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SALOUM ISLAND Here, the ground and water mix closely. At the junction of Sine and Saloum, the arms of the sea infiltrate between the islands out of shells. The mangroves braid a vegetable crown above bolons. An area to be discovered in pirogue, at the hour when the birds bicker themselves to find their nest. A region of contrast where the land and water blend intimately together, Sine Saloum is characterized by its hinterland, the groundnut growing basin of Senegal, and the Saloum delta -- a myriad of small islands scattered between innumerable "bolongs" (channels).  In the river region, during a canoe excursion round the islands of Saloum and Betani, one discovers a completely different landscape. Bordered by white sandy beaches and having an extremely dense vegetation, these islands shelter, beneath coconut palms, small villages of fishermen, a people whose traditional hospitality enables you to share their daily life: fishing, canoe excursions, meals of mangrove oysters grilled over an open fire. The wildlife here is rich with birds of all kinds. |