Day 74: Wild camp in front of Koudara – Wild camp in front of Kounsitel

Although some motorcycles passed by not far from us, we remained completely unmolested. We have breakfast with a view of a herd of cattle – it could also be in Europe.

In Koundara we would have to get an SIM card, but it is Sunday and the Orange shop is closed. A young man takes care of us, sets off on his motorcycle, returns with 2 SIM cards after a while, helps us set it up and top it up with credit, which he does for us at another Orange kiosk. The SIM card is actually the most important thing, charging works almost everywhere. And Orange is also in the business of using it as a cash card. After about an hour and a half everything is working. What is also crucial is the realization that Whatsapp, for example, only works via VPN here – the “Psiphon” app solves the problem for Brigitte (VPN is set up at Wolle's phone already).

Thanks to Jamajabal Diallo!

Since today is market day in Koundara, we stroll along there looking for some fresh vegetables, which were almost unavailable in Senegal. We buy some okra, eggplant and garlic. The bananas are all too green for us or plantains. We don't buy peanuts either – the containers are more like a sack or bucket and the nuts are immediately ground into a paste.

And because there is an ATM there, we also get additional money – you have to take advantage of your opportunities!

We drive towards Labé/Pita/Dalaba, where we might be able to hike to waterfalls in the mountains.

The road is tarred, but there are deep potholes in places – so we have to drive slowly and carefully.

The landscape is changing, it is becoming hillier, the forests are getting bigger, the round huts are increasingly being replaced by brick houses. As has usually been the case before, people respond to us in a friendly manner.

Since we definitely won't make it to Labé today, we're looking for a wild camp again. We're so early that the first thing we do is treat ourselves to an open-air shower – get rid of the last four days of Gambia water from our skin!