After experiencing enough dry sandy plains a group of us decided to venture to southeastern part of Senegal to see the waterfalls. The travel was actually longer (4 days) than the stay (3 days), but not less adventurous.
Waiting and doing some fukajai (secondhand) shopping at the ferry crossing over River Gambia in Janjembureh.
Getting breakfast (egg sandwiches with sugary coffee) at Manda Duane, Senegal border village, after negotiating the price for a set plas to take us directly to Kedougou, which will be about 4-5 hr ride through Tamba Kunda.
Admiring sidewalks, paved and marked roads...
Passing through Parc National du Niokolo-Koba we saw some wildlife: unidentified bird, monkeys and bush pig.
Finally at 4pm in the afternoon covered in dust, hungry and tired we arrived to Kedougou.
Kedougou PC house is an incredible place to hang out. It looks like a campment and is run by the volunteers. We camped at the house for threenights.
Our camping site at PC house.
The following day we (six of us) together with other six people traveled to Segou. At first when they said that there will be tree people traveling in the trunk seat, four people riding in the middle seat, two – in the front seat and two on the top of the car we laughed. It is not possible! Well… in Senegal it is possible:).
Getting ready…
Mesmerized by the baboon gang. ..more than few hundred of them playing, chasing each other, standing, climbing the tree.
Hiking to the Segou waterfall with our guide, Dauda.
Crossing the stream, climbing the rocks…
After about few hour hike covered in sweat we reached the destination, but the water was so biting cold.
Me, Jen, Kate, Stephanie, Hilary and Dauda.
Segou beauty…
Guard for cattle - structure unseen in the Gambia.
Second day we headed to the Dendifello village, which is about 5km from Segou village, to see Dendifelo waterfall . Due to shortage of transport in the area we decided to walk the distance but got a lift by construction truck halfway into the hike.
Modern meets traditional…solar street lights in Dendifelo village.
Hiking to Dendifelo waterfall (about 30min hike).
Impressive Dendifello waterfall falling from 100m (I was not able to fit it in one shot).
Warming up by the fire set up by the locals who came together with a group of tourists. They also shared the leftover lunch (rice) with us. Thank you! The snacks we brought with us were 2 packs of Biskrem cookies. Haha.
On the third day we hiked to Bedik village, Estuar, on this hill. Most of the people in Bedik villages are animists who still practice the traditional way of life.
Estuar village… all the people were gone to the fields, not a single person was present in this small village. It was so strange walking through deserted village – it felt like intruders. On the way out we left some CFAs to their village sacred tree (the donation they usually ask from the tourists per Patric, PCV living in Bandassari, the nearby village).
Bandassari village which is located in the valley.
Further at the horizon - Guinea.
We were lucky to get a transport back to Kedougou. We did not tell the driver our destination in Kedougou, but he knowingly stopped at PC Kedougou house. Who else will be speaking local language and looking for lift on the side of the road?
Dry season – sand and dust…
Spotted a crowd of baboons in Parc National du Niokolo-Koba on the way back to Tamba Kunda.
Language was a bit of a problem, because main languages spoken there were Fula (Pular) and French. All of us, except for Stephanie who knows Fula (different dialect though), speak Mandinka and English only. Kate and myself knew few French words and phrases which was helpful to get the prices. Traveling in beat-up and overcrowded setplases definitely was an adventure. On the way back from the border to Basse we had twelve people traveling in the wagon type car, including the driver. Two were in front passenger seat, one was sitting together with the driver in driver’s seat, four in the middle seat, three in the trunk seat, and one on the top of the car. Again, do you think it is impossible to drive a car with a passenger in your seat? Think again:)
No comments:
Post a Comment