Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

The Djoudj National Park in the north of Senegal is the third largest bird sanctuary in the world. He is since 1981 a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among the approximately 400 species are joined in winter the migratory birds of Europe, which come here after their crossing the Sahara to the first freshwater resources. Postcard Reif are certainly the 10,000 pelicans, but also many other rare species are partly to be found here: flamingos, storks, cormorants, crested cranes, ospreys, etc.

The bird park is located about 60 km northeast of Saint- Louis, in the mouth of the Senegal. Its length of 160 km ². In the area of the national park is also the wintering grounds of the endangered aquatic warbler, which breeds including in Central Europe. The aquatic warbler pulls as long-distance migrant along the North Sea and Atlantic coast to West Africa. Exact knowledge of the turn for and wintering areas have been missing, until 2007 an important winter roost was in West Africa south of the Sahara discovered ]. To make the wintering grounds of the Aquatic Warbler locate scientists withdrawals of the Aquatic Warbler Conservation Team of ringed in Europe Seggenrohrsängern springs and isolated them on their isotopic composition. Based on such isotope profiles can be determined about where a bird has stopped. Possible winter quarters of the Aquatic Warbler was in this way a zone immediately south of the Sahara are limited. Taking into account previous Seggenrohrsängernachweise you verged in question a field to an area in the immediate vicinity of Senegal. Finally, the birds could be localized in a hundred square kilometers large area located within the perimeter of Djoudj National Park in the north of Senegal.

In the park there are also a number of other animal species, such as turtles, crocodiles, warthogs, boas, jackals, gazelles. However, these are not as uncommon as in the South African big game parks.

In the larger hotels in Saint -Louis excursions are offered in the park. You can explore the park but also with their own vehicle. The best time to visit is in January and February when the migratory birds have arrived. The park is open from November to April.

The national park was founded in 2000 - added to the list of endangered World Heritage site - due to the risk by a rapidly spreading water plant. In 2006 Djoudj could be removed from the red list of endangered World Heritage again.