Located between Guinea and Senegal, the Bassari Country has just joined the UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the Senegalese part of the region, it is almost entirely covered by the Niokolo-Koba National Park. Endowed with a lively local life, a culture as rich as it is ancient and ancestral rites, the Bassari Country is recognized worldwide for its great festivals and its convivial meals. To get there, you will need to find a plane ticket to Dakar, take a connection to arrive in Kédoudou on a market day, then find a 4×4 to go inland.
Overview of the Bassari Country
Located in the south-east of Senegal, not far from the borders with Guinea and Mali, the Bassari country finds its place in a region of hills in the foothills of the Fouta Djalon massif. It can be divided into two distinct geographic regions: the mountains to the south, and the plains to the north. The southern region, in the caves and steep reliefs, has many archaeological remains, testifying to the ancestral occupation of the region. The north is mainly composed of crops, wooded savannahs and meadows.
The Bassari country is home to three very distinct geocultural regions: Bandafassi, the Bedik region, Salemata, the Bassai region, and Dindéfélo, the Peul region.
These people with very different characteristics live here in perfect harmony with nature. While in the past, the grouped villages served as a strategy for these populations, today they are scattered and live near the fields. Discovering eastern Senegal and its traditional festivals offers a good overview of the cultural specificities between each people. Thus we discover their ways of interacting with each other and learn a little more about the spiritual, agro-pastoral and social practices of each.
Ethnic minorities
Ethiopia Bedik
Probably made up of less than 10,000 people (the figures are still imprecise), the Bedik ethnic group lives in the Bandafasi area and is originally from Mali. Divided into several clans, today they are mostly farmers. While the men still go hunting to meet the needs of their group, the women make pottery from red earth found at a place of sacrifice.
Ethnia Bassari
Composed of 10,000 to 15,000 people, the Bassari ethnic group has settled on the border between Guinea and Senegal. Having lived isolated for a long time in cave dwellings, the population is today still structured into age groups where women have a very important place. The Bassari live by hunting and gathering and cultivate their land in winter. The Bassari ethnic group is currently going through an important period of evolution with the generalization of schooling and galloping modernity. Aware of the importance of preserving their culture and their way of life, they are now opening their doors to tourists and offering them the opportunity to discover Senegal “differently”.
Ethnia Dialonké
Impossible to estimate the number of people belonging to the Dialonké ethnic group because of an early rural exodus and a division of the people after the break-up of the Mandingo empire. However, we know that populations are divided into three age groups: the first from birth to adolescence, the second from adolescence to about 35-40 years, then the last until death. The second age group is considered to be the most important within the Dilonké population. This is the age of responsibilities, work and procreation. The groups live mainly from picking and also practice a variety of crafts: basketry, weaving, pottery …
Trip to Bassari country
Any nature circuit in eastern Senegal must be earned! The Bedik villages, perched on the high Senegalese peaks, are synonymous with breathlessness, climbing and sometimes even discouragement.
But be sure, the game is worth the effort. The superb panoramic view for miles around and the warm welcome of the inhabitants quickly make you forget the efforts. Bandafassi and its impressive caves, Ibel and its marble exploitation, Dindéfélo and its vertiginous waterfalls … Each village has its own characteristics. Let us not forget that the Bassari country is located at the gates of the Niokolo-Koba National Park. This immense nature reserve is home to lions, hyenas, wild dogs, buffaloes, hippotragues … In all, more than 80 species of mammals and 300 species of birds live in the nature reserve.
Flora is also abundant, mainly around rivers. The plains and valleys are covered with herbaceous savannas while other parts of the park are entirely invaded by superb bamboo groves. A trip to Senegal, in the footsteps of the country’s eastern ethnic groups, offers a superb overview of the last ancestral populations of West Africa. Here we go from animal safaris in the footsteps of large African mammals to encounters with locals, nature hikes to walks in small villages. Extremely isolated due to its geographical location, the Bassari country is a region that is still little visited. Moreover, there are only a few local travel agencies to offer this type of tour, which is particularly physical. The fact remains that such a trip allows you to open your eyes and understand the harmful effects of globalization on these isolated populations. Formed several centuries ago, today they are in the midst of a phase of transformation towards a modern way of life.
To complete this authentic discovery of Senegal, it is also possible to visit Dakar and its colorful markets, the island of Gorée, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as well as Lac Rose, a huge lagoon with reflections. roses to discover during a ride by bike, horseback, 4×4 or quad. More than just visits, Senegal is experienced and felt through daily adventures. Go on an adventure, climb mountains, walk through the savannah and bathe in waterfalls to reach the untamed lands of the Bassari country, between sky and mountain.
