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The park is located in a well-watered area along the banks of the Gambia river and two major tributaries, the NioKolo Koba river east of the Gambia River and the Koulountou river west of the Gambia River.The are several viewpoints along the river and its tributaires, but the viewpoint at Gambia River from the Simenti Hotel is one of the best.
Allthough there are about 80 species of mammals, 330 species of birds, 36 reptiles and 20 amphibians in the park, we didn't see many animals during our visit.We did see some antilopes and the giant derby eland, but all at rather big distance. There are also leopards, lions, buffalos, crocodiles and hippos in the park, but we didn't see them. The only animal we saw very close was this male baboon, just beside the track.
We visited the park in november 2004. We knew allready, that the orginal elephant population of the park was disappeared, but we red that a new herd of elephants was been brought to the park. In the park we found out, that there was not yet any new elephant arrived. They told us, that, allthough it was arranged, that 70 elephants could come, they didn't come. The reason was, that the ecologists said there must at least be a start with 130 elephants.So we didn't see any elephant along the river or at any other place in the park.
Nor far after we entered the Niokolo Koba Park at the Dar Salam entrance we drove this nice shady road, lined with teak trees. Our guide explained us, that these trees were planted by the local people from the village nearby.From the entrance of the park to the Simenti Hotel is about 20 KM. It took us about two hours to drive this distance. To reach the hotel you don't need a 4WD.
In the Niokolo Koba Park you will find gallery forests and savannah. The vegetation in the park varies according to the topography and the soil. The variety in trees and plants in the park is very rich. Near the Gambia River the vegetation is abundant with trees, lianes and bushes. In the plains you can find areas of herbaceous savannas. In and around the marshes and ponds the vegetation is very variable again, depending on the height, waterlevel and the soil structure.
The Niokolo Koba National Park is Senegal's major park and covers about 900.000 hectares. At the Dar Salam park entrance you can find this map painted at the wall. So you nave a nice overview of the park with its riversThe park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forests and savannahs of Niokolo-Koba National Park have a very rich fauna of 330 species of mammals, like the giant derby elands, the largest one of the antelopes, waterbucks, bushbucks, baboons, monkeys, lions, leopards, as well as 36 species of reptiles and 20 species of amphibians.
We spent one night in the Park in the Simenti area. So this was the part of the park around the Gambia river were we made our gamedrive in the evening. Hotel de Simenti organises safaries in the park, but you can also use your own car and hire a guide.The best times for viewing animals are from the end of October to the end of June.
Past peoples of the Senegal coast used to harvest the riches of the sea, of course. But some of them did this with such gusto that they have left entire small mountains of discarded shells, bones and pottery. In the Sine Saloum delta these can be found in the central eastern parts, sheltered from the outer coast. Here are huge areas of undulating terrain that consists entirely of shell mounds.Most of these mounds have been estimated or excavated in one way or the other, so most of archaeological value has been recovered and resuced. Nevertheless, or perhaps because of this and the information they have yielded, they are definitely worth visiting.There is much information available locally on these past peoples and shell mounds, so expect your guides to give you access to this or find out yourself. Happy discovery!
Ile Goree is a great place to visit on a day trip basis, or you can stay overnight and take advantage of good restaurants and accommodation there.There is one swimming beach in the harbour area, otherwise the place is rocky. It served as a Portugese and later British and French administrative quarter for much of their respective West African "business" (slave trade, ivory trade etc.). Many people visit here from America, being told that this was the exit point of slaves from Africa. Administratively, this was perhaps true, but not in practice, but the tourism industry thrives on this belief.The island is a UNESCO World heritage Site due to its unique architecture and history, has a museum and much other stuff to see.
This is a very plesant art gallery in centreville Dakar. You can go inside but not make pictures. Theres usually great Senegalese painters exhibiting there and you can have an idea of how the Senegalese contemporary art is doing nowadays.
Domaine de Nianing Dakar
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Tama Lodge Mbour
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Terrou-Bi Dakar
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Q: how to???? travel agent? Money is an issue..but as my wife and I do not have unlimited time nor strength... direct travel is the...
A: hi, can the flight back with Air France that take 20 hours plus include decent stopovers to go sightsee the places you could stop at?
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