Senegal: visit the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

For nature and bird lovers, Afroculture.net takes you on a journey to discover the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary.

Created in 1971, it covers 16,000 hectares in the Senegal River Delta region, in a wetland area surrounded by lakes, basins, marshes, flooded wooded savannahs and reeds. More precisely, it is located 60 km north of Saint-Louis.

Bird paradise

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is an incredible park, the third largest bird sanctuary in the world and a true paradise and sanctuary for all birds and nature lovers.

Many migratory birds stop in this park after crossing the Sahara Desert. They take the opportunity to eat and rest. There are 3 million migratory birds representing more than 350 species. Visitors can see flamingos, cranes, white pelicans, ducks, grey herons, cormorants, white egrets, and more. Monkeys, jackals, Nile crocodiles, gazelles, warthogs, and other animals can also be seen. The Djoudj Park has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

Another point to note is that it suffers from a drop in water levels following the commissioning of the Darma dam.

When is the best time to visit?

The park is open from November to April and visits are usually made by pirogue. You can take sightseeing tours of the park by pirogue or by car.

To visit it, it is best to have a guide accompany you so that you can enjoy the beauty of this incredible place.

What are the different activities available?

• 1) Day trip with guides by pirogue or car.
• 2) Discover the different species of birds.
• 3) Visit the Djoudj National Bird Park.
• 4) This park is open from November to April.
• 5) Admission to the park costs 2,000 CFA francs (€3).
• 6) Excursions by pirogue are available for 3,000 CFA francs (€4.6).

How do I get there?

The starting point is Saint Louis. It takes an hour and a half to drive from Saint Louis to reach this park.

What do you think? Are you familiar with this park?