Local traditions and culture in Senegal

rice is the traditional staple food in Senegal, and riz Wolof a meal you will find everywhere in different variations. A simple version might be just rice with some tomato sauce on it, the posher version is with meat or fish, or an array of meat and veggies topping the rice with some spicy sauce. it is found in simple street restaurants as well as in hotels, so you should try it at least once during your stay in Senegal

The people who live in northern Senegal belong to the Wolof tribe. Most of the Wolof still live traditional lifestyles and rely on goat herding to make a living, although others also herd cattle. The meat and milk of the goats form a staple in the diet of the Wolof, and the goat skins are also put to various uses.

When a male baby is born, he is presented with a pair of goats to get him started in life. By the time he is old enough to take care of the goats, his flock has increased, and by the time he is ready to marry, he is usually wealthy by Wolof standards due to the large size of his herd.

In the Sahel region of northern Senegal, it is a common sight to see small boys tending to their goat herds. Since the goats rely on meager forage in this dry region, these boys and their herds can roam miles from their villages, and even spend nights out in the bush.

Every morning along the coast of Senegal, fishermen take to the sea in pirogues, long boats that are usually 33 to 49 feet (ten to 15 meters) long. In the afternoon, they sell their catch at beach markets.

The base of each pirogue is made from silk-cotton wood, which is soft and spongy. The wood is left outside for about eight months to weather in the elements. After the wood is properly seasoned, it can be easily shaped to form the floor. The sides of the pirogue are made from long planks of a harder type of wood. The seams are then coated with tar for waterproofing. Most pirogues are painted in bright colors and make for great photographic opportunities.

Since pirogues cost around $17,000 to make, they are beyond the means of most fishermen. Many are owned by businessmen who lease the boats to the fishermen.

In front of the entrance of the restaurant at the Auberge in Gouloumbou I saw this nice monkey. It was not the first auberge or campement I saw, where they have a monkey as domestic pet. Mostly the monkeys are tied with a long rope, so they can walk around a bit.

This one looked rather healthy and nice, but be careful they can be sometimes also very naughty or even aggressive, which I experieced at another auberge, where kids, or maybe also adults, provoked the poor animal.

At the Dar Salam entrance of the Niokolo Koba Park we had to wait some time for the paying of the entrance fee and arranging our guide.

Beside the road, leading into the park, are some traditional Senegalese round huts with nicily thatched roofs. I liked the possibility to have a closer look at it, because I'm always interested in traditional building methods.

But when the kids in the village found out, that our cars were standing in front of the parkgate, they run towards us and our cars. So the quietness was over. Some of the kids were really shy and cute, but others very bold.

Around the corner, only a 100 M from the welding workshop, we also were sitting a long time, waiting for our turn at the cybercafe. I was allready used to the fact, that in Africa you have to wait a lot for almost everything. Take it as an advantage.

I was never disappointed for all the waiting, because when you sit down somewhere in the shade at the sidewalks in any town, there is so much to see. I think I can sit there for hours or more.

Opposite the cybercafe was a furniture workshop, also in the open air just beside the road. So you can see the furniture makers at work, but also the results of their work. Look at that fancy decorated bedstead, handmade in Tambacounda.

Waiting at the welding workshop till our car would be repaired, it was nice not only to look at the streetstalls and little shops, but also at all the people and all means of transportation passing by.

There were many horse carts, used by younger as well older people, like these three, nicily dressed old men. With so many horses in town I got the idea, that the containers made by the innertubes, maybe could be used for the horses to give them water or food.

While we were sitting in the shade at the welding workshop in Tambacounda, we had a nice look at the streetlife and could see what was going on in the street.

Oppsite the workshop there was a interesting streetstall with all kind of plastic containers in different colours. But the most peculiar containers were the ones, made of black innertubes. They looked funny hanging at the roofrim. I have no idea for what they will be used, but I'm always surprised about the creativity of the African people, especially, how they recycle and re-use materials.