SOURCE OF THE NIGER

The springs themselves offer no interest, except to think of yourself as Mungo Park, the Scottish explorer who discovered which way the river flowed at the end of the 18th century. But the area is beautiful. Granite sugarloafs emerge from the earth and forests of green giants rustle with bird and insect calls. The expedition takes about 2 days. The ideal is to be in a 4x4 car, the state of the tracks in this region changing very quickly according to the season and the years. The track starts on the Kissidougou-Faranah section, halfway through, in the village of Nianfourando.

Normally, it is necessary to ask the prefecture of this village for the authorization to visit the sources. We leave the car after 20 km of bad track in Forokonia. There, you have to look for a guide to show you the path to the springs. Count about 3 hours of walk to arrive on the site, where you will see only some not very impressive streams of water. But the walk is worthwhile especially for the symbolism and the imagination associated with the source of a great river like the Niger. Remember that the latter flows into the Atlantic Ocean 4184 km further after crossing Guinea, Mali, Niger, bordering northern Benin and finally Nigeria.

It is possible to get to Forokonia from Kissidougou or Faranah by bush cab, especially on the village market day which is Thursday. However, one must be motivated and patient as this remains a real expedition of uncertain duration.