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Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
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Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

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Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
4.5
387
#1 of 10 things to do in Saint-Louis
National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
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The Senegal River and surrounding wetlands host pelicans, pink flamingos as well asb many thousands migrating birds.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
387 reviews
Excellent
223
Very good
116
Average
34
Poor
12
Terrible
2
RedHeadPeter
London, UK522 contributions
Pelicans galore!
Based on a series of lakes and channels it teems with wildlife. Taken round with other groups on large and verysafe dinghys with life jackets. Many kinds of birds but the Pelicans were most impressive, gang-fishing, in-line flying and the vast baby pelican nursery.
Written April 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ThessaRoads
Austria5 contributions
If you don't have a Senegalese friend: major rip off!!
Friends
It is an about 2 hours drive from st. louis, but the "road" is in very bad shape. You need to hire a car from st. louis, at the park you have to pay entrance, then you have to buy another ticket for the car so the driver is allowed to take you in, then you have to pay for a completely useless guide who only talkes french and isn't explaining anything, than you need to pay for the boat. As you get off the boat a hat will be handed around for tips. The birds are nice and the number of pelicans really amazed me, but if our Senegalese friend would not have argued for 1,5 hours with the staff at the entrance we would have payed 120 euro for a day trip without food and water.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Phil P
London, UK19 contributions
Lots of birds if you like birdwatching
driving around you can see lots of birds if you have binoculars or a telescope, without these you will struggle. There is an amazing variety but unless you are an expert or have an expert birding guide it will be hard to realise how mega this place is and you could come away disappointed. Your 'ordinary' tourist will be shown warthog, some small crocodiles and by taking a boat ride (1.5 hrs) a nesting colony of pelicans -which is the highlight. There are lots of herons, whistling duck and shorebirds but no facilities like hides or visitor centre that can help beginners. - A place for experts really, but a super place for them
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RosemarieNorth
Christchurch, New Zealand162 contributions
Not visitor-friendly - but great birds
Couples
There’s an inscrutable ticketing system - you pay four different people: for entry, a compulsory but brusque guide, a boat trip and a rather compulsory-feeling tip to the boat skipper. We started our visit, after the long, hot and bumpy drive, feeling a bit out of sorts.
A family of warthogs, a golden wolf, lizards and a spectacular view of pelicans and many other birds helped restore our spirits. As did a Nescafé and egg omelette at the jetty.
It was also a surprise to us that in this huge park, the visit would consist of driving to the jetty, a boat ride, and then exiting again immediately.
Go with realistic expectations about the welcome you’ll get from the humans.
Try to go early in the morning (test the accommodation?) to make the most of avian habits and better light conditions. Wear a sports bra for the drive!
Written November 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul B
Chesterfield, UK1,404 contributions
Fantastic pelicans
Great trip here from St Louis. Bit of a tortuous bumpy road journey but worth it. Go round the reserve on a boat and see many birds but the highlight is the thousands of nesting pelicans. Highly recommended
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
shoplocal
Washington, DC112 contributions
Great for Birders but Pricey
Friends
With the help of our (French speaking) guide, Vieux, we saw 67 species of birds during a half day of birding here. Vieux mentioned 100 species can be expected in a full day outing.

The park itself is not much to look at with sparse vegetation. There are no facilities to speak of. There is a restaurant and restroom near the main entrance but that’s about it.

Park entrance is on the pricey-side, even as compared to other parks in Africa. You will need to pay for your car (10,000 CFA - need a car to visit), each visitor (5,000 CFA), the boat tour (4,000 CFA), and the guide (ours was 10,000 CFA- mandatory) so about $66 total for 2 people.

I am an avid birdwatcher and the highlight of the visit was the birding done outside of the formal boat tour. Vieux took us to various hides and was good at spotting birds by eyes and ears. During the boat tour itself we saw about 15-20 species of birds.

Note that the pace of things is relaxed so adjust your expectations. For example, it takes a while for the boat tours to assemble- we waited about 45 minutes and there are no restrooms near the boat launch (at least it was not working when we were there) but we did see warthogs and a python, which was cool. The boat tours lasts about 1.5 hours. Our boat broke down at the point farthest from the launch. It took a while to get it going again and I think we were all expecting we would need to get rescued.

Overall, I’m glad we made the 5 hour drive from Dakar to come here. Next time, I’d try to get there earlier in the morning or stay longer to try and spot more species.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pmjespin
Louth, UK30 contributions
Excellent park for birding
Friends
Enjoyed my visit here over 2 days immensely. The boat trip to the White Pelican breeding colony is not to be missed. The stench was amazing. Also impressed to see 3 Arabian Bustards in the grasslands. Lots of birds but a few warthogs and African Golden Wolves were the only large mammals.
Written April 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eddie M
Hove, Belgium47 contributions
If you like birds, go there !
Couples
The Park is a sanctuary and breeding spot for millions of (migratory) birds. The vast majority being marine birds (pelicans, herons, sterns, ducks, goose, gulls, darter, egret, cormorant, spoonbill, curluw, ibis, lapwing...). So, it is quite impressive.
They have different kind of boats and they tend to take a max of people on the journey.In fact, they should limit the number to 2 per bench, so both have an excellent view and photo/film opportunities. Make also sure you have a good (birding) guide with you to point out the different species.
In the dry season (jan - april), try to do a land trip in 4x4 (again with a nature guide). so you can spot land animals : we saw monkeys, jackals, a large phyton, fishing eagles...
Written April 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,010 contributions
TRANQUIL PLACE...IF SOME WERE LESS NOISY
Friends
While a World Heritage Site as the third largest birding area in the world, it is at its best in January and February when the migratory birds are in residence. We drove from St Louis, a solid 1.25 hour trip each way, about 80% on bumpy, dirt road. Once you check in, it is a further 7k to the pirogue location, your boat for the adventure. The best of the birds were the number of pelicans. Watching them fish in teamwork was good. The other birds seen like the African fish eagle, the snake darter plus various herons and egrets had all been seen earlier on the trip [overlanding from Sierra Leone]. There were other attractions seeking some of the limelight, chief of which were warthogs drinking plus a monitor lizard, cattle, some jackals and the occasional crocodile. Our package price [for five] was 25,000 XOF each. I really wish the French tourists would have been quieter and their local guides too for that matter. Noise is a distraction to the birds, quite apart from unnecessarily distracting other more polite tourists.
Written April 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michel H
Philadelphia, PA29 contributions
Worth the visit
A long 4 hour drive from St Louis, some of it on rough dirt road. Absolutely beautiful with many types of birds, especially amazing pelicans. Go before birds leave for Europe in May. Must pay cash only entrance per person and car as well as for guide and boat ride (about 20,000CFA) but worth it.
Written April 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Saint-Louis) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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