April 2009

Gao

Gao

On the boat ride back to Gao, the local children were as usual very excited to see us.

Le Dune Rose

Le Dune Rose

Le Dune Rose, or The Pink Dune, just outside of Gao, Mali, overlooks the Sahara. The local name for the dune means "Come Understand".

Along the Niger

Along the Niger

Along the Niger just outside of Gao, Mali, the local semi-nomadic people set up temporary shelters.

The Trail Down

The Trail Down

From the right-most break in the cliff we climbed and walked down to where the slope meets the wall of the cliff, and then walked down the rest of the way.

Climbing Down

Climbing Down

From the top of the cliff, we followed the path down onto the plain. The path weaved down into a narrow ravine which opened up onto the sloping part of the cliff.

The Cliff

The Cliff

The cliff of Dogon Country (the Falaise de Bandiagara)

The Trail Down

The Trail Down

The trail down the cliff led us to a ravine (on the right) that we weaved down into before reaching the sloping part of the cliff.

The Cliff

The Cliff

The cliff of Dogon Country (the Falaise de Bandiagara)

Young Dogon Girl

Young Dogon Girl

This girl lives in a small village overlooking the cliff in Dogon Country, Mali

Dogon Village

Dogon Village

This Dogon village sat high up on the cliff (the Falaise de Bandiagara). In the background the cliff stretches out into the plain, and on the right small balls of rolled up green onions have been set out to dry on a roof.

Dogon Granary

Dogon Granary

A typical Dogon granary, made of mud with a small wooden door.