Parc National du Niokolo-Koba - worth visiting?
 

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

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.

Hi there... As the others said you will collect a guide at the enterance.

It was an ok kind of place with round thatched huts you can stay in.

We drove the track from the gate to Simenti in our 1990 Nissan micra which was fun and takes quite awhile...we even went on a tour of the park with our guide in the micra (impossible to kill these little cars!)

I would not rush to go back there to be honest although the food was not what you expect... Duck a la orange etc...like being in Paris 30 years ago...tasty though. Overlooking there river bend with the monkeys, hippos and crocs was relaxing.

When we was there the map showed no real road heading south....to our surprise there was a brand new road they was just finishing all the way to the mali border..saw about four other cars all the way...beautiful smooth and twisty road.

Oh this begs a few questions.

Since I noted there is a piste from Manantali, Mali to Keniebe at the border that I would like to test the next trip, do you think it would be possible to enter Senegal at this border post with an old landcruiser and no carnet?

And, coming in from the south, is it possible to drive around and camp freely?

According to Wiki there are some 150 lions in the park ;)

You do so worry when you travel priffe!
It's not a problem as it usually only takes one to eat you :Beach:

?????

In my view Keniebe is Mali, so do you mean Keniebe in Mali tot Manatali in Senegal??

Senegal does not recognise the carnet anymore for several years now so if there is a piste with an international bordercrossing, it must be possible. However, I really dont understand what crossing you have in mind.

They spot lions once a year over there, there is even a lion camp, last time I have been there it was 3 years ago that they spotted Lions there.

In the south I can recommand the camp on my map: Chez Gilbert, he will prepare you a very nice meal and make a monkey excursion in the morning.

GRTZ,

JP

GRTZ,

JP

No, I meant to research SW Mali more, going from Manantali to Kenieba on the Senegal border. I never ventured into Senegal since my vehicle is old and I presume they wouldn't allow it, but perhaps at this remote post at Kenieba they would let me in? Border post on the Senegal side would probably be Saraya.

What is the entrance to the park like on the south side?
Bertrand, I wouldn't mind sleeping with lions.

Nothing special, pay for the entrance and off you go. The piste can be damaged a bit by heavy rainfall.

GRTZ,

JP

Crossed there in a 1990 Nissan micra so I think you will be fine. They was begining to building a bridge when I was there across the river...should be finished by now. Senegal border was very friendly... Mali border was non exsistant. Spent two days lost off piste till we found a gold mine...later that day we came across a police road check. They could not issue us with a visa, but phoned ahead to the next police checkpoint which gave us a visa with no problems... From what we saw the SW of Mali looks a great place to explore, if you don't mind very very slow going tracks.

Sounds like next trip we will spend time in SW Mali and SE Senegal with the khassonké