dindefelo Natural Reserve. Explore the reserve and surrounding areas looking for raptors and other birds. We will keep our eyes peeled for Fox Kestrel—this region is the best area in Senegal to target this handsome falcon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Dindefelo.

Day 10

Tuesday, March 12

Breakfast and checkout. Head back to Campement Hôtel Wassadou with many stops along the way to complete our list of target species and other birds. Dinner and overnight at the Campement Hôtel Wassadou.

Palmnut Vulture, by Yeray Seminario
The Palm-nut Vulture is the only truly vegetarian species of vulture in the world. © Y. Seminario

Day 11

Wednesday, March 13

Breakfast and checkout. Head for Kaolack (340 Km), stopping for raptors and other birds on the way. Dinner and overnight Le Relais Hôtel, in Kaolack.

Day 12

Thursday, March 14

Breakfast and then checkout; then head for Saint-Louis, with many stops to watch raptors including Osprey, Black Kite, Hooded Vulture, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Common Kestrel, Lanner, Peregrine and "Barbary Falcons" (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides), and many other birds along the way. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Ranch de Bango, in Saint-Louis.

Day 13

Friday, March 15 

Breakfast and then full-day excursion to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, where we’ll take a boat ride, and visit Le Grand Lac (the Great Lake) in the afternoon. Picnic lunch. We expect to see Black-winged Kite, African Fish-Eagle, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and Pallid, and Montagu’s Harriers. Dinner and overnight at the Hôtel Ranch de Bango.

Hooded Vulture, by Yeray Seminario
Critically Endangered Hooded Vulture found perched on our 2023 edition of this fascinating Senegal Raptor Tour. © Y. Seminario

Day 14

Saturday, March 16

Checkout and head back to Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA Code: DSS), where the tour ends at 5:00 PM. Extra nights in Dakar and transfer from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport (at either end of the tour) can be arranged at extra cost.

Target Species

common name

  1. Osprey (LC)
  2. Black-winged Kite (LC)
  3. Scissor-tailed Kite (VU)
  4. African Harrier-Hawk (LC)
  5. Palm-nut Vulture (LC)
  6. Egyptian Vulture (EN)
  7. Hooded Vulture (CR)
  8. White-backed Vulture (CR)
  9. Rüppell’s Vulture (CR)
  10. Griffon Vulture (LC)
  11. Lappet-faced Vulture (EN)
  12. Short-toed Snake Eagle (LC)
  13. Beaudouin's Snake Eagle (VU)
  14. Brown Snake Eagle (LC)
  15. Western Banded Snake Eagle (LC)
  16. Bateleur (EN)
  17. Martial Eagle (EN)
  18. Long-crested Eagle (LC)
  19. Wahlberg's Eagle (LC)
  20. Booted Eagle (LC)
  21. Tawny Eagle (VU)
  22. African Hawk-Eagle (LC)
  23. Lizard Buzzard (LC)
  24. Gabar Goshawk (LC)
  25. Dark Chanting Goshawk (LC)
  26. Shikra (LC)
  27. Western Marsh Harrier (LC)
  28. Hen Harrier (LC)
  29. Pallid Harrier (NT)
  30. Montagu’s Harrier (VU)
  31. Black Kite (LC)
  32. Yellow-billed Kite (LC) 
  33. African Fish Eagle (LC)
  34. Grasshopper Buzzard (LC)
  35. Lesser Kestrel (LC)
  36. Fox Kestrel (LC)
  37. Gray Kestrel (LC)
  38. Red-necked Falcon (LC)
  39. African Hobby (LC)
  40. Lanner Falcon (LC)
  41. Peregine Falcon (LC)

latin name

  1. Pandion haliaetus
  2. Elanus caeruleus
  3. Chelictinia riocourii
  4. Polyboroides typus
  5. Gypohierax angolensis
  6. Neophron percnopterus
  7. Necrosyrtes monachus
  8. Gyps africanus
  9. Gyps rueppelli
  10. Gyps fulvus
  11. Torgos tracheliotos
  12. Circaetus gallicus
  13. Circaetus beaudouini
  14. Circaetus cinereus
  15. Circaetus cinerascens
  16. Terathopius ecaudatus
  17. Polemaetus bellicosus
  18. Lophaetus occipitalis
  19. Hieraaetus wahlbergi
  20. Hieraaetus pennatus
  21. Aquila rapax
  22. Aquila spilogaster
  23. Kaupifalco monogrammicus
  24. Micronisus gabar
  25. Melierax metabates
  26. Accipiter badius
  27. Circus aeruginosus
  28. Circus cyaneus
  29. Circus macrourus
  30. Circus pygargus
  31. Milvus migrans
  32. Milvus aegyptius
  33. Haliaeetus vocifer
  34. Butastur rufipennis
  35. Falco naumanni
  36. Falco alopex
  37. Falco ardosiaceus
  38. Falco chicquera
  39. Falco cuvierii
  40. Falco biarmicus
  41. Falco peregrinus

Suggested Field Guides

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2005. Raptors of the World. Paperback Edition. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Borrow, N, and R. Demey. 2012. Birds of Senegal and The Gambia. Paperback. Helm Field Guides.

Need to Know

TOUR DATES & AVAILABILITY

3-16 March 2024 | 2 Places

GROUP SIZE LIMITS

2-9 Participants

ALL-INCLUSIVE TOUR PRICE

Tour price is US$5,490 and includes hotels (double occupancy), all meals with non-alcoholic beverages, bottled water, ground transportation, boat rides, NP entry fees, and tour leader, local guide, and driver fees.

Flights to and from Senegal, entrance visas (if applicable to you), extra nights, alcoholic beverages, items of personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind are not included.

A non-refundable Registration Fee of US$500 will be requested at the time of booking. This fee counts against the total tour price.

Single supplement is US$350.

Roommates will be assigned to those participants willing to share a room. If a roommate is not available, you will be required to pay the single supplement.

BOOKING & PAYMENT

Use the ‘Book This Tour’ button above to fill out the online booking form at your earliest convenience. Participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This online form is contractual. 

Once your application information is reviewed, and your application approved, the non-refundable Registration Fee will be requested (credit cards via PayPal only).

Once we have reached the minimum number of participants (2) the remaining balance, plus any applicable Single Supplement fees will be requested. Wire transfer is the preferred method of payment. Credit card payments are also accepted but a $190 handling fee applies.

Full payment is due by the time the minimum number of participants (2) is attained, whichever happens earlier.

Booking deadline is 1 January 2024.

TRIP CANCELLATIONS

All cancellation requests must be made in writing to Raptours, L.L.C.

Cancellations requested before 1 January 2024 will be subject to a full refund minus the non-refundable $500 Registration Fee.

No refunds will be made for cancelations requested on 1 January 2024 or after.

Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time with full refund (including the Registration Fee) to participants.

Travel cancellation insurance is recommended.

DIFFICULTY

Easy. No strenuous walks are necessary. Some long drives involved.

COMFORT

Good to Very Good | Guide-to-participant ratio 1:5 or better

We will stay in clean, comfortable hotels (some quite basic). Internet availability may be limited. We will travel in a comfortable van with AC and a devoted, experienced driver. 

WEATHER & CLOTHING

The good news is February is the coolest month in coastal Senegal with an average low of 65 F (18 C) and an average high of 78 F (25 C). The bad news is that temps rise considerably as we go inland and south reaching an average low of 74 F (23 C) and an average high of 98 F (37 C) in Niokolo Koba NP. February is the core of the dry season, and we expect no rain. Bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses. Bring a camera, a refillable water bottle, and of course, binoculars.

TOUR START & END POINTS

Tour starts at the Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA Code: DSS) where your will meet the tour leader on Day 1 and transfer to the hotel (1 h drive). Tour ends at the same airport.

TOUR REPORTS

Senegal Raptor Tour Report 2023

Tour Leader

Tour Leader Sergio Seipke

A through-and-through "raptor nut" Tour Leader Sergio Seipke has been watching, studying, and photographing birds of prey all over the world since 1993. This will be Sergio's first time in Senegal, but he has extensive experience with African, and Eurasian raptors from elswhere. Sergio will be working closely with our local bird guide to ensure everyone makes the best of this exciting new raptor adventure to this sub-Saharan birding paradise!

Tour Map

Senegal Tour map
Click on the map to see more details

Tour Showcase

Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii), by Yeray Seminario
Scissor-tailed Kite
© Yeray Seminario
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), adult.
Bateleur
© Dieter Haas
Ruppell's Vulture (Gyps ruppelli), by Yeray Seminario
Ruppell's Vulture
© Yeray Seminario
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), adult.
Long-crested Eagle
© Dieter Haas
Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar), adult.
Gabar Goshawk
© Dieter Haas
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogramicus), by Yeray Seminario
Lizard Buzzard
© Yeray Seminario
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), juvenile.
Shikra
© Yeray Seminario
Martial Eagle (Polemaetus belicosus), adult.
Martial Eagle
© Sergio Seipke
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius), by Yeray Seminario
Yellow-billed Kite
© Yeray Seminario
Gray Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus), by Yeray Seminario
Gray Kestrel
© Yeray Seminario
Forest Buzzard (Buteo trizonatus), adult.
Grasshopper Buzzard
© Yeray Seminario
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus), by Sergio Seipke
Lanner Falcon
© Sergio Seipke
Red-headed Falcon (Falco chicquera), adult.
Red-necked Falcon
© Dieter Haas
Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus), by Yeray Seminario
Little Bee-eater
© Yeray Seminario

 

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), by Yeray Seminario
Pied Kingfisher
© Yeray Seminario

 

Terms

Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

Raptours, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Dakar.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)
Download as PDF