Blogs from West, Mali, Africa
May 10th 2011
Pourquoi Gouina ? Pour ses chutes, leur beauté et l'image qu'elles donnent du Mali, pour la ruralité et l'échange qui peut en résulter entre nos différentes cultures, parce que nord ou sud nous faisons face aux mêmes enjeux, pour les hippopotames, pour, pour le grand potentiel du lieu et sa tranquillité et parce qu'il n'y a pas de moustiques. Le choix d'implantation pour le projet de centre socioculturel s'est aussitôt porté sur les trois bâtiments assez proches des chutes sans y porter non plus préjudice, fortement dégradés mais ayant le mérite d'être déjà existants. Nous voulons les rénover pour les orienter sur 3 domaines : écologique, professionnel et socioculturel. L'observatoire écologique a pour fonction de surveiller le site et de garantir sa sécurité écologique, répertorier et protéger les espèces animale... read more
November 13th 2008
Friday 07 November We split up to do various bits and pieces before our starting on our road to Mali. We agree to meet up at the roundabout in the middle of town. I get to a service station to refuel when a 1200 GSA pulls in. Jean-Marie comes from near Avignon, speaks great English as well as quite a few other languages. He is touring around. He wants to go to Mali but was told it would be very hot. We talk. Why not tag along with us? OK. We are on our way. The road to Mali is probably the best we have been on since Northern Mauritania. The countryside is heavily wooded to begin with and becomes drier and drier the further east we go. There is a lot of timber and charcoal ... read more
August 22nd 2008
The journey from Bamako to Kayes by train and then from Kayes to Kenieba by overlanden truck had been fun but tiring, seen as it was rainy season, so we rested up in Kenieba for a while. Beautiful town situated where a glen comes out between two falaises. None of the hassle present in other Malian towns. We then organised some motorbikes to take us across the river and into Senegal to Tembacaounda. The problem was it was rainy season and the normal route was flooded. So we had to follow some interesting shortcuts to get to the river and then - motorbikes and all - persuade two canoeists to paddle us across the swollen river. Scary stuff, but we got there safe enough. From there on it was easy - they are building a big ... read more
May 6th 2008
We entered Mali relieved to be back on the road again, our latest breakdown behind us. After having a coke in the border official's brother's shop, per recommendation of the border official, our passports and Carnet were stamped and we were on our way to Dogon Country. The ride out to Sanga on the southern edge of Dogon Country was very pleasant, and the road was in reasonably good condition from Bandiagara despite people warning us about the roads in this part of Mali. Dogon is one of Mali's premier tourist attraction, but the heat among other things meant one day was plenty for us to fully appreciate the unusual architecture and beautiful scenery on the escarpment. Our guide was the classic "English-speaker" who actually speaks no English whatsoever, so our only source of information about ... read more
