We landed at about 2 in the morning. My plan to search a hotel right after landing failed due to this delay as well as due to me eagerly awaiting a place to sleep. So there was no opportunity to look for a reasonably priced hotel. The one I had was about 30 Euro, which is quite a lot for Gambia. In the dawn, just after some hours of sleep only, a Mosque’s old speaker croaked when the first call to prayer had been announced. On the other hand I was awaken early enough to head via Brikama (the starting point of all southbound bush taxis) to Ziguinchor, the main locality in Southern Senegal called Casamance. Very important: in Ziguinchor there are at least 2 ATMs, which were fortunately in service. After being long of CFAs I went to in-town consulate of Guinea-Bissau. A few minutes and 15000 CFA later I got my visa to be finally prepared to head to Bissau.

After a side trip to Conakry I went back to Casamance, first to Carabane island, then to Ziguinchor and Kafountine. From there I travelled back to Banjul airport. Tourist rip-off is omnipresent; when using public transport such as bush taxis drivers stick to African prices though. Only when carrying luggage they try to charge you twice or even trebly. Though, on the islands people aren’t spoilt by mone; they are very friendly, polite and approach strangers with honesty and hospitality.

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Date: Jan 28th, 2006 · Comment RSS · Tags: Senegal