Dogon Country Feb 2002
Djiguibombo: Granaries of the Dogon people
Famous
Dogon
Door
in
Djiguibombo
Guide Allaye, dit Alexe
Descending
the
Escarpment
(la falaise)
with
Alexe
Coming down from the plateau at Djiguibombo, you arrive at this awesome place. Just look at those trees!
The Dogon people have preserved their animistic religion and way of life by building their houses up in the escarpment when the Muslims invaded the country, thus escaping conversion to Islam. They later moved back into
the plain and Islam is not an issue, as this little mosque shows.
Exhausted and sunburned, I'd rather lay down and take
a nap but after a cool drink (Always Coca-Cola-Fanta!) we are ready to continue; an oxcart takes us to Teli where we spend the night and then continue to Ende'.
To visit Djiguibombo, Teli, Ende' (3 nights):
take a taxi in Bandiagara to drop you off in
Djiguibombo. From there it's trekking and ox cart.
You have to arrange for a taxi to pick you up when
you're done before you get started.
Arnold-stickers in every taxi
Up in the escarpment are the now deserted houses of the Dogon people, a tourist attraction under the protection of UNESCO. Lonely Planet guide book says:
You have not seen Mali if you have not been to Dogon country!!!
Leaving Dogon country.
