BASSARI COUNTRY

Bassari Country is a vast expanse of territory at the south of the Niokolo Koba National Park up to the border of Guinea Conakry and Mali to the East. Some of the most interesting minority ethnic groups of West Africa live there, mainly the Malenke, the Bassari and the Bedick. These ethnic groups still retain many of their animist customs reflected in interesting cultural traditions. Because of this the region was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

The territory is composed of a system of medium-sized mountains forming the end of the great mountain of Fouta Djallon, where begin the three major rivers of West Africa: the Gambia, the Senegal and the Niger. To visit the Dindifello chimpanzee reserve, on the border with Guinea Conakry, with its mysterious waterfalls in the jungle is an impressive experience.