from Dogons to Lobis, tours and touristic stays in Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Mali, Bandiagara cliff, Mopti, Djenne mosque, Niger river, animism, masks, Bobo Dioulasso

The Dogon's country is a vast area, more than 125 miles long, with a population of about 250,000, inhabiting 700 villages. With thorny vegetation, the villages are scattered and snuggled in the Bandiagaras’ cliff. The Dogon land is priceless in Africa with its architectural as well as spiritual plan. Ten centuries ago, the Dogons, animists, took refuge in that place to evade the invasion of Islam. The Dogons conserve very rich myths and have a complex social organization. The beauty of the villages, their millet granaries, their talking huts (Toguna) and some of their necropolis will fascinate you. Some onion fields give the only touch of color in this mineral universe. The best way to discover Dogon's country is to walk along winding tracks.

Arrival, welcome , diner and night at the Grand Calao.

Departure for a Bendrologie museum (drum's language) ; ethnological treasure witch collecting sacred masks, musical instruments, gravestones, statues and putting together social live's scenes.

You will go on a forgotten track witch will lead you to the Heart of the Dogon's country. You will cross the Dogon's plain (stop to see the more beautiful Togunas) to arrive at the cliff of Bandiagara. Walking on winding tracks, stones busy, you will visit beautiful villages hitched to the mass of fallen stones.

You will be accompanied by a Dogon's guide that will initiate you into his knowledge. Then, return in the evening to the encampment for diner and passing the night.

You will visit MOPTI, considered as the Mali's Venice, at the confluence of Niger River and Bani River. Look at the port : hard smells and various colors are all meeting, enjoy the ballet offered by Pinasses and other dugout canoes.

DJENNE : town trip and visit of its mud mosque (considered as the highest mud monument in the world).

Arrival in BOBO DIOULASSO : second town of Burkina, is a city of greenery, lively and rich of traditional music. Musical evening (Balafon and Djembe) for sleep laters.

You will join BANFORA to admire the domes of FABEDOUGOU, looking as real calcareous caeced by erosion, the waterfalls of KERFIGUELA where bathing is possible. Visit in the Senoufo's villages where you will see the crafts-men’s work (basketwork, pottery…),then you will look after hippopotamus in TENGRELA lake, on a pirogue.

Departure for the Lobi's country. Stop at LOROPENI to visit the ruins. In OBIRE, you will perhaps meet the King of Gan (small ethnic group insisting on holding their identity). Visit of GAOUA and its museum. In DIEBOUGOU, you will visit a kind of fortress inside a cave, Germain's remains of the First World War. In SABOU, visit to the sacred crocodiles (take care, they don’t know…). Return to OUAGADOUGOU in the afternoon, dinner and passing the night at Mercure Silmande.

Visit of OUAGADOUGOU : crafts-men’s center, bronze makers, shopping. Lunch in town and transfer to the airport at the end of the afternoon.

During : 15 days

Lodging : hotels and encampments.