Senegal -

Bandia Reserve – Senegal’s Safari Experience

Gosia — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 11:10:03 +0000

Bandia Reserve lies just 65 km from Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Established in 1990, Bandia was the country’s very first private nature reserve. The area is fenced, but within its 3,500 hectares, animals roam as if the fence didn’t exist. Add to that a scenic backdrop of giant baobab trees, palms and scrub, and you’ve got yourself the perfect setting for your next wildlife photoshoot. What about the Big Five? Well… the lions and elephants have the day off. Bandia doesn’t offer the full African “Big Five” experience, but it makes up for it with sheer diversity. Here, you can spot giraffes, white rhinos, impala gazelles, buffalo, hyenas and crocodiles. The reserve is also home to ostriches and over 150 species of birds – a birdwatcher’s paradise, if there ever was one. Monkeys are a common sight too, often striking poses like they’re auditioning for National Geographic magazine cover. As for zebras – they’re around, but you’ll need luck and eagle eyes. They’re the introverts of the animal kingdom here. Best time to visit? November to May – the dry season brings the best conditions: no mud, no mosquitoes and far better chances of spotting the wildlife. Plus, the landscape becomes even more dramatic – with dry riverbeds and ancient baobabs doing their best “Out of Africa” impression. What does the safari look like? Entrance isn’t exactly cheap by Senegalese standards – 12,000 CFA francs, which is around €19 (current prices here).You can explore the reserve on your own using a private vehicle, a taxi, or a rented car. During the rainy season, 4x4s are a must. The reserve is open daily from 8:00 to 18:00, but the best time to visit is early in the morning, when it’s cooler and the animals haven’t yet clocked out for a siesta. The safari lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours, and after your adventure you can refuel at the on-site restaurant – ideally while watching crocodiles lounge lazily by their pool like scaly retirees. Bandia Reserve is the perfect choice if you want a taste of the African wild without hacking your way through the jungle with a machete. Wild animals, striking landscapes and plenty of “wow” photo options – and it’s all just an hour’s drive from Dakar.

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Senegal – vicious circle, Girl off the trail

Gosia — Mon, 29 May 2023 08:09:19 +0000

Finally, I’ve got my stuff together to write another post from my trip to Senegal. In January, just after my arrival, you could read about the problem of the progressive littering in Africa by the so-called “developed countries”. This time, I’ll present the living conditions in this country. I know that pictures are more meaningful than the words, so I will limit the comments. There is no denying that a large part of Senegal’s society lives in poverty, especially in the north of the country. Many people are malnourished, and it is especially painful to see emaciated, begging children. It has a very emotional impact, however, making any donations actually supports this illegal practice. Education in Senegal is compulsory until the age of 16, however, many children finish it earlier. Then they’re forced to work in agriculture or small services. Lack of any education rules out their chance for a better future. As a matter of fact, under these conditions, any aspirations seem to be something abstract. Agriculture is the base of Senegal’s economy. The main crops grown here are millet, couscous, rice, maize and sorghum. Peanuts are also an important export commodity. The problem of progressive overpopulation in the world increases the demand for food. In recent years, a growing phenomenon of land acquisition in Africa and the exploitation of its coasts can be observed. The main players are: China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. As a result, local people struggling with the food crisis are deprived of access to their own land and water. Another source of income is tourism. However, as a result of the terrorist threat and the cancellation of the famous Paris-Dakar rally, the number of tourists visiting Senegal has decreased significantly.Fishing is also an important branch of the economy. Fish are the basis of the Senegalese diet, and the national dish is thieboudienne – fish with rice and vegetables.Unfortunately, Senegal has been struggling for years with illegal fishing carried out by vessels under foreign flags. China is particularly expanding in this field. Fish in Senegal has been a wholesome meal for years and a source of income for a large part of the society. Currently, local fishermen equipped with simple wooden boats are losing an uneven competition with large trawlers.The Senegalese authorities are helpless in fight with illegal fishing. The lack of proper security services and the ubiquitous corruption make it impossible to take any action. Food shortages are not the only problem facing Senegalese villagers. There’s also no health care. Hospitals and clinics are located in larger cities, and any medical assistance in rural areas is practically non-existent. Ritual female genital mutilation is still common in some ethnic groups. These procedures are performed in conditions far from sterile, which causes numerous complications and health problems. The situation of women is particularly difficult. Based on my observations, I can say that they are the main labour force in agriculture. The sight of women working in the fields or carrying heavy goods is common. Nevertheless, their appearance is surprising. Despite hard work and a low standard of living, they wear carefully groomed colourful clothes. The standard of living in the countryside is very low, which is why many people decide to emigrate to the cities. Dakar – the capital of Senegal seems to be the main destination of the Senegalese. The city is overcrowded, traffic jams stretch here to the horizon, and the living conditions are far from meeting any standards. Overcrowding and a low standard of living give rise to additional social problems such as homelessness and crime. The condition of the road infrastructure also leaves much to be desired. Senegalese roads are certainly not a driver’s dream. In fact, many of them are not even asphalted. Dilapidated cars and the fantasy of drivers and passengers are a big challenge for drivers who are not adapted to local conditions. There’re numerous cars on the roads packed to the brim with various goods. Sometimes it is surprising how big capacity the roof of the car can have. People’s daily life is concentrated mainly on the roads. While driving around Senegal, you can see not only numerous roadside bazaars, bars and shops, but also hairdressers, shoemakers and other types of services. An indispensable element of roadsides are also dilapidated cars and workshops. I devoted a separate post to the problem of exporting European, scrap cars to Senegal. Along the roads, you can also see numerous animals that feed on leftovers from the street. In conclusion, I don’t really see any way to improve Senegal’s situation. The lack of decisive action on the part of the authorities makes it impossible to improve the living conditions of the country’s inhabitants. Excessive, illegal exploitation of natural resources, progressive littering in the absence of any waste management, as well as an inefficient health and education system have left Senegal in chaos. The situation of children who are forced to give up education and beg is particularly dramatic. The lack of awareness of any prospect for the young generation is a vicious circle and destroys hope for this country.

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The Gambia, Senegal – European dumping ground

Gosia — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:10:23 +0000

Today is that day! On January 1st, 2023, after a long break, I finally decided to check out the blog. To my despair, I was greeted with hundreds of notifications and updates. So far, traditionally, at the end of the year, I did a summary, this time it didn’t happen, because to be honest, I was counting down the minutes until the end of 2022 … Three canceled trips to Morocco, Malta and Mauritius made me abandon the idea of traveling to any country which name starts with with the letter M ? The lack of travel in connection with the gray reality and a few other overwhelming issues pinned me down. However, in the second half of the year, I decided it was time to stop whining and take matters into my own hands. I managed to visit Rhodes, Panama, Costa Rica, and just before Christmas I spontaneously landed in Senegal and Gambia. As haven’t written any post for several months, I know I should initiate something nice like some picture-perfect views, cozy towns or other crap like that. However, reality has revised my intentions… Since returning from Senegal and Gambia – on December 24th, I still cannot believe what I saw. Of course, before leaving, I was aware that I was going to visit Third World countries and I was mentally prepared for what I might see there. However, the reality exceeded my worst imagination. Senegal and The Gambia face a huge rubbish problem. You can see it everywhere, whether you are in a big city or village. At the same time, we should bear in mind that the countries of West Africa are among the poorest countries in the world, hence it seems that no one here cares about the issue of rubbish. What’s more, these dumps are often a main source of living. It’s so common to see families scouring “landfills” for something to sell that after a while such a picture may seem normal. The waste management system is practically non-existent there. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that both countries are struggling with illegal shipments of waste from developed countries, including Europe. I cannot understand this policy, especially given the European aspirations set out in the European Green Deal. While in Europe we attach importance to proper waste segregation, meanwhile in Senegal or The Gambia it no longer matters. What’s more, it doesn’t matter that this rubbish also consists of e-waste. The lack of any control over waste disposal sites is a huge threat to the environment, not to mention the people and often small children searching landfills. Unfortunately, it’s not the end of the story, the main European “export goods” seem to be cars suitable only for scrap. Cars from Europe are imported for parts or repaired, and those completely unfit for driving are simply left on the roads. Of course, some „souvenirs” are also from Poland… Ultimately, what rides on Senegalese or Gambian roads is far from meeting any emission or noise standards. While in Europe we promote zero-emission transport, in Africa it does not matter that smog makes it impossible to breathe normally there. All of these, combined with the unimaginable poverty that I saw, made me revise my worldview. Of course, there will always be opinions that developed countries are helping Africa. However, based on my observations, it seems to me that Africa would be fine without any interference …

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