The Djoudj Bird Sanctuary

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Senegal River delta north of Saint-Louis, is one of the most important bird reserves in the world. Sitting on the edge of the Sahara, this vast wetland of lagoons, channels and marshes is the first great oasis reached by millions of birds migrating south across the desert from Europe, making it a spectacular gathering point. Explored by boat, it teems with an astonishing abundance of birdlife, above all its huge colonies of great white pelicans and flocks of pink flamingos.

What you actually see

• The pelican colony - the vast breeding colony of white pelicans.
• The flamingos - the flocks of pink flamingos on the lagoons.
• The boat safaris - the trips through the wetland channels.
• The migratory birds - the millions of species from Europe.

When to go

November to April, the northern winter, is the prime time, when migratory birds from Europe fill the wetland in their millions and the great pelican colony is active; the boat tours through the channels at this season are spectacular. The reserve is far quieter and hotter outside the migration months.

Honest expectations

It is a specialised destination whose appeal is birdlife rather than big game or dramatic scenery, so it most rewards birdwatchers and nature lovers, though the sheer abundance of pelicans and flamingos impresses anyone; sightings depend on the season, with winter far the best. It is remote, in the hot far north near Mauritania. For one of the planet's great birdwatching spectacles, though, Djoudj is extraordinary.

Nearby

The town of Saint-Louis and the Langue de Barbarie are within reach.