Abdul's Safari “The best in the west” - now known as Arch-tours!
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My name is Abdul Ramon Conteh. I am a 44 years
Gambian National. Since I graduated from school, I
have worked in the following departments:
A) History and Englisch language teacher in a secondary school.
B) Worked as a field worker for the medical research council collecting dataa and information on malaria study.
C) Served the Gambia National Army for six years as a drill and weapon instructor. Trained by the Britisch Army.
In 1992 I started working as a Private Tourist Guide around the Senegambia Hotel area under the umbrella of Crocodile Safaris.
In 1994 I established the Gambia Adventure Safari which was popularly known as Abdul's Safari or The Boys in red. This Abdul Safari was situated next to the Saint Mary's food & wine Supermarket and opposite the Ali Baba Restaurant.
In October 2002 I began working as the operations supervisor for the African Adventure Tours which is the agent for Olympia International in the Gambia . I stopped working for the African Adventure Tours in February 2004 and since then I have been working as a private and legal tourist guide.
Since 2004 I have my own ground operator license again by starting a cooperation with Ghazala Travel, touroperator in Holland.
Arch-tours is the name of our agency in the Gambia. Please check the new website of Arch-tours to find out more! The English version is under construction but you can get a good overall impression.
I belong to the Mandinka tribe but can speak English and 3 major local Gambia languages. I have travelled all over the Gambia and Sengal and know my way around regardless of any other languages spoken by the people in the community and because of my background I consider myself an experienced Toursit Guide.
The advantages of going with me;
- Well organized and cheaper than the tour companies that operate in the hotels.
- Free of hassle excursions
- Free lunch & soft drinks (water and beer included)
- Travelling in small groups 2- 8 persons maximum
- Punctual and always on time
- An informative, reliable and safe way to travel around
- Each driver is an experience safari driver and mechanic
- Travel in op top 109 Land Rovers or Air conditioned mini busses depending on the clients needs
Tours offered:
1) 4 tours in 1 day starts 08.00 hrs and back at 18.00 hrs.
This entails 4 major tours that are offered by Tour Companies in the Gambia. This Tour starts with a guided walk in;
- Serrekunda Market which is teh biggest local market in the Gambia. As we go through the market, we tell you about local products tha are made and sold in the Gambia
- Crocodile pool. We visit one of the 3 sacred crocodile pools in the Gambia. A change to touch a crocodile in a pool of more than 100 crocodiles.
- Visit to the cattle market and we would tell you the important role that cattles play in our average Gambian way of life.
- Lamin Lodge for a 30 minutes coffee or tea break.
- A jeep safari into almost 20 villages or hanlets is the west and south of the Gambia. Stop in one of the villages for a family visit where we would be telling you all about family life in the Gambia and how we live as a social family.
- Stop on Paradise Beach for 2.5 hours for lunch and swimming in the ocean.
- 22 kilometers drive along the beach and stop in the major fisching village of Tanji. Just in time to see the days catch and a visit to the smoke houses.
- Last stop at a Brewery run by a man from Belgium where you can sample cashew wine, grape fruit wine, chocolate wine etc.
The best way to see much of the Gambia in one day and during the tour we will offer you several free drinks.
2) Roots by Land. Starts at 07.30 hrs - 18.00 hrs.
This is a tour in the Northern part of the Gambia. A historical Tour about Slavery. A visit to the Kunta Kinteh family and Fort James where slaves were kept waiting for the slave ships on a journey of no return. Cross by ferry to Barra which gives you an insight into River Traffic in the Gambia. A visit to the Banana plantation a sample of the local wine.
3) One Day South Senegal Adventure. Starts at 08.00hrs – 18.30hrs.
Passports are required on this tour. The tour takes you to the boarder town of Jiboro where we have your passport stamped and a drive to Seleti the first boarder town in southern Senegal. Passport stamped again to allow you into Senegal.
Drive to Kafountine which is a major fishing town in south and the third largest town in the south of Senegal. Stop in Hotel Le Karone (a 3 Star Hotel). A boat trip in the mangroves to an Island of primitive animist or (none believers). People on the island worship tree as their God. Boat trip last for 11/2 hour (one and a half hour). Cruise back to hotel for a buffet lunch and a 2 hours break for swimming and rest. Drive back home on the smugglers route which is equivalent to the camel trophy. Stop on the way for a real African Dancing by the Jola Tribe.
A drive back to the Gambia boarder town of Daresalami where we have your passport stamped again and back home to our respective hotels.
4) Cultural event and Dinner Under The Stars (NEW)
Starts 3.00am – 19.00hrs.
You will be picked up from your respective hotels and drive to a village where you will experience a very special cultural event that you have never seen before. The villagers of the people welcome you with music and dance and you will be part of a magic performance. After this spectacle we will drve you to Denton Bridge where we board a double deck boat. Cruise to Dog Island for Dolphin stalking and cruise into the Gambia River to see the sunset over the mangroves swamp. Anchor in the widest part of the River for a buffet dinner under the stars.
5) 3 Days Gambia Tour. Starts 08.00hrs -16.00 hrs
Day 1:
Drive to the northern part of the Gambia to see the Stone Circles at Wassu. Over night stop at Jangjangbureh camp. Lunch and dinner at camp and a local entertainment by Mandinka Tribe.
Day 2:
Boat trip in the Gambia River for Hippopotamus sighting and Baboons around Baboon Island. Lunch on board the boat and join transport at SAPU to TENDEBA CAMP. Overnight stop at tendeba and dinner & entertainment by the village women.
Day 3:
Breakfast at Tendeba camp and drive to our respective hotels.
This tour gives you an idea of how people in the country side live. A relaxed way of seeing and meeting the people in the interior of the Gambia.
Programmes for 7 to 15 days
If you want travel to the Gambia and if you want to use my services, you can contact me on: abdul@arch-tours.com
I check my mails everyday and I will reply to you as soon as possible to work out a detailed schedule, your wishes will be of course be taken into account and arrange a meeting place in the Gambia.
And finally, I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the Gambian people to thank you for choosing the Gambia as your holiday destination and to assure you that any assignment given to me will be carried out professionally to the best of my ability.
Once more I wish you a safe and smooth flight to the Gambia.
No better way to see the Gambia than with a Real Gambian.
Abdul Raman Conteh
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