The common understanding is that you visit West Africa for its people (the bright fabrics, the music, the culture and the intriguing ceremonies), and East Africa for its wildlife (the big game in particular). In practice, this generalization fails under scrutiny, as do they all.

West Africa in fact has its share of opportunities to view big game (for the record, East Africa has its share of anthropological attractions too; was it even necessary to mention?). In Benin we discovered Pendjari Park at the north extreme of the country (where we even saw a lion!), and on the Niger-Burkina Faso border is a reserve of West Africa's remaining indigenous giraffe population. Senegal, too has a wildlife reserve, by the name of Bandia.

To be fair, a few of the animals were imported from South Africa, but they were once found here naturally, so it's perhaps forgivable. We spent the morning in a 4-wheel vehicle in the company of a zoologist guide who had clearly made that circuit so many times she knew it by heart. We spotted crocodiles, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, and giraffes without too much trouble. The treetops were full of birds, including the striking Abyssinian Roller in bright, cerulean plumage and a long tail that waggled in the branches. We were also shown the Griot's tree, a traditional burial place in which a real human skull remained visible between the roots.

Here are some pictures:

	Zebra, rendered even more stunning by the colors in the underbrush. Diego was thrilled to see it.
	West African giraffe (I think: the differences in giraffe spots are not obvious to the untrained). It's amazing how quiet these animals are; they have no voice at all, and manage to tread softly through the brush.
	Black Rhino. The Rhinos were usually accompanied by a pack of annoying Warthogs, which the rhino would rush at now and again, just to remind them who the boss is.
	Valentina the Explorer, with binoculars, has just spotted a Wild Animal!
	Diego too has spotted an animal in the distance. But he's also spotted the cookies in our bag, and helped himself to one.
	The Elephant's Baobab, a tree that has happened to take on the silhouette of an elephant. Don't shoot!
	The Griot's Tree, an enormous Baobab with roots you could make a home between. Note skull at feet - it's human.

Like birds? See my Birds of Dakar page, with a growing collection of feathered friends, including aforementioned Abyssinian Roller.