Dindefelo Falls

At Dindéfélo a stream comes off the sandstone escarpment that marks the beginning of the Fouta Djallon and drops around a hundred metres into a pool in the forest. The walk in from the village takes half an hour through gallery forest and the pool at the bottom is deep and cold. The surrounding community reserve protects one of the northernmost populations of chimpanzee in Africa, and researchers work in the hills above, though sightings by visitors are unusual. The falls are part of the Bassari Country World Heritage site.

Highlights

• The fall - a single drop of around a hundred metres off the escarpment.
• The pool - a deep cold basin at the foot, swimmable.
• The gallery forest - shaded forest along the stream on the walk in.
• The chimpanzee reserve - community-protected forest holding a northern chimpanzee population.

When to go

July to November follows the rains and gives the strongest flow. December to March is dry and much easier for the walk and the road, with a thinner fall. April to June is severely hot in this region.

Good to know

The road from Kedougou is rough and the region is a long way from anywhere. The walk is short but rocky. Chimpanzees are present but very rarely seen by visitors, and any operator promising them is overselling.

Nearby

Kedougou is north, and Niokolo-Koba National Park is northwest.

Key facts