Senegal April 2004

Senegal was a country I tried to enter once and couldnt due to document car problems, so my first failed attempt got stuck in my throat for a while until I went there to try again.
I went back to Senegal in April 2004 with my car all the way from Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, and could give a wide trip on the country, exploring almost every single region of Senegal. As I entered The Gambia, I had to come back again to Senegal. I was actually expecting more about this country but I liked it and maybe I wiill come back one day, but I think only to pass to Mali and other West African countries.

My traject in the country

Mauritania/Senegal borderRosso, St. Louis, Richard Toll, Ndioum, Ouro Sogui, Bakel, Kidira, Mali Border, Tambacounda, Dar Salam, Tambacounda, Velingara
Senegal/The Gambia/Senegal border
Kaolack, Diourbel, Thies, Dakar, St. Louis, Rosso
Senegal/Mauritania border

River Senegal in Ndioum

The Senegal River is located in West Africa, covers 1.6% of the continent and spreads over four countries: Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Mauritania.
The sources of the Senegal River are located in Guinea and in the south-western part of Mali. This is a very important way of transportation, nd for centuries has been the fastest way of commercial trades along the countries that actually have it.
This picture was taken near Ndioum village after Ndiayene. This was one of my most beautiful sunsets ever.

Tambacounda City - Senegal

Tambacounda is the major city stop on the train from Dakar to Bamako in Mali. This used to belong to the Ancient Empire of Mali. This city is inside the reagion with the same name: Tambacounda which has the famous National Park of Niokolo Koba, World Heritage

Tambacounda is famous for its rich djembe (type of traditional drum from senegal) and dance culture and heritage.

Here on the picture you can see Touba written on the wall. Touba stands for this very famous city where anually people go to this festival to see their Marabu (holy man).

Tambacounda Senegal Touba


Markets in Tambacounda

Covered Markets


(Tambacounda Senegal Markets shopping Africa)

This indoors markets can be found near the road to Dakar. Along the street and after the main police headquarters.
This is surely the place to get some scarfs and tissues with local paterns from senegal. remeber all this stuff comes from china! they are not made in senegal. the one painted yes, but the ones printed, no way. i once asked a lady where were hers tissued made and she dais dakar, ok poor woman, she know that's comming from dakar, but from china to dakar, dakar to tamba hehehe.

Street Markets


Tambacounda Senegal Africa

Street markets are very interesting to walk. You can get almost everything on the streets, from clothes to tasty mangoes! yes buy some mangoes, very cheap. you have to deal the prices, cos people will doble the actual price of things just because you're a foreigner. Driving here is mad, the streets have huge holes where your car suspension will die!

Local Shops


Tambacounda Senegal Local Shops Africa

you can see how do the local senegalese shops look like. you have fancy supermarkets on some of the major petrol stations with expensive european stuff (low quality one of course), but this place you get the real thing!

Youth Hostel - Tambacounda Senegal

We got to this auberge after we went to be received by the Mayor of Tambacounda. He was the one who pointed us a few hotels and auberges to stay. This seemed to be the kind of auberge du jeunesse in town, so we decided to come here.

This was a nice place, clean bathrooms and nice rooms with fans, which are very important taking in consideration having 50 degrees during the day and maybe 45 during the night. You have also private water coolers in each room.

Prices

Double room 4500CFA +-7euros

Directions

Behind the train station. After the rail road and on the road to Niokolo Koba this place stays on the left side. When you see a phone teleboutique just ask for the auberge.