This covers guides for up river trips and on the coast. You need to bear in mind that in addition to being able to find and identify birds, you should feel confident that anyone guiding you up river will be able to organise reliable transport with the proper insurance for such an expedition and be able to prebook accommodation. Fuel and vehicle hire are not as cheap as many other items in The Gambia so you need to be clear about whether these are included or not in the costs that are quoted.

In November many of the top flight guides will be working for the numerous bird tour companies that bring their groups to the Gambia at this time.  But  other guides can find and identify the birds: the occasional difference of opinion can become a learning experience on both sides.

For organising UP-RIVER trips, on the basis of personal recommendations from members, three organisations stand out.

1) A group of guides organised by Solomon Jallow. These include Aladin Jemeh, Tamba Jeffang, Sering Bojang, Osman Sayand, Buba Daffeh and Denbo. Solomon organises transport and accommodation.  Solomon Jallow can be contacted on mobile (++220)  907694 or email habitatafrica@hotmail.com

Vaughan Ashby of Birdfinders acts as Solomon's agent for the UK and USA..  Vaughan Ashby: Telephone/fax (01258) 839066. Email:info@birdfinders.co.uk   However, if you are not booking an independent birding package through Vaughan you will be charged £25.00 per person for guiding arrangments as Vaughan does not charge Habitat Africa commission for making these  For fuller details of options and costs on the coast and up-river click here 

2) Clive Barlow, Director of Birds of The Gambia Co Ltd since 1985 and co author of The award winning Field Guide to Birds of The Gambia & Senegal, organises and leads a variety of tours of 1 to 14 days duration for birders, photographers, sound recordists and film makers.  Birding tours to other parts of West Africa can also be discussed.    He can be contacted on  email : clivebarlow@gambianet.gm   Mobile with message taking (+220) 936 122.  Whilst he is largely involved in leading safaris up-river between November thro' April he is sometimes available for shorter 1-3 day tours based at the coast.  Private groups are particularly welcome; ask for a quotation. For additional information click here

3)  Kingbirders, probably better known as Yaya and Modou Barry , offer  packages within the Gambia at £375 for a one week tour with 3 days up river and a two week tour with 5 days up river  at £500.00 per person .  This price (2005 and can be negotiated to fit other itineraries or needs) includes airport transfers, vehicle, guides, boat trips and ferry crossings, Entrance fee to national parks and nature reserves, upriver accommodation with breakfast, evening meals and picnic lunches. 

4)  Mass Sanyang has also been recommended to us for up river trips

A package for independent birders provided through Hidden Gambia which is linked with Bird Safari Camp and the Safari Garden Hotel.  Using this accommodation, together with Tendaba, Jinak and other accommodation of your choice, they offer holidays of various lengths;  you are provided with a car, a driver/guide (from Habitat Africa), accommodation food etc.  However they are currently planning to close the operation at the end of the season. For more information visit their website at www.hiddengambia.com
 

a) Guides who have been specifically recommended to us by birders visiting The Gambia
More information and feedback is most welcome to make this page really useful to other birders.

b) guides recommended by WABSA  in 2004 (in the yellow panel)

In February 2006 some of the coastal based guides broke away from WABSA to form Bird Guides Association The Gambia.  Where they had previously been recommended to us or were on the WABSA list we have retained the references to them below.  As we know little about their identity badges (see note below about forgeries of WABSA badges) we suggest that you contact them on the numbers given to arrange to meet.

Momodou Barri   C/o 30A Grant Street, Banjul, The Gambia,  West Africa mobile: 00220 7031 278  email: modoubarry7@hotmail.com web: www.gambiabirdwatching.com	new contact address via Peter Collings-Wells
Lamin Bojang  laminbrufutwood@yahoo.com Photo by Ian Mara	Ian Mara writes "have just returned from visiting The Gambia in February 2007.  I would like to recommend  Lamin Bojang, one of WABSA's  professional guides.  He is based at Cape Boint Beach close to the Ocean Bay Hotel.  Lamin guided me at Abuko and the Lamin Fields area; Brufut Woods and the Tanji coastal area; and the Kotu area.  He was a very good bird guide and also good company.  He will arrange all required transport for an all-in price, which I found to be reasonable.  Also, can I suggest you support the local businesses and try the Eco-Friends Drink Stop on the main road adjacent to the Lamin rice fields
Modou Colley Tel  9908916 Email  mcolley99@yahoo.com but note that a visit to the internet cafe to  pick up his email involveds a 75 km journey -  so if the matter is urgent a text message to  his mobile may be better. website www.gambianbirds.com	Steve Garvie found Modou Colley an excellent guide in March 2005, professional, knowledgeable and unassuming "He was able to get me very close to some good birds allowing decent photographs without disturbing the birds. He was particularly skilled at ID'ing raptors from a distance without optics & when the birds finally approached closer he was invariably proved right in his ID."

Buba Daffeh c/o Kinty Janneh Banjul International Airport  Banjul, Gambia.  email bdaffeh@hotmail.com tel 376897	We enjoy birding with Buba because he is very patient whilst we film and photograph birds. Has been part of the Habitat Africa group for several years.
Ya Ya Jallow PMB 733 Serrukunda, Banjul tel 4948425 email yayajallow7@hotmail.com	Jenny Kingsland says that he acted as guide with a Wildsights trip, he was friendly and helpful as well as extremely knowledgeable about the birds and, more importantly, their calls. "I can thoroughly recommend him and would have no hesitation in going out with him on my own".
Pa Jallow Tel  9850247 or 7770426 e mail pajallow1978@yahoo.com	Donald and Jennifer Rhodes, on their second visit to the Gambia in December 2005, stumbled across Pa Jallow outside the Senegambia hotel, "what a chance meeting it turned out to be. He was very knowledgable about birds, but more importantly, very patient, doing what WE wanted to do. He became a friend as well as a birdguide, and look forward to meeting up with him again. We would wholeheartedly recommend Pa if you are about to visit the Gambia at any time."
Pa Musa Jatta He can usually be found in the guides' "hut" outside the Senegambia Hotel,  pa_musajatta@hotmail.com mobile 00220 9882167 home phone 8902363 Pa Jatta c/o Lamin BK Jatta, Aviation Security,  Banjul International Airport, Banjul. photo Julie Kaminski & Michael Haley Driver  Alassan Colley's phone number is 00220 9816824 email edrissagm@yahoo.com	Julie Kaminski & Michael Haley of Shropshire write in April 2007  "We have recently returned from the Gambia where we had an excellent guide and driver.  "Pa" Musa Jatta proved excellent at finding and identifying birds in the many different habitats that we visited. He was also knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and patient! He also has a very good and safe driver, Alassan Colley, with a great, comfortable vehicle.  Pa knew all the best places to find even rare birds, and organised a hassle-free trip upriver."
Yuspha Jammeh link to his website	Bert Kuipers from Holland tells us that a group of Dutch birders were so pleased with Yuspha's  services  they have commissioned the building of a website for Yuspha who lives at Kololi.(March 2007)
Ousman Joku : Bird & Butterfly Guide  c/o Lamin Dibba  Airport Information Office  Banjul International Airport  The Gambia  Tel: +(220) 9848360 / 7728183  email: ousmanjoku@hotmail.com photo - A Mills (regulars will recognise this was taken in the fish smoking sheds)	Alan and Judith Mills write "We used Ousman Joku as a bird guide for 3 half-days in different locations in and around Bakau in mid-February 2007. He was excellent in locating and identifying birds. We recorded 150+ different species in this time.  He was the only guide we saw with his own telescope and tripod which we found very useful in addition to our Leicas. We found him to be very reliable, friendly and trustworthy. We hope to return to the Gambia to go 'up-country' in October and will use him again.  We recommend him without reservation." And that looks like a Birdfinders shirt and cap - a further endorsement.
Jeland Jobe based outside Senegambia Hotel email jelandjobe@yahoo.com Photo provided by Tessa Fuchs	Tessa Fuchs writing in March 2007 says that Jeland is very observant, picks up songs and calls at long distances.   He is kind and very helpful.  He will arrange transport and is familiar with exclellent birding sites.
Mustapha Kassama c/o Haddy Davis PO Box 5363 Brikama mob. 9983305 email mustaphakassama@yahoo.com	Steve Daniels says that he used Mustapha for a couple of days for relaxed birding trip - he charged £10.00 for a morning around the creek area and £50.00 for a dawn to dusk trip to Marakissa and Yundum fields.  Rob Felix reports an enjoyable time with Mustapha in December 2005.
Tijan Kanteh     Tel 99934617   Email tijanthebirdman@yahoo.com	Anne Hodgkinson writes in November 2006 about their satisfaction with Tijan on a trip in March 2006.  She says that he has a good sense of humour, speaks excellent English, is knowledgable and reliable   The transport arrangements up to Tendaba and beyond worked very well.

 

Ebrima Korita contactable at  WABSA stand at  Kotu Bridge  e-mail ebrimakorita@hotmail.com Mobile Tel: 99888674

A young WABSA guide who is very keen. Non birding colleagues really enjoyed the added dimension he brought to their holiday, he was always polite and never pushy

Kingbirders (Modou & Yaya Barry) based at the Kombo Beach Hotel Tel (00220) 77y95112 Kingbirders@hotmail.com

Well established guides, well known and popular with many UK birding parties. Offer  packages within the Gambia at £375 for a one week tour with 3 days up river and a two week tour with 5 days up river  at £500.00 per person .  This price (2005 and can be negotiated to fit other itineraries or needs) includes airport transfers, vehicle, guides, boat trips and ferry crossings, Entrance fee to national parks and nature reserves, upriver accommodation with breakfast, evening meals and picnic lunches.

Laibo Manneh Paradise Nature Camp PMB 252 Serekunda Post  Serekunda The Gambia, West Africa email: laibomanneh@yahoo.co.uk

Laibo knows Tanji and Brufut like the back of his hand but we used him at Marakissa and had an excellent morning's birding. This is the guide who also writes the list - a real boon for those taking photographs and videos.  Laibo also runs trips further afield, as far as Basse. Recommended by WABSA colleagues with Habitat Africa.  For birding at Marakissa and dropping us off at Tumani Tenda he charged £30.00 per person.

Lamin Sanyang www.gambiaguide.co.uk Lamin@gambiaguide.co.uk                   Masaneh Sanyang  masssanyang55@hotmail.co Mobile Tel 924761	Liam Bunce, Wildlife Photographer says in January 2007 "Having just returned from a Christmas break in Gambia with my wife and 17year old son I can thoroughly recommend Lamin Sanyang as an excellent guide, Having been guided to Bijol Island on the 27Dec and then Abuko Nature Reserve on the 28 Dec by Lamin my family and I found him to be very knowledgeable and keen to find different bird species for us. Above all Lamin became a good friend and with his help we sighted 47 bird species. We would definitely use Lamin as a guide again. "  Recommended by the Copelan family, who are keen birdwatchers.  they say that he was very knowledgeable, patient and extremely helpful  throughout our stay. We cannot rate him highly enough and I know the other members of  our group would feel the same.  c/o ITC Camp, PMB14, Banjul (often at Bijilo Nature reserve) Also recommended to us for up river trips.
Ebrima Sidibeh  phone 9939529. email  ebrimasidibeh@hotmail.com	A well established and popular guide.  Gordon Shaw returned from a trip in autumn 2006 and reports an excellent holiday.
Malick Suso MalickSuso@hotmail.com.	Tony Hawke says "I went out with him on four occasions. These tended to be mornings, usually between 7am and 1pm. The cost was very reasonable, £25 which was for taking just myself. He was punctual, knowledgeable and good company"

Tamba Suso Tel: 9947535 tambasuso@yahoo.com

We have just returned from Gambia and found a superb birding guide called Tamba Sousa.He works from outside of the Senegambia Hotel and has his own jeep and can call upon the services of other guides if necessary.His keen eyes and ears(he was exceptional on bird calls) helped us achieve 178 species in 5.5 days of birding. Very well mannered,good fun and obviously loves his birding. We highly recommend Tamba Jim Willson

Lamin Touray (Dreambird Safaris) c/o Abdou Sawo Gambia Shipping Agency  PO Box 257, Banjul,  The Gambia   West Africa  phone 220 472 957

Lamin Touray passed the ultimate test, he was assigned to guide us in an area he had never visited before in his life.  And we had some 92 species in the space of about 4.5 hours birding in the quiet season.

Karamba Touray Tel  9940986 Email elymelani@yahoo.com

We first met Karamba when he was working for the Parks Department in Abuko - he knew his birds, was serious about identifying them properly and ensuring visitors got the most out of their visit.  He is now working independently so you will need to be clear about costs before you start..

 

Wandy Touray  Tendaba Camp Kiang Central District,  Lower River Division Mansakonika , The Gambia, West Africa phone (220) 541024 Mobile (220) 951704

Wandy's ability to find birds around Tendaba, particularly in the Baobolon wetland reserve, is quite legendary.  Now organised with a mobile phone he can take advanced bookings.

For a further list of recommended guides from the coast  The Bradt Travel Guide to The Gambia

The following was the list produced in 2004 by WABSA - as you will have read above some members have now split to form a new organisations but for the time being we print the lriginal list to give an indication of competance and reliability.
 
 

West African Bird Study Association  Recommended Guides WABSA are anxious to ensure that guides belonging to their association act in a professional fashion in guiding clients and if you have any comments, good or bad, these should be sent to their Director,  Lamin Jobarteh, c/o Department of Parks and Wildlife Management HQ, Abuko.  The current WABSA badges,  have two signatures, the signature of their chairman (Solomon Jallow) and the signature of their director (Lamin Jobarteh). There is a logo on the badge featuring a pair of binoculars abird and a book.  There has been trouble recently with badges being forged, bearing the names of reputable guides but being worn by imposters.  Telephoning or emailing guides in advance of your arrival should mitigate this problem until such time as new (and we hope unforgeable) badges are provided by the GTA ***indicates further comments from clients in the panels above Modou A Colley***      Tel  9908916                               Email  mcolley99@yahoo.com Babagalleh Bah  Tel  9902523                          Email  baba 623@hotmail.com Clive Barlow, ***clivebarlow@gambianet.gm    (+220) 936 122.  Alieu Barry  Tel  7786437 Ebrima W Barry  Tel  9981130                           Email  ebrimaeboy@hotmail.com Dawda Barry  Tel  9906215 Modou Camara   Tel  9934750 Pa Almamy Darbo  Tel  9910457 or 9937989 Solomon Jallow ***    Tel  9921551 (see also Habitat Africa above for other Habitat Africa guides: Sering Bojang, Buba Daffeh*** Aladin Jemeh, Tamba Jeffang,  Osman Sayand, and Dembo Sonko) Pa Jallow ***  Tel  9850247 or 7770426  Email pajallow1978@yahoo.com Junkung Jadama  Tel  9984157 or 4463022                            Email   jsjadama73@yahoo.com Modou Jarju  Tel  7799190 or 4473527 Lamin Jobarteh     Tel  7776821 Buba Kandeh  Tel  4472074 Tijan Kanteh     Tel 99934617                                Email tijanthebirdman@yahoo.com Bubacarr Kassama  Tel  7786437 Mustapha Kassama   Tel  9983305* mustaphakassama@yahoo.com Laibo Manneh ***       Tel  7700734 or 4414013                              Email  Laibomanneh@yahoo.co.uk Lamin Sanyang *** Tel  7714132 or 9916993                          Email  wildlife@gamtel.gm Masaneh Sanyang *** Tel  9924761                              Email  masssanyang55@hotmail.com Omar T.K. Sohna  Tel  4393938 or 9927714 Dembo Sonko  9906023 or 4374060 Kebba Sosseh  Tel  4375312 Malick Suso *** 9921720                                 Email MalickSuso@hotmail.com Musa Suso  Tel  4374770 Karamba Touray *** Tel  9940986                           Email  elymelani@yahoo.com Emailed from WABSA 18/08/2004 , click on the *** for additional comments

THE COAST   To get a sense of the options available and the costs involved take a look at the detailed information about days out organised through Birdfinders, just click here
 

For the pros and cons of using guides see - Guides in the FAQ section.