© L.F. Paoluzzi
On the Fouta Djalon plateau, whose highest peak reaches an altitude of 1515 metres, lies one of the richest environmental paradises in the whole of Sahel-Sudanese Africa. Suffice it to say that the most important rivers in West Africa, which are the source of life for many populations, the Senegal, Gambia and Niger rivers, flow from its heights.
The extraordinary natural scenery, rich in water, mild temperatures and the fact that it remains one of the last strongholds for chimpanzees, make it a sanctuary of natural biodiversity, unique in the world.
As you leave the plains and begin to climb the slopes, nature changes radically and so do the people. Inhabited by the Peuhl people, this incredibly beautiful plateau was also the scene for more than two centuries of the historical vicissitudes of one of the most powerful Muslim theocracies in West Africa. From here, the supreme chief Almamy and his troops ruled the region, first defeating the Mandé and Djankolé peoples, then fiercely confronting the colonial advance, until the Fouta Djalon became a French protectorate in 1888.
The town of Mamou is considered the gateway to the Fouta Djalon, while the capital Labé is its beating heart, both busy crossroads from which the main excursions into the highlands depart.
The beautiful Konkouré waterfall, Lake Bafing and the ancient capital Timbo, the historic seat of the Peuhl supreme throne are easy reachable.
It goes without saying that the most interesting and spectacular routes are also the most challenging ones, which venture into inaccessible places, among lush waterfalls and remote villages, difficult to access without an experienced local guide. The splendid village of Aїnguel huts, the Layfita waterfalls and those on the road to Debeya, are all magical places, hidden treasures that can be reached through artificial passages of wooden stairs, set into the mountain, which connect the villages on the plateau with those in the valley, such as the spectacular Echelles de Lelouma in Djinkan.
Near Dalaba, the scenic Chutes de Ditinn, which plunge overbearingly down the rock face for a good 80 metres, are the highest in the whole of Guinea, while around those of Garaya, with a bit of luck you will spot some families of baboons and chimpanzees, even more numerous around the village of Télimélé, one of the most traditional in Lower Guinea, a paradise for birdwatchers.
Not far from the village of Pita, the main attraction is the Chutes du Kinkon and, above all, the three spectacular jumps that enliven the Chutes de Kambadaga.
Not far away begins one of the most enchanting landscapes in the whole of the Futa Djalon, near the village of Doucki, whose access road is rather rough, but whose spectacle is truly breathtaking. Here is what is known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Guinea’, a surreal landscape of cliffs, waterfalls, forests, small natural pools inhabited by chimpanzees, lianas and vertiginous overhangs, all bathed in the humid vapours of the mist, truly one of the jewels of this enchanting region.
Mali-Yemberem is located on the edge of the spectacular Massif du Tamgué, on the border with Senegal. At 1,400 metres, it is the highest town in the Fouta Djalon.
Temperatures are very mild and there are incredible views of the beautiful landscapes and natural contours of Mont Loura, which reaches 1515 metres, including the famous rocky conformation that resembles the profile of a woman, La Dame de Mali, shrouded in the mystery of ancient popular legends.
