James Apolloh

10 Testimonials Write a testimonial for James

Had an excellent couple of days with Apolloh at Sokoke with my group. He worked extremely hard to find us all the targets, including finding a second pair of Sokoke Scops Owl so we could see the orange morph. Intimate knowledge of the forest and where to find all the birds, and a great guy who is always reliable and on time!

We are coming from Sweden and James contact has been provided by a friend. We were very happy to meet him because from the start he knew how to meet our requirements and he has organised a fantastic trip! We had the great opportunity to have his friend Benson also guide who took care of us during 5 days! James is professional, very open minded, knows how to build great relationship and work with people passionate as him. It has been a blessed to meet James & Benson and I hope we will meet them again. Thank you. Daniel Thomas

James Apolloh was a last minute replacement for a 12 day endemic hunt across southern Kenya. Our original intent was to self-drive. We met our rental car along with James at the border crossing. Our rental lost its transmission 20 km from the border, resulting in hours lost on the roadside. James organized local transport and we arrived at our first site, the Taita Hills in time for James to find us all 3 endemics before dark. James helped organize new transport for us, as the original car’s owner refused transport. James dealt with multiple car issues during the trip and managed to keep us rolling. Not only did he find us the targets, he did so with abundant enthusiasm and passion. He has excellent knowledge of bird vocalization, critical for a good guide. He stepped up to do much of the driving, as well. He also used local site guides, trying to build a committed birding community in Kenya focused on conservation. Given ongoing car issues through out the trip, James never showed any frustration or anger with the situation. He is truly professional. I highly recommend James as a guide. This coming from someone who trained bird guides in Cambodia for almost 10 years.

I organized a 2 week safari through Kenya with James. He was FANTASTIC! Passionate about birding, great english, very familiar with local spots for hard to find species. I would recomend to anyone looking for a guide in Kenya.

James setup our Kenya local guides. On the coast he got us Erick and in Nairobi/Nakuru plus Baringo he got us Benson. Every thing was on time and the guides both delivered on the guiding/personal level. James even came to Nairobi airport to greet me and my wife as Benson picked us up. I would not hesitate to have James organizing and guiding a Kenya birding trip.

How can a visit to the famous SE costal forest Arabuko-Sokoke be done without James Apolloh? I cannot or rather it should not. This was my second visit to the forest and the second time I had Apolloh as a guide. We toured the forest from North to south and east to west and also made a drive around the whole forest, a day where it was pouring down, in order to find new entrance point into the forest parts that seems inaccessible from the eastern side of the forest. During this trip with lasted from1st to 21st of May, 2025, Apolloh came to see new areas of the forest and fond new places to take his future clients for them to get their ticks on their list. Wherefore the trip was also to the benefit of Apolloh and not only me trying to document the avifauna and these beautiful birds behaviour and song. We had AMAZING fun and amazing birding and AMAZING photographer opportunities because we had amble of time. I came hope with 72.000 photos, well sorted on and most obvious deleted. And also came home with well over 500 sound recordings – some amazing ones too. We have great brunches in the forest well prepared by the staff at the Eco camp. Apolloh, despite he was busy reading for his exams, he had arranged every single little detail to the perfect. As he was busy with exams, he had arranged for two other birder guides and a driver as well as a car to take me around in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest. Apollop found the birds, he was the driver, he took care of car saw to it was fueled after birding hours, saw to it was cleaned. Apolloh is by far of the most reliable, keen, and extremely skilled birder guides I ever had had. This all despite he has only been birding for a very short time. Apart from his studies he has also set up his own business, is engaged in the local bicycle club in Watamu/Kilifi, he supports his family with money and have started a bird club at his college in Naivasha. His talent was spotted a few years back and he now has a sponsor for his college education very very well deserved. (based upon May 2024 and May 2025 trips)

My husband and I completed a 15-day private birding tour in Kenya (Western Circuit) in August/September. We had the pleasure of being guided by 2 marvelous bird guides, Davis Kibuga and James Apolloh Omenya. We birded in 8 National Parks/Reserves throughout southwestern Kenya and logged almost 400 bird species in addition to many mammals and reptiles. Our guides not only knew the birds, they also knew the mammals and plants. Apolloh, in particular, not only knew every bird along our routes by name, he also knew all the bird calls and where to find them. Many times we would stop at specific locations, sometimes along a highway, to call for a specific species and the bird would come. It was uncanny! To see our guides consult books and discuss about birds was fascinating. Their passion for birding was apparent and truly contagious. Our trip was well organized from beginning to end. Though the travel times between the National Parks/Reserves were long and the roads at times bumpy, we were not bored as we stopped along the way to log more species. At some birding sites, we were joined by a local birding guide who showed us the specialties at that site. We felt extra special as there were 3 guides for the two of us. Considered the superb guiding and mostly mid-range accommodations and food, we believe this budget-friendly tour was of very good value. We were impressed not only by their knowledge and enthusiasm about birds and other wildlife but by the way our guides carried themselves. At Davis’ suggestion, we brought along used clothes and toys to distribute to children along our routes. Davis also uses these opportunities to educate the children about the importance of birds and conservation. And Davis told us how Apolloh had rescued tourists in a devastating flood earlier this year. (You can read about the account here https://search.app/K29WQKncenqV39qw7 .) We felt very safe in the care of these wonderful young men with such big hearts, courage, and quick thinking. In addition to the birds of Kenya, we have learned a great deal from our guides about the culture and life in East Africa. Thank you, Davis and Apolloh, for a well-planned and rewarding trip. We look forward to returning one day to bird in Uganda and Eastern Kenya with you again.

James Apolloh. My testimony: • Friendly and pleasant as a person. Easy to like. • Excellent bird guide. • Very alert and experienced birder. • Tracks birds by sound very well. Sharp eyes! • Very well organized and effective. Get things solved with a smile. • Also taking problems seriously, and is not afraid to communicate directly! • Good contacts. • Solve problems rapidly. • Great with internet and bird lists directly and daily in E-bird and IOC. • No time-consuming and boring evening meetings to catch-up today's birds, because it is done perpetually throughout the birding day, and shared with the clients. • Highly recommended !!

James Apolloh is an excelent bird guide. He is a very good birder, knows the birds throughout the country, and recognizes about all birds by ear. He is however also pleasant company and is able to organize things smoothly and flawlessly. He has contacts throughout the country, and is able to fix things in a very short time whenever there is need for it. Highly recommended !!

My 3 days trip with James at the Coast were so exceptional.James blended in so well at showing us the birds around,his click on bird calls is so exceptional and above all is his respect for nature and it's surroundings Am already planning for a longer bird watching safari with James.