"Unnerving but fascinating to watch, they used everything from cutlasses and razor blades to energetically strike their bodies without ever leaving a scratch! The Futmapaf, a traditional initiation festival of the Jola people was an upcountry adventure like nothig I...
Having woken up to the dawn chorus of Makasutu Forest and then spent the morning taking a ridiculous number of photos of a troupe of baboons - just a few of which I shared in a previous post, The Baboons of Makasutu Forest - we stopped by what is known as Base Camp....
One of my favourite animals to watch in The Gambia has to be the baboons and the best place to see them is in Makasutu Forest, about an hour and a half's drive inland from the coastal resorts. Here I'd like to share some of my photographs and a few baboon facts to...
In my last post I shared with you my concerns about irresponsible volunteer organisations and orphanage tourism. Today I’d like to tell you about a great volunteering organisation that take a very responsible approach. Getting to know 'people and places' As my...
There has been a lot of bad press lately about volunteer tourism and I’ve heard a few horror stories myself, such as local teachers being dismissed because the school knew that a volunteer teacher was on there way. Even more disturbing still though are cases involving...
During my last visit to The Gambia I stayed in the area known as the Senegambia strip. It's the largest and liveliest resort in The Gambia, although in late June and early July when I was there, it was pretty quiet. Despite the humidity it is a lovely time of year to...
In May, when I left The Gambia, I had a mission to raise enough money to buy at least ten more of the new design of stoves that run on peanut shell briquettes. The Community Stove Initiative If you have been following my blogs from The Gambia you may want to skip the...
Whatever country you are in, I think most people would agree, that the local markets are great places to explore and photograph. When I arrived at Banjul's Royal Albert Market our taxi driver found a local guide to take us round. There's huge variety of goods for sale...
If you could visit one of the seven Spanish islands that make up the Canaries which would you choose? The Canaries is not a destination I had ever thought of going to before but having done a little homework, it is now most definitely on my bucket list. Here's why!...
All the colours of the rainbow flash before my eyes. The sound of the waves, squawking seagulls and housewives' banter assault my ears. The smell of fish fills my nostrils and the taste of salt is on my tongue, as I head for sensory overload at Tanji fish market in...
The Sheraton Gambia Resort and Spa is a lovely hotel built on the hillside beside the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. I have visited it a number of times on photographic assignments for The Gambia Experience, including when it very first opened but when I went there...
In 2005 I started sponsoring a little girl in The Gambia. She was just 6 years old. A few months later I visited The Gambia for the first time and, of course, I arranged to visit her, her school and her family. Nearly 8 years later I am still sponsoring her and...
I recently shared with you the wonderful welcome we received in the village of Kanuma in my post On the Trail of the mythical Kumpo of Kanuma. This was a great experience for all of us, a real treat, but the main reason we visited this remote West African village...
When I heard that a kumpo, a mythical character of the West African Jola tribe, had been spotted near the village of Kanuma, just a few hours drive from where we were staying in The Gambia, there was only one thing for it; I was determined to arrange an expedition f...
In the very early hours last Friday morning my alarm went off. Finally the day had arrived and it was time to start the journey that I had been looking forward to for months. Seven of us were heading off to The Gambia for a few full-on days of exploration, adventure...
A photo essay from West Africa about the people who make a place feel like home
For thousands of years the women of Africa have known the secret to beautiful skin. The karite tree, known as ‘women’s gold’, grows throughout the savannah regions of West Africa. From its nuts comes shea butter, which they use by to protect and moisturise their skin....
12 tropical islands. Each one unique, beautiful, dramatic and bathed in year-round sunshine. Here’s my guide to the islands and hotels of Cape Verde.
Join me as I explore São Vicente and its capital Mindelo, the cultural heart of the islands of Cape Verde.
The boat leaves Dakar in Senegal and it isn't long before, Gorée Island comes into view. Pastel coloured European-style buildings, palm trees, blue skies and blue seas. The scene is like no other I have seen in West Africa.  The tiny island of Gorée, a UNESCO World...
