The Gambia and Senegal offer heaven for animal lovers.

The Gambia has a diverse avian population. Over 560 species of birds have been recorded in this part of West Africa. There are many bird-watching spots in The Gambia and that makes it one of the most famous world’s destination for ornithologists.

Birdwatching The Gambia
Birdwatching The Gambia; Photo: Treasures of West Africa

Monkeys and baboons can most often be seen out on the street or in the bush. Chimpanzees are located in The Gambia National Park, where a unique island refuge was established more than 30 years ago, for orphaned, illegally caught chimpanzees rescued from the pet trade and other exploitative industries.

Baboons Gambia
Photo: Treasures of West Africa

Small antelopes are quite common in The Gambia, but they’re shy and well camouflaged, which makes them difficult to spot. Bushbuck and Maxwell’s duiker are occasionally seen grazing near the bambo pool at Abuko, and it’s sometimes possible to spot the rare and semi-aquatic sitatunga on the banks of the river in the Kiang West area. Small herds of the impressive, horse-sized roan antelope sometimes enter the Gambia from Senegal in search of pastures.

Hippos can be spotted at the River Gambia National Park. It offers an amazing experience and chance to look inside the natural environment of animals living in The Gambia. One of the most interesting is a giant hippopotamus, the second heaviest land mammal in the world.

Hippos Gambia
Photo: Treasures of West Africa

Nile crocodiles are seen in the river and its creeks from time to time, particularly in the coolest months (December and January), when they often bask in the sun on the banks. There are also a few West African dwarf crocodiles – a miniature species that grows to less than a metre in length – at Abuko, where they live in the forest and are active by night. The best place to see the crocodiles at close range is to visit Katchikally Crocodile Pool in Bakau.

Kachikally
Photo: Treasures of West Africa

Lizards are common everywhere, especially rock agamas, the brightly coloured males typically seen performing vigorous push-ups on sunny rocks. Large lizards include two species of monitors, of which the grey and yellow Nile monitor grows to an impressive two meters.

The Gambia has around forty species of snake, all of which are elusive and most of which are harmless. The nine that are dangerously venomous, including the puff adder, the spitting cobra and the green mamba, will only strike if threatened, and walking heavily will usually scare them away. Impressive looking, but harmless to humans is the black-and-tan, rodent-eating rock python and the smaller, stocky royal python, which shelter in burrows. The best place to see the snakes at close range is to visit the reptile farm.

Snake farm
Photo: Treasures of West Africa

Fathala Wildlife Reserve is located near Karang in Senegal, just a short journey from the border between Gambia and Senegal. Due to its location, it is accessible for all visitors to The Gambia that want to enjoy some days in a wildlife reserve.

The reserve is an area that consists of approximately 6000 hectares of original and protected forest, providing guests with the opportunity to visit an original stretch of the African wilderness in its original condition.

Animals that you can expect to see at Fathala Reserve includes the following: lion, white rhino, zebras, giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, roan, lord derby eland, warthog, bushbuck, monkeys, crocodiles numerous bird, and reptile species.

Fathala Senegal
Photo: Treasures of West Africa