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About Us
What is OMATHO?
Gao Tourist Center
Meet the Staff
Contact Us
Telephone: (223) 617 – 73 – 16
Guide Since: 1996
Languages Spoken: French, English, Songhaï, Tamashek, Bambara
Guiding Experience: Gao, Mopti, Timbuktu, Kidal, Dogon Country, Bamako,
Niamey
Guide Training Classes: 4
Guide Type: Local
Other: Aguissa has developed adventure circuits that travel to the remote and beautiful regions south of Gao towards the border with Niger.
Gao to Bentiya (Koukia) Pinasse Voyage
A week of travel to the first known capital of the Songhaï Empire.
1st day - Leave from Gao for Ansongo in pinasse. Visit the chief of the cantonment of Ansongo at his ancient headquarters, the Tobon, beside the River Niger. Here in 1880 the French army sought to attack the Songhaï people but a defense organized by the chief of Ansongo repulsed them. On Wednesays one can also visit the market. Sleep in Ansongo.
2nd day - Leave from Ansongo for Tondi-Tihiyou in pinasse. On the left bank of the river visit the "pirogues of stone," an ancient site of Songhaï animist practices. Here one finds the "magic fish," the first prophets of the Empire. Continue to Bentiya for the night.
Third day - Meet with the chief of Bentiya. With his permission, return to Koukia to see its historic sites. There you can see a cave where, in 690, the Songhaï Empire's sorcerors allegedly communicated via magic with Egypt. Continue to Fafa to see another group of magical fish, and from there to Nkoum, the fishing village from which René Caille left to go to Timbuktu. Sleep at Ouattagouna.
4th day - In the middle of the Niger River see the Tafina petroglyphs. These writings were discovered and translated by Zakaria Gao, the first historian of the Songhaï Empire. Of Egyptian origin, he recognized the alphabet as an ancient one from his homeland. We continue to the ancient town of Carou; which holds the "tombs of the ancestors," which contain ancient skeletons of giants. Across from these tombs there lies a small pink sand dune on the banks of the river. It was on this dune that the soldiers of the Empire trained in swordfighting. Pass the night in Carou.
5th day - Continue straight on to Siridan where one can see hippopotamuses. This village is one of the greatest in the former Empire for fishing and agriculture. Here one finds many ethnic groups: the Songhaï, the Bella, the Sorko, the Bozo, the Mossi and Dogons from the Ngoibah family, famous for fighting alongside the Songhaï to resist colonization. Spend the night here.
6th day - Visit the Gourma (the left bank of the Niger River), where we find Houragoungou, the first town of the Songhaï Empire. It was here that the magicians of the Empire decided to delude their people with the great ruse of the "magical fish." Continue directly to Labbezanga to visit its waterfalls and an inland delta. Leave from here in 4x4 to pass the night at Hausa-Fulan.
7th day - See the sunrise in Hausa-Fulan and continue to the old site of Gao known as Saneye. Visit the tomb of Zakaria Gao and the former marketplace for all of West Africa. See also the Mosque of Kankou Moussa, the Tomb of the Askias, the living markets of modern Gao and the Artisana workshops and market. Sleep under the stars on the Dune Rose.
Gao to Ansongo Trek & Niger River Pinasse Adventure
1st to 5th Days – Trekking from village to village by foot.
6th to 11th Days – Niger River cruise by pinasse.
12th to 14th Days – Return to Gao and visit the Dune Rose and sites of Gao.
1st Day – Hike from Gao to Tasharan 25 Km. Visit the fishermen on the Niger River. Camp in Tasharan on a sand dune.
2nd Day – Tasharan to Haoussa Foulane. Visit community institutions – school, health center, mayor’s office. Camp in Haoussa Foulane – a village of the Songhaï Empire inhabited by Peuls who now speak Songhaï.
3rd Day – Haoussa Foulane to Gargouna. Visit Todjel Gargouna. Visit the chef of the village. Camp in Gargouna.
4th Day – Gargouna to Bara. Visit the Gourma and community institutions. Camp in Bara.
5th Day – Bara to Ansongo. Visit the prefecture and mayor’s office. Camp in Ansongo.
6th Day – Ansongo to Lallahoye to Tonditihiyo. Visit the sites. Camp in Tassiga.
7th Day – Tassiga to Bentia. Visit the sites of Tassiga, Koukia and Bentia. Camp between Fafa and Bentia.
8th Day – Bentia to Outtagouna. Visit the sites of Outtagouna. Camp in Outtagouna.
9th Day – Outtagouna to Siridan. Visit Karou and Siridan. Visit the sites including the Hippo Reserve. Camp in Siridan next to the Hippo Reserve.
10th Day – Siridan to Labbezenga. Visit Labbezenga. Camp in Labbezenga.
11th Day – Visit the waterfalls of Labbezenga. Camp in Labbezenga.
12th Day – Labbezenga to Karou. Return by 4x4. Visit the sites of Gourma. Camp in Karou.
13th Day – Karou to Gao. Camp on the Dune Rose.
14th Day – Visit the sites of Gao Gao like the Tomb of the Askias, Sanèye, the island of Gounzarey, and the Maison des Artisans.
Official
Gao Tour Guides
Mossa
Ag Attaher
Aguissa Ag Badara
Idrissa Assipto
Mahamadou Oumarou Cissé
Moussa Issa Cissé
Abdoulaye Keïta
Alassane Harouna Maïga
Harouna Souley Maïga
Mohamadou Abdoulaye Maïga
Mohamadou Moussa Maïga
Abdrahamane Maïga
Abédine
Maïga
Alassane "Alex" Maïga
Abdrahamane Ali Touré