Placed in the remote south-east of Senegal, in the surroundings of the green hills of Fouta Djalon and 20km away from Kedougou you find Iwol, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in all Senegal.
At Iwol inhabit the Bédik, an ethnic minority with Mandingo origins and coming from Mali that arrived in this region escaping from a tribal war. Iwol with its 500 people of population could be considered the Bédik Country capital. There live 4 families: the Keitas who are the chief of the village, the Camaras and the Saouras who organize the festivities and the Sadiakus who keep the traditions.
From the Fula village of Ibel there is a steep hike up to Iwol. The pretty path which goes up in the mountain offers a panoramic landscape of the whole valley and Fouta Djalon Mountains in Guinea Conakry. Nowadays this path is used mostly by tourist, Iwol people use another one they can reach by bicycle.
To visit Iwol it is necessary to ask the chief of the village and pay 1.000FCF per person. At Ibel we were recommended to buy some sweets to offer once we arrive in Iwol, and sincerely in this occasion we think it was a good thing to buy them.
Once in Iwol we found the village almost empty, most of the people were working in the agriculture tasks, it was the season of cereals. One of the few women who was in the village was preparing a huge recipient of local beer for the next festivity of the grain harvest.
After drinking palm wine from a calabash and visit the rest of the village with its enormous sacred baobab, considered one of the biggest in Senegal and under a burning sun we came down to Ibel and we took again the motorbike to get to the Dindefelo waterfalls and enjoy the refreshing waters.
The 30 km up to Dindefelo goes through a red road only apt for motorcycles and 4×4 vehicles (October). After a nice 2km hike inside the forest we were already arrived form the village.
The waterfalls of Dindefelo are with no doubts a really extraordinaire natural place. The waterfall is in a huge stony and circular wall and forms a deep pool of bleu transparent water suitable for swimming where to relax and refresh.
Autor:
Austerio Alonso
Co-founder of Kumakonda. Passionate of Africa. Specialist in the design, preparation and realization of expeditions in Africa. Content creator.
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