West Africa X: Senegal--Resorts and Wildlife (10/32/23, 11/1/23)

We did some serious sightseeing on October 31, 2023 and November 1, 2023.  We took a 6:30 a.m. flight back to Dakar, Senegal, from Guinea-Bissau, and visited a wildlife refuge, Bandia Park.  We spent the night in nearby Saly, a resort town for Europeans from Spain and Britain.  The next day, we visited Joal Fadouth, a picturesque fishing village on a shell-covered island, before flying to Conakry, Guinea.
 

East Africa is full of wild animals, with many game parks and safaris.  The wild animals in West Africa have been largely killed or displaced. Bandia Park, near Dakar, is an attempt to restore traditional African wildlife to West Africa.  The park included pools and grasslands.  Dave, Mike and I were in our own 4 wheel drive vehicle, with just one other tour member, the driver, and a guide, for our game ride.

During our two-hour game ride, we saw 100 or more animals. Mike commented that the density of the animals was greater than in the East Africa game parks, although we didn’t see any of the “big five“ game, including rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo. We did see both zebras and giraffes up close. 

The giraffes ambled across the road and into the trees--both huge, dark-colored males and smaller, lighter females

We saw many members of the buffalo/eland family.

We love the African trees.

Many monkeys scampered about.

At the lodge restaurant, where we ate lunch, there were moneys climbing the railings and crocodiles sunning themselves next to the pond below us.

The gift shop sold clothing in vibrant African prints.  I thought of my Aunt Catherine's comment to my mother, when Mother showed Aunt Catherine her collection of Guatamalen skirts and Indonesian batik dresses. "Certainly, Rose, you aren't thinking of wearing those in Salt Lake City."  

People do wear those prints in Africa, as this gentleman's trousers confirm.

To reach Jaol Fadiouth, a shell-covered island, we walked across a very long, wooden bridge.  

The national sport of Senegal is wrestling, and we were greeted in Joal Fadiouth by this statue of wrestlers.

Our local guide led us on a walking tour past sellers of fresh conch shells and conch meat, dried fish, and African masks.

Our guide proudly showed us the gourds he carved himself, which were for sale at a stand next to the island's Catholic church.

I enjoy seeing how history and local culture affects architecture.  This church was nothing like the ones in France, but the colors and style were colonial with African accents.

It was a hot, humid day when we visited Joal Fadiouth.  This elder relaxed on a bench in the shade, on an alleyway paved with shells.

Other townspeople relaxed in the shade of a large baobab tree in the town square, surrounded by crafts for sale.  In several of the villages we visited in West Africa, a large tree was the village gathering place.  Nearby, pumps and plastic cans provided water for the village.

Joal Fadiouth had a picturesque cemetery on a hill across from the village.

A fisherman propelled his pirogue with a pole in the bay beneath us.

Our hotel in Saly was elegantly constructed and decorated, in African style.

I don't usually take pictures of fellow tourists' clothing, but his woman's sheer red pants with fringe down the sides was quite remarkable, particularly given her girth.

I loved the modern decor with African accents in our bedroom.

The bright blue pool was stunning, framed with orange deck chairs and green palm trees.

The beach waited, beyond the pool.