Things to see and do Eastern Senegal

There are two official entrances to the park: Dar Salam and Oubadji. There is a guard post where you have to buy a visitor's permit. It is mandatory to take an official guide to visit the park. You will find them at the park entrance in Dar Salam, where the office of the guides who have been trained by the park office is located. Some are specialized in fauna, others in flora. They will take you directly to where the animals have their habits.

Located south of Kédougou, about 30 kilometers by track, the Bassan waterfall and mount, as well as the Dimboli waterfall, are nice walks in the area. In December, the waterfall no longer flows, but it is still a very beautiful point of interest. We are here in the heart of the Dialonke country. It is possible to make stops in the villages of Karori, Lingan and Malem, either at the foot of the mountains or perched on the hills.

Commissioned by Bob, the only toubab living in Salémata, this neo-gothic-style fortified castle strangely stands out in the middle of the village's traditional huts, bewildering tourists and locals alike as they pass by. Nothing historical however, it is only the work of a fantasy of a very eccentric French expatriate who initially wanted to build a hunting lodge in Salémata, then finally a nightclub. We don't know where he's going with this, but he used locals to make his dream come true, and that's good enough!

In addition to the waterfall, it is possible to visit the Dandé caves in the village of Alpha Yaya and to go to the source of the waterfall on the plateau with a guide. You can also hike to the top of the falls to get a bird's eye view and thrill in the descent (notice to experienced hikers). You can also make a full day loop through the potters' village of Nandumare and the Afia waterfall, with a view of the Ségou waterfall.

This is the most spectacular waterfall in the region! Bathing suit essential. As you go deeper into the dense forest along the path leading to it, the air is refreshed by lush vegetation. After a good half hour's walk, you arrive at a real pool of pure, fresh water, a haven of peace in an exceptional setting. Be aware that if you go in the dry season, the waterfall will be less abundant in water and therefore less impressive. But, rest assured, you can always take a dip in the natural pool!

In Ibel, all the buildings are made of marble. Impressive visit of the marble mine, obligatory accompanied by a guide. There are tons and tons of off-white, grey, pink, green... stones which unfortunately are not exploited, despite the opening of the mine in the 1960s. At the origin artisanal, the exploitation became industrial, but requires many means. Today, it is necessary to make a way between the clay tracks, the grass, the stones to arrive at the quarry.

The Simenti area, which extends from the large viewpoint to the Goose Paw, is the most popular part of Niokolo Koba Park. It is here that one meets the large ponds, along the Gambia and Niokolo Koba, and thus the large gatherings in dry season. Buffalos and hippotragues come to drink by tens, while monkeys, crocs and hippos populate the edges of the river. It is the queen region of the tourist, and it is often the only one to be accessible during the winter. Some fords become much more difficult.

With its unique biodiversity, the Dindéfello Community Reserve is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in West Africa. Renowned as an exceptional ornithological spot, it is also home to an endangered species: the West African chimpanzee (pan troglodytes verus). The Jane Goodall Institute in Spain, a foundation created by the famous primatologist, has set up a research, conservation and training centre there with the aim of protecting this endangered primate.

It is the highest point of the park, a high plateau (311 m), which can be reached only by a difficult road, practicable only in 4x4. Once at the top, the panorama is lunar, and the animals, often the rarest of the park, are all the more appreciated. Chimpanzees and Derby elands, the largest antelopes in the world, live mostly here, and if you have to see elephants (probably a miracle), no need to look elsewhere. The place lives up to its position, difficult to access, and it is no coincidence that it is a favorite of many researchers.

A subsidiary of the French group Geocoton, Sodefitex (Société de développement et des fibres textiles) produces between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes of cotton fibres per year. This quality fibre, of immaculate whiteness, is sold today only abroad following the crisis that hit the Senegalese spinning mill in the 1980s. In Tambacounda, its ginning plant supports the local economy. It employs more than 400 seasonal workers from December to April, when it is operating at full capacity. This visit is possible with the Tamba Tourist Office.

This structure offers information and some leaflets on eastern Senegal. It also houses the guides' office where you will be warmly welcomed by Mamadou Camara, a permanent member of the union and an approved guide. He is in charge of informing and guiding those who are looking for qualified guides and also of organizing 2 to 5 day tours in the region. Possibility of bivouac in the park of Niokolo Koba, stays in Guinea and visits to the city of Tambacounda. Also car rental.

Nice story of tenacity that these young people from Segou. Three of them discovered, by chance, two waterfalls after a long peregrination in the forest in 1998: Abdoulaye, Boubacar and Samalé. They told the village elders, who didn't believe them for a second. They brought a photographer to the site, who encouraged the elders to go and see for themselves. Since then, they have formed an economic interest group to help tourists discover "these wonders". And they are committed to preserving the site and the forest from poaching.

To get to the gold panners from Mako, turn right after the bridge over the Gambia coming from Tambacounda. Continue on the track for about 7 km until you reach a village a little higher up where the track ends. A contact with a person from the village, and you can be accompanied to the placers. You can also inquire at the Keur Annick camp for someone to accompany you there (except Monday and Friday, gold diggers' days off). There, children descend into the bowels of the earth in very narrow holes, which are extended by horizontal galleries more than five or six meters long. The earth is then carried in gourds by the women of the village to the river. There, it is filtered and sometimes reveals traces of gold around the perimeter. In general, nothing exceptional, but you never know, one nugget is sometimes enough to make you rich for years. Tourists sometimes have to pay a visit fee in the village: it's a matter of customer's head and contact. The same goes for photos. This touristic aspect is not on the side of Hérémakono, where the landscape and the context are certainly wilder, but travelling through the Falémée region is an adventure (everything will depend on your contact on the spot) and requires to accept to spend a lot of time on the road. On the other hand, the landscapes are beautiful, and there are often surprises!