Blogs from Saint-Louis Region, Senegal, Africa - page 4

Well I made it though Rosso (Mauritanian - Senegal border) with few problems. 1000 UM to bribe the Mauritanian border cop and another 1000 CFAs (plus a copy of “The New Yorker” for a guy who helped me to get to the gare on the Senegalese side. In St. Louis they have ATMs and beer! Actually got quite a buzz off only 2 beer! Then I slept for twelve hours. Today I looked around St. Louis and am planning to go to a campermant south of here to relax for two days. Mike told me about some girl Katie who wants to meet me in London --- we’ll see! ... read more

For those who care, I am sorry I have let so much time pass between blogs; I will try to do better in the future. Ramadan in Senegal ended last week so now I am no longer questioned in the street as to why I am not fasting as I slurp down one of the four 1.5 L water bottles that I consume daily. By the way, I have discovered the secret of the slim Senegalese figure in conjunction with a diet in which peanut oil constitutes its own food group. You see, after downing your ‘an’ (lunch) of rice and fried onions, one must then walk five miles in the blazing equatorial sun. The result: five pounds of water weight gone before you reach your doorstep. For those who feel they need to put in ... read more

Travel is so easy in South East Asia. Generally, you arrive at the bus station, buy a ticket and have a cushy, air conditioned drive to where ever. Not in Africa. There is little to no public transport in many African countries, so most travel is done using 4WD vehicles or "sept-place" taxis, French for "7 seats". That's 7 people crowd into a little wagon that seats 7 (5.5) people. On first glance the whole ordeal just appears very haphazard and confusing, but once you get the hang of it, there's quite a rhythm to the madness. I've met my fair share of people trying to rip me off, I haven't had too many problems in the past, but this one takes the cake: We got a taxis outside our hotel in Dakar. We were told ... read more

Visit of Zebrabar on Easter Vacations with Family Members! We visited Zebrabar, a charming place, which invites to excursion and discoveries. Located about 20 kilometers off Saint Louis, Zebrabar is an oasis of peace and kids friendly vacation spot in Senegal. Its proximity to the Langue de Barbarie National Park and "Isles aux Oiseaux" makes it an attractive campground for parents with children and a place of encounter with nature. The place combines birds’ park, white sand beaches, salt water for surfing, fishing, and fresh water for kayaking and windsurfing, and a people friendly and welcoming community. Zebrabar, own by a Swiss couple, is built on the shoreline of the Senegal River. In the early afternoon, the Senegal River displays one of the most beautiful exhibitions that nature graciously offers. The dance and singing of ... read more

As a result of skipping an extra day in Nouakchott, we had a bonus day added to our itinerary. So we had the opportunity to take one day longer to get to Dakar and we chose to stay in Zebrabar national park just outside St Louis. Here we had a really relaxing time in the beautiful setting. We took an afternoon boat trip along the river and stopped on a sand spit where you could see St Louis off in the distance. There were literally thousands of crabs scurrying across the sand which made us all smile.... read more