Wanar Stone Circles

Wanar is one of the four groups that make up the Stone Circles of Senegambia inscribed in 2006, with around twenty circles of laterite pillars and a notable concentration of the lyre stones: single blocks cut into a V or forked shape and set upright, which appear here more than at the other groups. Excavation has found burials beneath the circles, sometimes multiple, and the arrangement of stones and mounds suggests a long sequence of use rather than a single event.

What you actually see

• The circles - around twenty rings of laterite pillars in open savannah.
• The lyre stones - forked pillars cut from single blocks, concentrated at this group.
• The burial mounds - tumuli associated with the circles, some excavated.
• The savannah setting - flat open country with the stones standing clear.

When to go

November to March is the cool dry season and the practical window. The rains from July make the tracks difficult and the grass high enough to hide the smaller stones. Early morning is best for light.

Honest expectations

The site is remote and the track in is poor; getting there needs a vehicle and directions. There is no interpretation, no shade and no facilities. Some stones have fallen or been moved over the years.

Nearby

Kaffrine is the regional town, and Sine Ngayene is southeast.