Rofikul Islam

36 Testimonials Write a testimonial for Rofikul

Recently we had the pleasure of birding with Rofik in Manipur and Nagaland. Even though it was a very short trip, it was very clear that Rofik is not just knowledgeable but deeply passionate about his work. His expertise in identifying birds is impressive. He also shared insightful stories, making the whole experience much more than just a bird watching trip. He is extremely well versed with the habitats and his knowledge is coupled with friendly and approachable demeanour which truly made this trip memorable. I highly recommend him for seasoned bird watchers as well as newcomers for anyone looking to explore rich bird life of India.

I have just completed a rewarding trip in the North-eastern states of Nagaland and Manipur in Eastern India with Rofikul. I found him to be absolutely top class. He knows the birds and their habitats like the back of his palm and picks up the calls immediately. He is patient, keeps trying until the target bird appears and has a calming presence in the field. Rofikul communicates very clearly and takes great care that every member, and not few, gets to see the birds and gets good photos if they are so inclined. His field craft is impeccable and he follows very ethical practices while birding. Apart from all these he also keeps a keen eye on the logistical aspects of the trip and spares no effort to make his clients comfortable. I recommend him wholeheartedly.

I was on a birding tour with Rofik covering Manipur and Nagaland. Feb 2024. Impressive help from Rofik ! One of my most memorable trips to north east India ! 1. His knowledge of species and terrain in NE India is second to none ! 2. His professionalism in communication, planning and execution in the field is second to none ! 3. Rofik's ability to do target species birding is the best in the country I have experienced so far in my run of 1100+ species 4. India's 4th record of a Chinese Francolin was created and the fukk credit goes as a testimony to the above points listed. 5. The best beyond all the above points I liked personally is his ethics in his business and birding (honesty and integrity)

Have just completed an extremely successful 8 day tour of the Western Ghats with Rofik. Whilst Rofik's expertise is in the North East he is a hugely talented bird guide and was quick to pick up all of the calls of the birds that we were looking for in the Ghats. With the benefit of a hand picked local guide that Rofik had chosen to help out I was able to see all of my target birds As well as being a hugely talented and very sharp bird guide, Rofik is an extremely nice person to travel with and all of the logistics were extremely well organised I will be using Rofik again in the near future and would have no hesitation in recommending him Richard Carden Feb 2025

Rofikul (Rofik) is a great guide and person. He knows the birds in India extremely well by sound and behaviour. Also he is a master of giving you the best possibility to see the bird (species) yourself. Logistic arrangements are great also with a frienly and respectful approch to the people he works with. I can fully recomment his service if you go birding in India. Greetings Max Berlijn (The Netherlands)

I was birding with Rofikul in Dibru Saikhowa, Digboi Oil Fields, Namdapha and Mishmi Hills in January. Despite the challenging time of the year, our trip was very successful - due to his exceptional skills and thorough knowledge on birding sites and local birds, including many of the most difficult to find ones. It was very enjoyable to be birding with always friendly and helpful Rofikul. I can only warmly recommend him to any birder seriously chasing the rarities and other special birds of NE India.

Rofik has long-established himself as one of the best birding guides in NE India, and certainly nobody can match him when it comes to targeted hardcore trips here. Ornis Birding Expeditions currently arranges all our India tours with Rofik, his exceptional call knowledge and fieldcraft an integral part of our trips. Anyone visiting the Himalaya or going further abroad in India who wants to see all their targets should use him!

It was amazing experience with Rofikul. Did birding expedition in Nagaland and Manipur. We achieved the species target whatever we decided so far. He is very good in listening bird calls and spotting them in a seconds. Highly recommended best bird guide in North East India.

Rofiqul guided me for 10 days in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (Giwahati, Nameri, Manda La, Se La, Sangti valley, Kaziranga, Pobitora). I couldn't praise him too highly, not only for his ornithological skills but for his wider 'people skills' with me as a guest, my wider interests, food tastes etc. He has an incredible ear and his lightning-fast ability to discern identifying features is amazing. He was patient with my amateurishness despite being no doubt very tired on occasion, given the workload. I can't think why you WOULDN'T hire him! The best.

I did my mizoram trip with Rofikul. I really appreciate his dedication towards bird siting. His understanding of each and every bird behavior. He gave his full efforts to give good bird siting but also guide you to get good photograph. He had excellent knowledge of bird calls. Because of him I get good photograph of Victoria mounten babax very rare. Very difficult to photograph Spot-breasted Laughingthrush. I think he is no one guide in india.

If you're looking for an expert guide in Northeast India, Rofikul is the one to trust. His passion for nature is unmatched and his deep knowledge of local species makes the tour an unforgettable experience. Whether it's identifying bird calls or spotting elusive wildlife, Rofikul's skills are top-notch. He's a true naturalist with an incredible eye for detail. I highly recommend his services to anyone wanting to explore the rich biodiversity of this beautiful region.

I did a private tour with Rofikul Islam to Maguri Beel, Roing, Mishmi Hills, Digboi and Jeypore. He amazed me every day with his knowledge and his field skills. We did very well on the tour with 300 species seen, including Falcated Duck, Blyth's Tragopan, Austen's Brown Hornbill, Blue-naped Pitta, Baikal Bush Warbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Long-billed Wren Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush and many, many more. I can absolutely recommend Rofikul, he's a skilled guide who is able to adapt to his clients needs and whishes.

Myself and two very keen British birding mates have just completed an April/May 2024 three-week target-focussed birding trip to Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with Rofik as our guide. In terms of birding skills, especially by call, I can think of few bird guides in the world who would exceed Rofik, who has developed a total mastery of species identification and bird-finding abilities. As we had all visited NE India previously, the target list was a tough one, but all expectations were exceeded as Rofik proceeded to tease out lifer-after-lifer, in some very demanding conditions. Rofik was also superbly organised in terms of logistics, and was assisted by an incredibly dependable and level-headed driver in Podom. Also very proficient in finding fine local cuisine of the highest calibre! A huge thank you for an unforgettable three weeks of birding in what firmly remains my favourite destination on the planet; can’t wait for the next one :)

Rafik is one of the best guides I've ever been with, his knowledge and field skills are amazing, and, even more important, he is a great person, polite, cheerful and well behaved at all times and with a good sense of humor. I've just spent 2 weeks with him co-leading an Ornis tour in NE India, and everything went so smoothly, thanks to him, that I can't wait to be back with him. If I could, I would give him 10 stars!

Rokiful is easily one of the best guides I’ve had on any birding trip. His knowledge and field skills are impeccable, and he works tirelessly to ensure that every member of a group sees all the birds as well as possible. He has a calm, relaxed demeanor that makes him a pleasure to bird with. I can’t recommend him highly enough, and I would advise anyone planning on visiting Northeast India for birding to hire Rokiful as their guide.

Me and my wife are from the Netherlands and went on a 2-day safari at Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India. A friend recommended Rofikul as a guide. We have seen a tremendous amount of (rare) bird species and other wildlife (including 4 tigers). We are really impressed with Rofikul's knowledge and birdwatching skills. He recognizes species quickly by eyesight and vocals. Rofikul is enthousiastic, respectful and great to hang out with. Since we are working in North-East India, we will defintately contact Rofikul for upcoming trips. Also, he organized good transportation and homestay for us.

We (6 British birders) had a fantastic 16 day trip in Assam and Arunachal-Pradesh in March and April 2024 with Rofikul guiding. He is professional and has a great knowledge of the birds, their territories and how to find them. He has great ears and a comprehensive knowledge of vocalisations. A brilliant guide and fun to bird with. Already planning another trip with him for next year.

We did a private tour in N E India including Mishmi Hills, Nagaland, Kaziranga, Dihing Patkai amongst other sites and had Rafikul as our guide for the first 16 days. His knowledge of bird calls and songs would be hard to beat and he has an amazing understanding of not only the identification of every likely species to be seen, but their habits and behaviour. He is razor sharp in the field, hearing the faintest of calls or those at great distance and instantly knowing what they were and where the bird was and how to try and see it. He doesn’t give up easily and really puts maximum effort into everyone’s needs whether that be ensuring everybody gets to see a bird or making sure everyone’s comforts are taken care of where possible. He is very professional as well as great company to be around, friendly and passionate about all wildlife but the birds of N E India particularly, having been brought up and starting birding in the Tea plantations near his Kaziranga home. His all round knowledge of the different areas, the people and culture as well as an unsurpassed bird knowledge are something to be very proud of. As others have suggested he is almost certainly the best bird guide in N E India. Even after we had new guides for the second half of our trip Rafik kept track of us and ensured we made the best use of our time to our maximum benefit. Weather can be unpredictable here and we had everything from persistent rain, fog, thunder, lightening, freezing temperatures with snow and ice so some flexibility is required even though the itinerary was organised well in advance. Changes to account for weather or slightly changed itinerary seemed effortlessly arranged whether that was vehicles, drivers, boats, guards, local guides or accommodation. We were very well looked after by Rafik and his team of other guides, drivers etc. Whether you are a dedicated lister, a photographer or require a more relaxed birding experience these will all be catered for to the maximum. Above all Rafik is a thoroughly decent human and his skills and expertise are a huge credit to his profession. He was an absolute pleasure to be guided by and comes highly recommended. Deserves more than 5 stars!

I am just returning from a three-week intensive birding trip to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India guided by Rofikul and enjoyed by our small group of three. The rating scale here only provides for five stars, but Rofikul would certainly deserve even more! Rofi is the most impressive bird guide I have ever birded with, his guiding fieldcraft is impeccable, and so was his patience with everyone not equally quick as him with spotting the skulking specialities of the dense Himalayan woods. He always managed to ensure that all of us got the full experience of every bird we found. Being a newby to Indian birds, I learned a lot in lightning speed with Rofikul. As Rofi is in much demand, we had opted for a trip in February, which is winter time and long before most of the mountain skulkers start to sing actively. But February with Rofi, we expected, was still better than peak birding time in April with anyone else. And we didn't get disappointed. We still got most of the mountain specialties, and additionally lots of wintering birds, including a whopping 8 or 9 species of wintering bush-warblers (I still have to count the final number), which seem to be Rofi's speciality. He definitely likes a challenge. Apart from the birding side of things, Rofi was an excellent tour guide, leaving us to enjoy 3 weeks of birding totally free of care for food, accomodation or transport, which he and the tour company he works for had all taken care of. He was also a great and fun travel companion, which I find very important. I would go with Rofikul again any time - and one from our group has already started planning another trip with Rofi already next year.

I had the privilege of embarking on my second birdwatching trip with Rofik in Mizoram, trekking the blue mountains in challenging conditions. Rofik's expertise and dedication made this journey a success. His unparalleled knowledge allowed me to entrust him with my target species list, and he flawlessly executed the sightings and photography. Rofik's sincere commitment to completing targets promptly demonstrates his passion for birdwatching, enabling him to focus on discovering new treasures. Undoubtedly, Rofik stands out as the best guide in North East India, adept at navigating diverse habitats and altitudes to unveil the region's avian wonders. Given Rofik's exceptional skills and dedication, waiting for my upcoming birdwatching adventures in the North East is a no-brainer. His profound understanding of habitats and altitudes, coupled with a passion for discovery, sets him apart. Grateful for the remarkable experiences and eagerly anticipating future journeys guided by Rofik's expertise.

Myself and 3 friends did a private 3-week trip to NE India in May 2023, which Rofikul guided. It was very much a targeted trip, as we had all visited India on a number of occasions previously. The trip exceeded all my expectations as we saw the vast majority of the targets, with some additions that were completely unexpected. The success of this trip was largely due to Rofikul’s knowledge of the region, sites and the species involved, which is outstanding. In addition to the birding, the logistics worked well and Rofikul and his drivers were good company. I would have no hesitation in recommending Rofikul as a guide for this region. Mark Sutton

Though I’ve known Rofikul since 2015, and had heard about his extraordinary rapport with birds, this was the first time I experienced his legendary skills - through a week long trip to Mizoram with my friend Maj. Gen. Bhupesh Goyal. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the trip’ would be an understatement and it was Rofikul who is to be credited. His meticulous planning, helpful nature combined with sharp ears, recognising even faint calls, ability to spot the most sulking birds, in depth knowledge of birds and their behaviour, to cajole the birds to come out of hiding and then directing us to ‘best photo opportunity spots’ sets him a class apart, making him the best birding guide in North East India. We had a wonderful time - birding (12 lifers!), trekking, laughing, cooking… and I came back with a memory card full of exotic, rare birds and breathtaking sunsets. Needless to say, I’m already planning several more trips with him!

I have been into birding for more than 8 years and have visited most birding hotspots in the Indian subcontinent with a number of guides. This was the first time that my friend Dr Sanjeeth and I were able to hire the services of Rofikul Islam for our Mizoram birding trip, though we had been hearing about his good guiding skills for more than 5-6 years. What we discovered during our week long trip was that his knowledge of the birds of the region, their habitat, their calls, their behaviour and feeding habits is exceptional, to say the least. He’s completely business-like when birding with his clients and full of fun when back to the place of stay. While walking down the road, looking for a specific bird, he’s capable of hearing a faint call in the distance of another rare bird and try his level best to get that bird for his clients. Any random bird calls in the forest that you ask him about and he will give you the answer in a jiffy. When in doubt, he will express it candidly, rather than giving a half baked answer. Very receptive to the client’s requirements and very persistent in getting you what you are longing for. To state simply, he’s simply gifted as a bird guide. May his tribe increase!

I had the pleasure to be part of a small, private group that was guided by Rofikul around Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for a couple of weeks in April 2022. We were all amazed by Rofikuls skills in finding our target birds, from stunning Tragopans in the mountains to Marh Babblers in the floodplains, and making sure we all got satisfactory views. One epic moment was when Rofikul managed to track down Bugun Liocichla at Eaglenest, after a group from Birdquest had tried in vain for three days.. Rofikul is a very nice person to be around, he is calm, knowledgeable and very down-to earth, and never seeming to tire down - even after several long days in the field. I can recommend him completely, and would love to go birding with him again, if I ever get the chance to do so.

I spent a few days birding with Rofikul in Kaziranga NP in February 2017. Rofikul did a great job. He's an excellent birder with top fields skills, including calls. We had a great time together, he's friendly and informative, speaks excellent English. I certainly recommend hiring Rofikul! My eBird trip report - so you can see which birds we saw: https://ebird.org/tripreport/2905 My blog accounts on our time in Kaziranga with Rofikul: http://www.yoavperlman.com/2017/02/kaziranga-explosion.html http://www.yoavperlman.com/2017/02/kaziranga-rhinos-hornbills-and-more.html

I did 14 days trip to Mishmi hills,Dehig Patkai ,Maguri beel in 2022. As a person he is very polite and decent with very high moral values.As a professional bird guide, he has immense knowledge of evey bird .He studied well of each bird , regarding habitat, their behaviour and specially call and songs of each bird. Beside birding he manage each and every thing during birding trip . In 14 days we were photographed around 150 species. So I give him 5 Star ????? for his knowledge, hardship and dedication. Regards Dr.Sandip Patil Pune India +91 9822407574

I have employed Rofikul (Rofik) as my guide on several occasions in India. He is a serious minded individual & prefers birding clients who are alert & keen at all times, as he is. He is also a charming young man, easy to travel with & good fun too. The trips were run efficently & even when there was problems he always managed to sort it out as quickly as possible without any fuss. The first trip, in 2014 was to Aranachal Pradesh covering areas such as Kaziranga, Nameri, Eaglenest & the Sela Pass in 2014. The second trip was to Namdapha in the far NE of Arunachal Pradesh, then south to Dibru-Saikhowa & Digboi in Assam followed by the Mishmi Hills & then Khonoma in Nagaland. Rofik has excellent eyes & also total knowlefge of all the species in the North East. He found us all the birds including key species but not only that, he never gave up until we had all seen each species. Although the North East is his particular specialty area, - he lives in Kaziranga - in recent times he has expanded his knowledge by travelling to see as many birds in India as possible & I believe he is one of the top listers in India. These days he has vast experience of the whole of India & I would not hesitate to recommend him as one of the top guides in India.

Rofikul is an outstanding guide. We hired him for a small private tour to EaglesNest and Mishmi Hills and he did an amazing job finding all of our targets. I would highly recommend his services.

I have been birding with Rofikul for over 5 years now and can say without a doubt that he's the best guide in North East India. We have covered the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal, and Mizoram together on multiple birding trips so far. His birding skills are brilliant and one can't ask for a better guide to accompany on one's trips. Whether he's guiding birders and bird photographers who are just starting out or someone like me who's nearing the 1200 species mark in India, he always knows who needs what. He is extremely sincere, serious about your wishlists and dedicated to help you see as much as it is possible. He always goes the extra mile to help me find the rare birds that are left for me to see. Finding birds in season is one thing but getting them when season is not favourable, he still got me almost all the birds I set out to see and that's the kind of birding genius he is. His knowledge of bird habitat, behaviour, calls, ID are top notch. As a guide, he also always makes sure that you get the best of the logistics services and is very sincere around pricing unlike many other guides. He's a cool and fun guy to be around so there's always a good vibe during the trips. He's always in demand and it is very difficult to get his dates so book them in advance would be my suggestion. :)

Going to North-Eastern parts of India and visiting Nameri and Arunachal Pradesh means you are in one of the most diverse and rich environments on Earth. Loads of spectacular birds, animals, insects, plants etc. and hard to sort them out without special knowledge. Then you will need the very best guide to show you the richness and beautiful nature in the area! There is one guy that shines more than many others when it comes to guiding and finding the birds and that is Rofikul. We did this trip back in 2014 and met Rofikul in Eaglenest area after spending a week birding in Assam. Rofikul proved to be a superb guide with extraordinary skills in finding birds and animals and helped us see more than 500 species on the trip! His knowledge of all the birds in the area is excellent both by sight as well as sound and that helps getting a successful t trip. Besides from being an expert birder and guide Rofikul is also a very nice and kind person and he will always do what it takes to make your trip perfect! If (or when) I go back to India, I will for sure contact Rofikul and book him in advance!

If you want the absolute best guide for seeing birds in NE India, Rofikul is the one! He not only knew where every species was that we wanted to see, but he knew the vocalizations of every species, including subtle call notes. If I was going back to that region (which I want to do), I would make sure it was with him. Very impressive!

Rofikul is an excellent birding guide that accompanied our group of 8 for 2 weeks in Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh and Assam). Rofikul is excellent and extremely knowledgeable about the area and all the species you can find there. He is very well organized and all our trip worked as planned and we managed to get a fantastic list of species, and almost all our target birds, for our trip, thanks to Rofikul amazing experience and dedication. I am highly recommending him.

How to describe birding with Rofikul? Maybe this will give an impression: There´s a Belgian comic book hero called Lucky Luke. “Lucky Luke draws and shoots his gun faster than his own shadow… “ Well that’s the feeling you sometimes get when walking through the forest and all of a sudden Rofikul puts his pointer into a bush just below a bird. While you yourself haven’t seen or heard anything yet… not even a glimpse… “look above the dot” is Rofikul’s simple reply, when telling you to grab your binoculars or camera… It’s not that we were bad birdwatchers, it’s just that he is so good… Rofikul’s hearing and knowledge of all Indian birds is outstanding, he is top of the notch. He knows every call, every plumage, status of the birds, timing of migration, suitable habitats, new birding areas, etc…Not only the key species, but ALL bird species! Including the leaf warblers, wren-babblers, flycatchers … This is off course what you would expect of a good bird guide. What makes him, for me, however a real superb guide is not only this knowledge but also his “stereo hearing” and his enthusiasm/love of birds. When a bird calls, he knows within a fraction of a second which species is calling and exactly to pinpoint the location of the bird. Most of the time within a meter of accuracy! When we travelled together he was always right with this. I can tell, because on most occasions we later got to see the bird! That was really impressive. He really made effort to try to show us the birds and I noticed he could still enjoy the birds himself (which is nice, if you consider he guides for over 15 years non-stop every season). He also knew which birds we still needed to get during our trip, which was convenient. As a European bird watcher, I will probably visit North-east India only once or maybe twice in my life. It is a dream destination, with loads of fantastic bird and mammal species, other wildlife and fantastic scenery. When doing a trip like that, you don’t want to lose time on paperwork, hassling over prices and you certainly don’t want to get sick of the food. Apart from that, you need good and friendly drivers to get you safe through the Indian traffic. This was all provided and taken care of. We had lunch in the field and good Indian food in the evenings, no horror stories! Just give him your trust, let him do the planning and he will take care of you during your trip and provide you with an incredible list of birds. In 3,5 weeks (Digboi, Dibru Saikhowa, Mishmi Hills, Naga Land, Kaziranga, Eagle nest, Sela pass, Nameri, Cherrapunji, Guwahati) we’ve SEEN way over 500 species of birds and a nice array of mammals. This would have been impossible without Rofikul! Apart from all this, he’s just a nice fellow who doesn’t need these ratings. Everybody knows he is simply the best bird guide of North-east India… just scroll the online trip reports or photos of this region and you will know! (There’s however one strange/ irritating thing about him… And I still don’t understand how he does it… But this man manages to climb over trees or crawl over the ground with a perfectly white t-shirt on and keeps it that white and clean…. While we were covered with dust or dirt, he simply shines without a single stain… Rofikul, could you please next time put some dirt on your white shirt, just a little… it would make you more human (and us less stupid))….. ;-)

Rofikul is an excellent bird guide and a wonderful person. He is knowledgeable, sincere, a keen observer and a true nature lover. I’ve visited some places in North Eastern part of India like Tawang, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Namdapha National Park, Mishmi hills, Walong etc with Rofikul and have some most amazing experience and some unforgettable moments of birding that couldn’t be possible without him. I found him to be tremendously efficient as a bird guide. I will specially mention about his astonishing hearing ability for birds call. He is a true environmentalist, a good human being. As a bird photographer I’d love to explore places every time with him. He is bestest among the best. Good luck.

My life changed for the better after meeting Rofikul Islam. He is an excellent bird guide , one of the topmost if I may say so,and an equally good and humble person. His knowledge on birds, their habitat and their behaviour surpasses anyone else I had gone on trips with. He beautifully explains how to look out for birds and how to approach them without disturbing them. I had gone on numerous trips with him like Eaglenest, Tawang, Mishmi, Namdapha, Ani Gompa, Gheshela(Arunachal Pradesh) and Kaziranga,Dehing Patkai(Assam) and always we found rare treasures everywhere only because of his vast knowledge and years of experience. So many beautiful moments were created and captured thanks to this guy. I will always be indebted to him. He is the best because he doesn't take guiding just as a profession it's because of his passion and love for nature and his heartfelt desire to conserve it. A gem of a person.

When it comes to recounting my experiences with Rofikul, it's like trying to capture the essence of magic in words. Rofikul isn’t just one of India's top bird guides; he's a dear friend and an extraordinary mentor. Imagine having a master detective by your side, revealing nature's best-kept secrets right before your eyes. That's exactly how it feels when birdwatching with Rofikul. I remember countless times staring into a dense bush, completely oblivious, while Rofikul would already have his finger pointing at a hidden bird. His simple instructions, “look above the dot,” would transform the invisible into the visible, and in those moments, his remarkable skill left me in constant awe. Rofikul’s knowledge of bird calls, plumages, migration patterns, and habitats is nothing short of extraordinary. He knows each and every bird, from the most common to the most elusive species. His stereo hearing is downright magical—he can pinpoint the location of a bird within a meter, all while maintaining an infectious enthusiasm and deep love for birds, even after guiding for over 15 years. His passion is so palpable that it reignites your own excitement for birdwatching. Traveling with Rofikul is an experience in itself. You never have to worry about logistics, food, or safety because he takes care of everything. He ensures that every aspect of the trip is seamless and comfortable, making it easy to focus entirely on the joy of birdwatching. Thanks to his meticulous planning and undying dedication, we managed to see over 200 bird species in just one week in the breathtaking regions of North-east India. Beyond his exceptional guiding skills, it's Rofikul's genuine kindness and passion for birds that make him a truly wonderful friend. He deserves all the praise that comes his way, although he remains incredibly humble and never seeks out these accolades. His reputation is well-earned—just a glance at online trip reports and photos will tell you why he’s simply the best bird guide in India.