Jim and Annette Wilson (UK) - 2009

"Arrived in The Gambia having read up on birdwatching, and were expecting great things - we weren't disappointed!! The best of the birdwatching tours we signed up for wasn't one of the holiday company's organised excursions (we did 4 in total), however.

We were delighted with a tour that the local guide from Kombo Beach Hotel in Kotu where we stayed took us on. He's a guy called Modou Barry and if you see his name advertising birdwatching trips when you visit The Gambia then he comes highly commended.

We set off at 7:30 am for the local "hotspots" including Kotu Creek, the ponds and the rice paddies, and spotted a total of 52 species, some of which were quite spectacular. Luckily for us we had Madou to ourselves so we were able to take a leisurely pace and Modou's excellent spotting and knowledge of the local birds made for a very enjoyable 4 hours or so at very good value."

William Edmond and George Murray Gladstone (Scotland) - 2009

" Under the guidance of local guide Modou Barry, our birding trip to The Gambia was off to a great start, he has such a wealth of knowledge and understanding of bird behaviour, it added so much more to our trip than we anticipated. A delightful experience, his extensive experience and knowledge in the field always shone through.

He is a valuable resource for anyone who is considering a birding trip to The Gambia, from organising transport, entrance fees to Nature Reserves and food. Last of all, also trying to make sure of finding that most special bird that you wanted to see while in The Gambia.

The thing that impressed us most about Modou is that he is a real dedicated birder, his enthusiasm and dedication through the week was so much so that we managed to see over 160 species of birds. Appointment times were greatly respected and prices were relatively reasonable. We would not hesitate in recommending Modou to any person thinking of a visit to The Gambia for Bird Watching."