The Gambia is completely enclosed by much larger Senegal. Just like the Gambia, it is also a popular birding country known for some very special spots. One of which is Ile de Kousmar, the roosting place of tens of thousands swallow-tailed kites. After visiting this place on our way to the north we cross the savannah with the giant baobab trees.

Soon the vegetation is getting sparse. The dense tropical vegetation as we've seen in the Gambia gives way to large baobab trees, which in turn exchange their place for acacias. Lots of intensive livestock farming which of course attracts vultures. We will see many, sometimes divided in up to seven species!

Meanwhile, the acacia trees have turned into shrubs, which contrasts nicely with the red-yellow sand that appears in ever larger areas between the acacia trees and tamarisk bushes. The first sand dunes appear not far from the border. When we pass the town of Tiguent, halfway between the border and the capital Nouakchott, we officially enter the Sahara-desert.

The Banc d'Arguin is located on the ancient location of the delta of a disappeared river that brought water from a then humid Sahara to the ocean. Due to the countless shallows, mudflats with seagrass and the nutrient-rich water, the area is very popular with waders. For many species, the Banc d'Arguin is the southernmost link of the East Atlantic migratory route. With a wooden sailboat with a Latin sail we sail to the high-tide refuges to observe the movements of the hundreds of thousands of bar-tailed godwits, whimbrels and knots from short distance.

It is therefore questionable whether we will get permission to travel to Oued Jenna, a wadi with a lot of birds that only can be seen here in the Western Palearctic, about 200 km deep in the desert. But also only 25 km from the frontline. Not that much happens over there, but it is conceivable that the Moroccans do not tolerate prying eyes. So this will probably be an uncertain part of the program.

If not, we'll have to enjoy ourselves on the coast. No problem. Dakhla has many interesting bird spots and we also know where to find the spots further to the north. The region's largest town, Laayoune, has a number of permanent waterholes that are home to many birdlife, including one of the largest concentrations of marbled ducks.

The park of the same name at the mouth of the river Massa is the last park we will visit on this trip. It is best known for being the last habitat of the bald-headed ibis. Our local guide Rachid will surely know where we can find this remarkable and extremely rare bird species.

For most participants, the trip ends at Agadir and they will fly back to Europe from here. Those who are not yet ready can ride along with us to the place where we will park the cars this summer at Las Cabezas de San Juan south of Seville. On our way to Spain we check with Merja Zerga to see if we can spot the swamp owl. Leaving Africa on the ferry to Spain gives a special sense of fulfilment to this trip giving the fact we started on the other side of the great desert.