Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal
Djoudj Bird Sanctuary
The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is one of the best places to visit in Senegal.
Overview of the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal
Called the Parc national des oiseaux du Djoudj in French, the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is located on the northern border of Senegal and Mauritania.
The Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comprises 16,000 hectares of wetlands. The park is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world, and is particularly famous for the pelicans in Senegal that come to Djoudj every year.
Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal
Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is best done from Saint Louis, the largest city nearby. You can take a half or full day trip to the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary from your hotel in Saint Louis. The hotel can arrange a driver to take you to the park and back. The drive takes around 45 minutes each way.
Once you arrive at the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary, you will take a 14 km boat safari in Djoudj to see the birds. The boat trip takes around 45 minutes.
The Djoudj Bird Sanctuary isn’t all about birds, though. You can also see warthogs, pythons, crocodiles, giant lizards, and other wetland wildlife.
Tips for Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal
Arrive early so that you don’t have to wait for a boat. There are hotel boats and local boats. If you want to support the locals, take a local boat.
You can purchase tickets for the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary at the entrance to the park. There are also bathrooms there, but they’re not very clean and do not have toilet tissue.