Hi folks- planning our first overland trip to North/West Africa. We are considering coming Kayes-Kidara and on to the park. Has anyone been recently? Is it worth the trip? I understand it is nothing like the game preserves in East and southern Africa, but is there the possibility of seeing lions and elephants?

Are there other spots in the region for wildlife viewing, say down into Guinea, or should we plan to save that for another trip east-south and not be disappointed?

thanks, Rick.

Niokola Koba is pretty good by West Africa standards in my opinion. Forget any comparisons to East/South Africa or you will be disappointed.

At the main camp (Simenti) a good chance of seeing crocs and hippos in the river below and some good birdlife.

If you go late in the dry season, we saw a variety of antellope/gazelle, plenty of baboons and monkeys, and warthogs......as for lions/elephants I think you'd be very lucky to see them , if they still exist at all.

It's a pretty spot by the river at the main camp. Colvin was a guy from Ipswich, UK, and he was managing the place when we were there.

Ditto on Dave the Hat, you won't see elephants or lions but you should have no problems with monkeys, baboons, crocs, antelope/deer and all manner of birds.

We were required to take a guide so you will want to plan on that.

We have been there, from Simenti it is only possible to make a guided tour unless you ask for special permission which you can obtain only with a good 4x4 vehicle, not bike.

There is a very nice way of exploring the park yourself if you enter from the south, it is a spectacular drive and you will end up at the main camp Simenti as well but you can spend a lot of time, 1 or 2 days in total, driving around yourself.

Campement Dar Salam en parkingang N13 15.634 W13 12.088 Symbool en naam 21-3-2009 15:57:48
Parkingang 2 geen kaartverkoop N13 10.474 W13 01.253 Symbool en naam 22-3-2009 9:26:28
Campement Chez Gilbert N12 38.291 W12 49.166 Symbool en naam 22-3-2009 16:26:12
Ingang 3 kaartverkoop N12 40.615 W13 03.084 Symbool en naam 23-3-2009 12:03:14
Dalaba N12 45.131 W13 16.574 Symbool en naam 23-3-2009 15:25:53
Damantan N12 59.808 W13 24.150 Symbool en naam 23-3-2009 18:18:50
Simenti hotel campement N13 01.641 W13 17.636 Symbool en naam 23-3-2009 19:56:31
Grand Mirador N13 06.804 W13 18.673 Symbool en naam 24-3-2009 11:25:54
Campement du Lion N13 01.564 W13 14.296 Symbool en naam 24-3-2009 12:34:51


Sorry for the Dutch tongue.....

If you want more info, GPS Tracks about this possibility, just let me know.

GRTZ,

JP

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thanks folks.

JP, we will be in a Land Cruiser, kitted for overland, so the southern route on our own sounds interesting, but we would probably want to do the reverse, as we will continue south into Guinea from there. More info and GPS Tracks appreciated! What did you have to do to arrange the self-tour option? We plan to enter Senegal at Kidira, then down through Tambacounda.

rk

Just to enter from the south is enough, you pay for the entrance and that's it. Coming first to Simenti from the north you will need the permit.

Pleas send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will send you the tracks by mail.

Coming from the south, just before Simenti you will have to cross this bridge, going around is no option, full of crocs in the river.

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