Yougopiri Travel Guide

 F_Meignant Says:  The fruits of the baobab can be eaten. Cut them and suck the kind of white stuff inside. Refreshing! 

 F_Meignant Says:  The Dogon use to cut their bark in thin straps 1 m long, with which they make ropes. 

 F_Meignant Says:  Children: of course, they will run after you, asking for “cadeau” (gift), “stylo Bic” (ball pen), or “bonbons” (sweets).They will hold your hand while you visit their village.Cute... and suffering malnutrition. 

 F_Meignant Says:  It's hard to like some Dogon practices in particular concerning women.But I have to say that Dogon probably are among the most friendly and easy people I’ve ever met.Open minded and always a good sense of humour. In one word: they are kind.The only risk for a tourist exists... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Dogon grow all kinds of vegetable and mainly onions.Fantastic gardens in small squares to make watering easier, bright green, fresh. A permanent fight against dryness... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Yenndouma. One of the worst things when hiking in Africa is thirst... DRINK BEFORE YOU FEEL THIRSTY...! Millet beer everywhere, even in the streets… With 1€, you offer a drink for all the street ! Almost all these guys are now supposed to be Muslims. But it seems that there... 

 F_Meignant Says:  The best way to carry your luggage if you’re trekking and don’t want (or can’t) carry them by yourself.Of course, you’ll have to hire porters in mountainous areas. Don’t hesitate: it makes them earn some money. Always consider them well : it seems that lots of tourists don’t... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Walking is by far the best way for visiting Dogon country : so many places that you can’t reach in another way.The 2 guys on the picture were met when walking down from Yougo-dougourou. The little one on the right is wearing the traditional Dogon hat.He was helping Brigitte... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Like blacksmiths, huntsmen are supposed to have some special powers…The old man asked me to take the picture… “To be on the Internet”, he said…!Now, you are, man…!For the occasion, he hung a dried dead iguana at his neck. 

 F_Meignant Says:  Around villages can be seen places where are stored series of round potteries called “canaris”. They are altars in memory of the dead. Each “canari” symbolizes the skull of a dead person. Small ones are for children. 

 F_Meignant Says:  When somebody dies, there is first the burial. As soon as possible (because of the climate), the corpse is tied up in a blanket and lifted up to the cemetery caves in the cliffs.Then, a few months later, there are the funerals. At this occasion, all the village meet. Two old... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Dogon use strange sauces made of strange things… Dried leaves of baobab for example.If you are courageous, try the “ Da ”. It’s made of mutton’s head and tripe cooked with onions, sorrel and chilli. Strong taste but not bad. The only problem is that Dogon eat it for... 

 F_Meignant Says:  Dogon stairs are quite unusual, at least for Occidental legs… They are just cut in trunks and are seldom steady. They are found everywhere in villages (to climb on terraces) and even in the countryside…! Dogon can run in such “staircases”. 

 F_Meignant Says:  The paths sometimes follow the top of very impressive cliffs. Be prudent: you are not like the Tellems who were supposed to fly ! 

 F_Meignant Says:  Those ramshackle bridges are impressive. Mind your steps…!