Our group

Was 10, including one Canadian, one Aussie, one Kiwi (who lives in the UK) and five Brits. We had one in her 30s, one in her 40s, three 50 somethings, three 60 somethings, Jim at 74 and an 86 year old.

M'bour fishing village

Because fishing boats arrive and depart from this port, a huge market exists. Vendors from all over West Africa bring their goods here: Mali, Ivory
Coast, Burkina Faso. The market was jammed with people.

Fishing boats arriving at M'bour port

JOL and CMC

At Joal, Senegal.

Cemetery at Joal-Fadiout

The mangroves at in the river deltas are a source of oysters. On the same areas are large quantities of mussels. Over centuries, man made islands have been formed from the shells of these products of the sea. Villages have been built on these islands. This is the cemetery of two of these villages, Joal- Fadiout. It is divided into Muslim and Christian areas. French Catholic missionaries settled in Fadiout, so it is largely Catholic. There is a mosque as well. Note, the bodies are buried in shells.

Mangrove sunset

Sine-Saloum Delta, Senegal

Our guide

In the mangroves.

Wassu stone circles

Dating from AD 500 to A D 1000. Thought to be burial sites. In Gambia.

Gambia River tour

Gambia

We've been in and out of Gambia. Gambia is a former British colony completely surrounded by French-speaking Senegal. It was taken by the British so that they could use the Gambia River to transport slaves. (The Brits outlawed slave trade in 1811 and slavery in 1833.) We drove past the village where Kunta Kinte was born (see Alex Haley's Roots). We stayed at Georgetown and did a town tour on foot. We saw the Wesleyan Mission school, founded in 1824. Georgetown became a refuge for freed slaves, including those who
left other colonies.

Parade refreshments

Parade goers

Senegalese Independence Day parade

Became independent on April 4, 1960.

Dindefelo Falls

After a picnic lunch, we walked 45 minutes to a waterfall. I had my suit and put it on, but I was deterred from swimming by my trip mates.

Bedik children

Bedik village

Up early to take a one hour climb up to the Bedik village of Iwol. Very warm walk.