"JJ is an excellent guide with superb knowledge of the birds of The Gambia. He is very sharp and can quickly pick up birds by sight and sound. JJ is well organised, punctual and extremely good company in the field."

Dawn Balmer, British Trust for Ornithology, UK

21 March, 2006

"I found JJ to be a very reliable and trustworthy birdwatcher. Appointment times have been greatly respected and prices were relatively reasonable. I will not hesistate to recommend him to any person willing to visit the Gambia for the purpose of Birding, Nature and Culture. A memorable experience awaits any visitor who takes the opportunity to work with JJ. Alan Bettis, Sweden."

Alan Bettis

29 March, 2006

"I visited The Gambia, with my husband Robin, for the first time in February 2006. JJ came highly recommended to us by a friend who is a professional ornithologist who used his services during an earlier visit. I went primarily for the amazing flora (not to mention the sun!) but, nevertheless, went out on all the birdwatching trips with my husband. I was just so impressed by JJ's ability to recognise birds by sight but also by their calls and behaviour. He pointed out birds in a number of locations which we would never have seen without his expert guidance. He organised all the excursions we took - including a 2 day overnight trip to Tendaba Camp - right down to the last detail leaving us free to concentrate on things we wanted to see and do. I have arthritis and find carrying a backpack painful. I need not have worried as JJ insisted on carrying things for me and was always there to lend a helping hand when I needed it. During one very short week we saw over 160 species of birds and we are planning to go back so that we can improve on that! We will definitely contact JJ before going to arrange our trips. I would unreservedly recommend JJ to anyone who wishes to have an unforgettable, hassle-free, birdwatching holiday in The Gambia at very reasonable rates. "

Dr Diana Arundale

15 April, 2006

"We had a great week with JJ. After initial reservations about using a guide having been used to finding our own birds on trips abroad we were very pleased with JJ's attitude. He was relaxed and was always happy to bird at our pace and stop for longer if we wished. The thing that most impresssed me was that JJ is a real dedicated birder, his enthusiasm shone through and his stories of birding with his friends up river between tours confirmed this. To be shown around this wonderful country by such a keen birder was magic. JJ is highly recommended!"

Rich Baines

17 April, 2006

"Back in July '94 - September '96, I served as a US Peace Corps volunteer in the Gambia working in agriculture and forestry. During my time, Junkung and I worked side by side almost every day on various projects. He made my two year stay in the Gambia a wonderful experience and one that I will never forget. However, Junkung is being very modest about his knowledge and abilities. He is well-versed in the flora of the Gambia. From the trees to local flowers and shrubs, I would consider Junkung an expert in the field. And though it has been ten years now, I'm sure he still remembers many of the botanical names among other important information of each species to compliment his bird-watching skills. If you are planning a trip to the Gambia, I cannot think of a better person to be your guide. He truly is a wonderful man and will give you 100% of his attention and ability. "

Jason Messick

2 May, 2006

"I have made two birdwatching trips to The Gambia so far, and on both occasions JJ was my guide. On the second occasion I made all of the arrangements with JJ directly from the UK and everything worked perfectly. JJ's expertise on the flora and fauna of his beautiful country is first class and he is able to blend it perfectly to fit the requirements of his guest. He is prompt, courteous and has a relaxing approach that makes a trip with him an enjoyable and unforgetable experience. He is a great ambassador for the Gambian people and am very pleased to be able to call him a friend. If you have not visited this part of the world before and feel a little nervous about it then rest assure that with JJ you will be in competant and capable hands. I cannot recommend him highly enough. "

Dave Howlett (UK) 22.05.06

22 May, 2006

"In 2005 I joined 2 friends on a last minute trip to the Gambia, we were all experienced birders and did not really like the idea of using a guide and being shown the birds, we wanted to find them for ourselves ( even if we couldn’t id them at first!). We spent the first day birding by ourselves in the local area and hotel grounds but decided very quickly that we wanted to get out into the country and away from the tourist areas, so JJ entered the scene and we were so impressed with his skills and enjoyed his company so much during our first day together that we spent the rest of our time in the Gambia with him. Aside from the birds I or rather we or to be truthful mostly JJ found, it was JJ’s company and gentle approach that made the trip for us, very quickly it was like birding with an old friend, we were all able to joke about dubious identification from all sides, put things right and even ended up recording 250+ species in week. A key aspect from our point of view was that JJ actually listened to what we wanted to do, we were out to enjoy the Gambia, see plenty of wildlife, enjoy the people and the habitats, the fact that we saw a huge number of species was a direct result of JJ’S deep knowledge of his country’s avifauna and a well though out site itinerary. If you are after a passionate guide who is a birder himself and has a great knowledge of his country’s natural history, whether for general wildlife watching or more intensive species bagging I would find it hard, well actually impossible to recommend anyone better than JJ."

Ian Simms, Pricipal Ornithologist, EcologyUK

12 July, 2006

"My wife and I enjoyed a great four days birding tour with JJ. His enthusiasm and birding skills shone thru on every occasion we were with him. JJ took over all the organising including a two day tour to Tendaba which left us to enjoy all aspects of our holiday. His ability to find birds by call and sight left us speechless on numerous occasions. He also has a great passion for the birds and wildlife around him which I haven't seen in anybody for a long time. JJ is very reliable, even when we were late one day JJ was waiting patiently until we showed. All arrangements with JJ were made by email from the UK and worked perfectly, no long waits for replies. I would therefore not hesitate in recommending JJ as a guide for anybody who is thinking about birding in the Gambia."

Grant Brooke

5 January, 2008

"We came to know J.J. during our first visit to the Gambia in 2003. Since then we have returned three times, mainly because of the relationship we have established with this ever dependable man who has become a great friend over the years. In that time we have not only travelled throughout the Gambia in his company but have also come to know his delightful family who we have come to regard as an extention of our own family. We are always more than satisfied with the professional services which he provides and the thoroughness and reliability which he bring to everything he does. We have no hesitation in recommending his services to all visitors to the Gambia and continue to look forward to meeting him many more times in the years to come."

Alex and Stella Dawson

25 February, 2008

"We have just returned from a short break in Gambia and spent three days withh JJ who we first met on an 8 day trip two years ago. We have found JJ an excellent birder, guide and organiser. It is difficult to put down in words why you find someone a good bird guide but here is an attempt. 1. He really knows his birds. 2. He does not just tell you what the bird is but points out the key features to explain why it is that bird. 3. He is always punctual, a rare commodity in Gambia! 4. He is good company and can understand that for some of us birding is not everything. A great guy who we would recommend to anyone."

Gill and Philip Marlow

5 March, 2008

"My wife and I came from Canada to bird in Gambia and ended up seeing more species than we had expected thanks to JJ's ability to hear and see birds that many would miss. We took the trip up river and also spent a half day at the coast with JJ. Like others we found him to be relaxed, but always prompt, and we had fun together."

Sandy Darling

4 May, 2008

"I visit The Gambia in August 2008 with my girlfriend, and JJ offer us a wonderful trip.He knows and distingish really quickly each species and we learn quite a lot!.He is a great guy and we made quite a lot fun together! I recommend him to anybody want to spent some days in this beautiful country.Also his budget is reasonable taking into account i´m still a student."

Oscar (Spain)

5 November, 2008

"We met JJ and his friend and driver who became known as ‘Dorset’ at the Badala Park Hotel on 12 November 2008 to discuss any plans we might have for the following day. As we were new to the country we left ourselves in his hands, having stated that we were not as young as we used to be, I am diabetic and get tired easily and my wife has had two hip replacements and so likewise gets tired. As an introduction he took us across the rice field to the right of the cycle track and down to Kotu Bridge. There were Pied Kingfishers, Squacco Heron, Reef Heron, Black Heron, Woodland and Blue-breasted Kingfishers, Green-backed Heron, Cattle Egret, Whimbrel and nearby in the scrub Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu, Village Weaver, Plantain-eaters and Grey-backed Carmaroptera. The following day we were on time but JJ had already arrived early. We headed off south-ish in a comfortable enough jeep type vehicle, and turned off to a large area of scrubland. There we found Little Bee-Eater, Red-billed Firefinch, Red-chested Swallow, Long-crested Eagle, African Green Pigeon and others. JJ knew a very productive walled compound where there were Bearded and Vieillot’s Barbets, Brubru, White-fronted Black Chat, White-shouldered Black Tit, brown-backed Woodpecker, African Golden Oriole etc etc. We found lunch at an excellent restaurant in Tanji Village called ‘Sitokoto’ where we all had Fish Benachin. We were lucky enough to get the Butterfish which is absolutely superb and is served with spiced rice and vegetables. Poor JJ and Dorset got lumbered with Bongo Fish, of which it is said would be the best fish in the world if there were no bones. This diner is by the beach where Cattle Egrets prowl, right next door is an enormous colony of Village Weavers, and Caspian, Royal and Gull-billed Terns fly along the strand line. Further out on the beach were a pair of Slender-billed Gulls and a Kelp Gull plus Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwits and Turnstones. Back to the bush, picking up Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned Rollers, Bush Petronia, Red-winged Warbler, Singing Cisticola, Black-winged Bishop, Yellow-fronted Canary, Lavender Waxbill and others. JJ and Dorset got us back to the hotel before we collapsed entirely. Advice for first time visitors – beware of bird guides who only become bird guides when they see that you have binoculars. Use someone who is recommended. JJ is a superb guide. He can spot birds that are invisible to you and I, both by sight and sound. There doesn’t seem to be a bird that he doesn’t know, plus the fact that he and Dorset are really likeable guys. If you haven’t been to The Gambia and you are a birder then I urge you to go. It’s like walking around in a roofless tropical house at the zoo. While you are there, I would urge you to hire JJ, you won’t be sorry. "

Kelvin & Gillian Hill

27 November, 2008

"JJ came highly recommended and we communicated by E-mail to arrange a provisional programme of trips before travelling out. JJ is well-organised, punctual and trustworthy and good company in the field. I would not hesitate to recommend him. His prices are reasonable. We stayed at the Senegambia Hotel for 1 week- pleasant rooms, hard beds, very good food and extensive grounds with a good bird population. We spent 2 1/2 days locally making trips with JJ to Kotu Bridge and Fajara Golf Course on the first afternoon, to Tujereng, Tanji Beach and Brufut Forest on the second day, then Lamin Rice Fields and Abuko Forest on a third day. We also took a 3 day trip upriver staying at the pleasant Tendaba Camp. The road to Tendaba was quite bumpy and the further trip to Ka-aur Wetlands was rough. Throughout, we saw an excellent range of birds including the Egyptian Plover, Black Crake and Bateleur and the total identified was 220. It was rewarding to employ a Gambian ornithologist who knew the area and people. December 2008"

Peter and Diana Hilton

3 January, 2009

"I just returned from a bird watching trip in The Gambia. It has been a great journey and the help of JJ has been crucial. I contacted with JJ via email from Barcelona and I must say, that as a guide is extremely skilled, and most importantly, a friendly and trustworthy guy. I will return to visit The Gambia and to come back bird watching again with JJ "

Fernando Gala

25 February, 2009

"I contacted JJ via his website having researched guides in the Gambia. JJ was very prompt with his e-mail contact back to me and I booked several days birding with him. He made the effort to meet me prior to our trips out at my hotel, and we planned good places to visit considering I had been to the Gambia 10 years before. I cannot recommend JJ enough. He was always on time in picking me up from the hotel, he was excellent company in the field and his birding skills were superb. He is very knowledgable about locations to see species and his identification skills (including calls) are excellent. I would highly recommend using JJ when visiting the Gambia."

Mark Simmonds

24 January, 2011

"We contacted JJ by e-mail 5 months before we travelled and received a very quick reply. We decided to book JJ for 4 days but were so impressed we ended up birding with him for 5.5 days. JJ was waiting for us when we checked into the hotel and we quickly arranged an itinerary for the week ahead including an upriver trip to Tendaba. We found JJ to be very reliable, prompt, helpful and a very pleasant person to be with. His birding skills and knowledge of habitats are out of the top drawer ( we ended up with a check list of 262 birds )and all of us would throughly recommemend JJ as a guide for your trip to The Gambia."

Phil Hill, Martin Bevan, Rob Gaze, Mike Hogan, Martin Bell

8 February, 2011

"Having not been to The Gambia before it was clear that a guide would be needed to make the most of our birding holiday and of all the websites we looked at JJ’s stood out. We contacted JJ by e-mail and received quick and informative replies. We arranged to meet on the evening of our arrival when we planned out our itinerary for the next 5 days. We visited all of the well-known coastal birding sites as well as a one night trip inland to Tendaba River Camp. It was clear from the start that JJ’s local knowledge was excellent, and his skill for spotting and hearing the birds superb. Every day brought a different habitat and birds, even a lifer for JJ! We would not have had the same experience of The Gambia on our own and truly appreciated JJ’s company. He was always prompt, friendly and really made our holiday. Many of the birds we saw required JJ’s experience and detailed knowledge of habitats to give us memorable sightings. Highlights included Green-Headed Sunbird, Yellowbill, Bateleur and Standard-Winged Nightjar...to name a few! 3 people, 5 days, 220 species - top holiday, top birding, top guide - can’t wait to return. Thank you JJ and we look forward to seeing you again one day. February 2011"

Howard & Siwan Thomas

21 February, 2011

"We arrived in Gambia on the 11th January with group of 14 volunteers from The Rutland Osprey Project.Our aim was to try and see as many colour ringed Ospreys as possible. JJ had arranged everything for us, our accomodation our meals and our trips. One of our aims was to support the local community as much as possible so we stayed at the Paradise Inn Lodge at Tanji,real Africa. We spent time on Tanji Beach watching Ospreys fishing amoung the boats ,we travelled to Kartong for a, boat trip along the Allahein River, Ospreys everywhere. The second part our trip was to travel to Toubakouta, Senegal. The highlight was a boat trip from Missirah to see Ospreys fishing at sea. On the 18th January a second group of volunteers arrived and we repeated our first week. Over 200 species our birds seen and we were able to identify 9 colour ringed ospreys. JJ gave us 2 superb weeks birding and I look forward to our return visit in 2012. Paul Stammers (Rutland Osprey Team)"

Paul Stammers

22 February, 2011

"JJ proved to be an excellent guide for us. I was on a mixed family and birding trip and had only 3 half day trips with JJ during the week, in the Kotu area, to Abuko and then Tejeuring/Tanji area but with JJ knowing the spots, the birds and their calls really well, we knocked up a list of 145 species in this short time. Plus JJ is a really pleasant person who was very keen to show me the better birds while at the same time had the patience and ability to take the time to show Jill and James the commoner species too. Thanks very much JJ - really helped to make our trip a great one, best summed up by James (17 and only a very casual birder) who said the trip with yourself to Abuko was his favourite part of the week."

Terry Cooper & Jill Edwards

23 April, 2011

"JJ is a fantastic bird guide who made our first trip to The Gambia extremely memorable. We are not experienced or knowledgeable bird watchers but JJ went out of his way to make sure we saw some amazing birds. He was patient and enthusiatic and very good company when we were out. We would not hesitate to use him again or recommend him to anyone. He can also paddle a canoe very well and still identify overhead raptors. "

Neil and Jackie from Ovingham, Northumberland.

5 May, 2011

"We've just returned from a wonderful birding trip to the Gambia (November 21st 2011). JJ absolutely "made" our trip. He was superb at finding sites relatively unknown to others but ones which he has discovered e.g. 200+ Red throated Bee-eaters plus 2 Carmine Bee-eaters, not to mention Anteater Chats en route to Tendaba, a site which surpasses Bansang Quarry. He is great company, very sensitive to what makes an enjoyable trip for each person. For instance I love forest birding whereas my husband is happiest viewing waders, ducks, gulls, terns etc so JJ ensured that our programme reflected this with the result that my husband enjoyed the trip as much as me, something he had not expected to do. JJ is a careful driver, always courteous and friendly in every situation. I cannot recommend him highly enough. If you are hesitating, book JJ!"

John and Penny Hale

24 November, 2011

"At the beginning of November we, (8 birdwatchers from Northern Ireland), visited the Gambia for a week. We had contacted JJ by e-mail before we went, having seen him recommended in several trip reports. JJ met us at our hotel shortly after we arrived to discuss our itinerary and what we wanted to see. He arranged all our transport and our accomodation for our two night stay upriver and took us to all the top sites both upriver and at the coast. JJ is a superb guide, very knowledgeable, and great company, we all thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and our driver Bakary. In a hectic week we saw 266 species including superb birds such as Egyptian Plover, African Finfoot and Painted Snipe thanks to JJ's skill and dedication. We would thoroughly recommend JJ to anyone thinking of visiting the Gambia, he will organise everything for you and show you some fantastic birds in a fantastic country. "

Garry Armstrong

8 December, 2011