d'Arli and Parc du W

So Arli and Parc–W are two separate transfrontier parks. Arli between Burkina fasso and Benin, W between Burkina, Benin and Niger. They are incredible places to visit. We didn’t spend much time there unfortunately, but it was great to be in the bush! These are semi–arid savanna parks, something I know a bit about. From the strangeness of the forests I felt at home there, but still so much to learn. Elephants, buffalo and duiker I know, but here its Kob and Roan that abound. Herds of roan and western hartebeest run through trees that I have no idea what they are. We saw tall elephant grass all over the place, burning in the dry season. We saw abyssinian ground hornbill, four banded sandgrouse and Senegal parrots. We saw northern crowned crane and a host of other beautiful birds. We saw lion, we saw hedgehogs. At night we would hear the lions roaring and in the days we drove roads which seem to be leading to the edge of the earth, a true wilderness park in many places. It has a feel of the central Kalahari, you feel very remote. The Burkina section of Arli is small, but the Parc-W is huge, a hundred and sixty kilometers drive on the roads linking the gate in Burkina to the other border post in Benin. There are camps and waterholes, cold beers and river crossings. It’s a real place for a self sufficient enthusiast, my uncle Mike would do his nut here. You could spend weeks there, driving over a thousand km’s of road network. Some along the Niger river and its tributaries, what a place, just miles and miles of bush!

Unfortunately we had issues with petrol, exchanging dollars and food, so we had to limp home early, fuel flow problems forcing our hand after 2 days of driving. But, we got all of Arli done and all the available data on W; so we’re getting the jobs done despite the lack of days. Hoping that the coastal areas of Guinea, Sierra Leone will be a bit more fruitful for MAPA. Personally, I just want to explore each place more. So without local currency or much food, Greg and I bush camped on the way back, sleeping on the side of a road. I must say though, its special thing to wake up on my tarp as the sun comes up, cow bells starting as the villages wake up and make myself a cup of coffee. Sit and just listen to Burkina Faso wake. Good times!

-Chris-