On leaving camping Sekuta we headed initially to what looked like a nice and quiet border crossing into the Casamance region of Senegal. However on arrival it became clear that it was so quiet because the only way of crossing the border here was in a pirogue over one of the Gambia river tributaries! Back onto the main road to a road crossing which as we are getting used to them was fairly straightforward and no money had to change hands, just the usual Bonjour, Cava? , Cava bien, conversation and elaborate handshakes.
So back into Senegal and relief despite the fact that every book guide and intrernet foreign office report states that this region is still dangerous to tourists because of a disagreement between the locals and the government in Dakar. To us however it was a haven, the monkeys were back along with the circling vultures and palm trees. First stop in the area was the village of Kafountine, a remarkably laid back place with imitation rasta’s in bob marley t shirts and large cigarettes crawling around the streets. We found ourselves parked behind a local restaurant run by a half senegalese half dutch couple who were incredibly friendly and fixed us some great local cuisine. The peanut sauce Mafi, this was to become a favourite althoug have eaten rather too much of it now!
In Kafountine we hired a couple of bikes and went out for a amusing ride along the beach to take photos of the fishermen and their boats. And to have a swim in the sea, nearly as warm as bath water!
Two nights were spent here before we decided to head further south and on to the road for Mali.
