Just a short drive from Ziguinchor, the capital of the Casamance, you will find a collection of villages that make up the Oussouye department. This tiny commune, sandwiched between the border of Guinea-Bissau and the Casamance river, is one of the most unique in the entire region. The scenery is typical of the Casamance. Rice [...]
I woke up in Ziguinchor yesterday morning and whilst I was enjoying breakfast at Le Perroquet, a friend asked me if I’d like to see a West African Manatee in the wild. I’d heard a bit about them and I knew that they were somehow related to the Dugong. Other than knowing I’d like to [...]
In May 2018, the main southern border between Cameroon and Nigeria was closed to tourists due to the ongoing security issues in the western area of Cameroon that secessionist rebels are now calling Ambazonia. The Cameroon government can not guarantee the safety of people in this area so they have decided that the best option [...]
When it comes to African rivers, the Congo and the Nile tend to split time in the spotlight. But the Niger -- the 3rd longest river on the continent -- deserves just as much attention. Bubbling up from the highlands of Guinea, and flowing out into the Atlantic Ocean via the massive Niger Delta, the [...]
For overland travelers planning on visiting multiple countries in West Africa, organizing visas is often the biggest logistical headache. Visa policies are asymmetric and often vary from embassy to embassy. In one country, the Ghanaian embassy may not grant you a visa unless you are a permanent resident of the country where you are applying. [...]
We've already written about arriving in Casamance via "the back way." If you happen to use that border crossing, the first substantial village you will come across is Abené. We have been visiting Abené since early 2017, and it's one of our favorite spots in all of West Africa. Just a few kilometers south of [...]
iOverlander - is an app that was designed by overlanders, for overlanders. Its strength is that the content submitted to the site all comes from the users. This ensures that the information provided is relevant as it is constantly being updated by people on the ground. Its a fantastic source for campsites, wild camps, good (and bad) [...]
One thing overlanders need to be sure of when travelling in West Africa is that their vehicles have relevant and current 3rd party insurance. CEDEAO (French) or ECOWAS (English) is the Economic Community of West African States. It currently has 15 member states and the following 14 states participate in the Brown Card insurance system. [...]
Situated south of Dakar and north of the Gambia, the Sine Saloum delta is 24,000 square kilometers of villages, water ways and salt flats dotted with baobabs and palm trees. Two rival Serer kingdoms, that of Sine and Saloum, left their mark here, and in addition to the diverse flora and fauna, the region is [...]
The Bijagos islands are home to some of West Africa's only predominantly matriarchal societies, and they also happen to have some of the world's most unique wildlife. Bubaque is the largest and most populated island in the Archipelago. Transport options between the island and Bissau are numerous, and you can easily use Bubaque as a [...]
