A few weeks ago I was able to fulfill a longstanding dream of taking a motorcycle trip trip through West Africa. It was an 11 day/2700 mile ride from Aneho, Togo to Tombouctou, Mali by way of Burkina Faso. There were three stops that really stood out to me as incredible destinations for one reason or another.While travel is probably one of my passions, every trip is different, andevery destination has its own charm. West Africa's destinations are a touch more rugged than some, but that does not take away from the appeal.
Djenne is West Africa's oldest city that dates back to 200 B.C. It is most well known for having the world's largest mud mosque which is also the world's largest mud structure. This remote city was amazing for the mosque, but not overly impressive for anything else.
http://wn.com/The_Ancient_African_City_of_Djenne
Tombouctou is well known for many reasons, but probably none as much as the slogan, "from here to Tombouctou". It flourished because it was the furthermost point on the Niger River that was used for the trade route. Salt, gold, slaves, and goods were the predominant merchandise that were carried by camel trains and dug out canoes. Tombouctou has a mosque that once boasted 25,000 students from around West Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. It was truly amazing how many ancient manuscripts still exist from the 1200-1400's.
I do not believe I have ever been to a place that felt so remote. It was probably because the best road was 120 miles of dirt and required us to cross the Niger River by ferry. Upon arrival, all you could see was white sand for miles. My favorite time of the two days in Tombouctou wassitting on the sand dunes on the north side of the city and watching soccer, kids playing, camels going by, and the sun seting. Those minutes made the whole trip worth it.
Dogon Land is well known for the cliff dwellers that built clay homes on the side of the mountain range. The Dogon peoples migrated to this area in about the 15th and 16th centuries in order to evade the Islamic rule. It was probably one of the most fascinating and rich cultures I have ever experienced. While all their family history was passed down verbally, it was amazing what details the people knew about their lineage and culture.
I have a photo album on my Facebook account that shares some of the amazing sights of West Africa.
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