After Monika has finished eating the whole stock available in a pharmacy thinking that chemical food may be good against fishy malaria, we finally got her back 2 normal food e.g. chicken with fries or fries with chicken; it depends on the offer.
Last week, we drove quite a bit 2 the west. Currently we’re enjoying heat’n’humidity in Cap Skirring in Senegal.
An internal correction: Martin realised that he placed the wrong pic in the last week’s header. Probably he wanted to place the beautiful beer garden u c at the left.
But let’s start in Bobo Dioulasso where it starts:
We left Bobo on our way 2 Ségou in Mali; the border was pretty easy, no long waiting, no missing internet connections 4 useless forms – after less than an hour we crossed it.
Roads were quite ok, few vehicles, it seems the road is mainly used 2 transport chicken and ….
…. by the evening we arrived in Ségou, admiring River Niger and having a cold beer watching the world floating by.
The next day on 2 Bamako, the great capital of what remains of the proud Republic of Mali. On the way 1 of these reliable fuel stations with smuggled extra heavy Nigerian diesel enriched by huge loads of sulphur’n’dust.
In Bamako we found a classy guesthouse – C’est Comme chez Soi – same price as everybody, but much better…
… and in the evening a great sundowner with a sunset Kitsch as Kitsch can be.
After Bamako the long drive 2 the Senegalese border. A famous road with all kind of surprises, taking at least 2 days.
On the way still some interesting transports ….
… the 1st evening we arrived at lake Manantali – with its famous dam producing energy for the whole region.
We used our lodge on the rooftop at Cool Camp.
Thanx 2 our fridge we had some ice-cold beer, nevertheless we dreamt the whole night of North Pole in January.
The next day on the way 2 Kayes we passed great landscapes.
In the afternoon we finally reached Kayes in Western Mali. The town still very remote, but lot of life and colours.
We stayed at the Hotel du Rail – a world renowned place for spending the night in Kayes – at least it had this reputation a long time ago. Please read the full story in our Newsletter.
Then we moved on to Senegal. Now the road was ok, the border absolutely chaotic with 1000s of trucks waiting 4 ages to enter Mali.
The main problem 2 cross the border was the road blocked by all these trucks, so we had to take these muddy paths normally utilised by smugglers.
Border formalities were not 2 complicated, of course we needed the famous biometric visa 4 Senegal – give ur or ur neighbours fingerprints, or simply paint them on a piece of paper, hand over some money – and that’s it.
Traffic in Senegal – the usual, at least they make good use of available space on public transport.
Tambacounda, our 1st town in Senegal. Not much 2 do, buying a SIM card, go 2 the ATM, refuel and ….
… recover from Mali’s roads’n’hotels with a bottle of Gazelle.
The next day on the way 2 Kolda we experienced that Senegal is heavily competing Mali concerning road quality.
So it took slightly longer 2 reach Kolda, the place we have worked some 15 years ago. Well, nowadays it’s a little bigger, a little busier, but we still found back many places not having improved over the time.
On the way 2 Ziguinchor we followed Casamance river on the northern shore, made a short visit 2 Sédiou on the riverbanks …
….and finally reached Ziguinchor where we stayed at the Hotel Kadiandoumagne ….
…. and admired the beautifull sunset over River Casamance.
Yesterday we arrived in Cap Skirring. Very quiet, most places closed, no season, no tourists, but still wonderful sunsets.
Accomodation was not really worldclass – well, maybe except 4 the prize.
And last but not least
The 6pack of this post: It’s all about fashion in Africa. Who the hell needs a special brand? Why going to a specialized shop. In West Africa u just follow the road. It’s all there, it’s all made in the same country – China – and it’s all beautiful (at least some of it).
