Day 3: Mali – Dogon Country

Mali is home to a relatively stark and flat landscape.  In the center of the country however, large majestic canyons dot an area of 100 miles.  This area is popularly known as Dogon Country, or Pays Dogon in French, since the Dogon people have settled into villages along its edge. There are tens if not hundreds of villages that line the plateau, each one as picturesque as the other.

The history of how the Dogon arrived to settle along the harsh terrain of the plateau is  questionable.  Moreover, they were not its original inhabitants.  They were greeted by the Tellum people, who the Dogon believe, were magical creatures with super powers.   The Tellum people lived hundreds of feet high inthe steep cliffsides, settling into small cave-like dwellings.  With no ropes or ladders, the Dogon believe the Tellum could fly. All we know now is that the Tellum are no longer here.  They fled.  No one knows why.  But their steep cave dwellings can still be seen today, and it took our breath away when we saw them lining the top of the plateau.  HOW did the Tellum get up there?  COULD they really fly?  WERE they aliens, as has been suggested?

Here are some photos of us hiking down to a few Dogon villages.  It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

Overlooking the savannah near Sanga village, on the top of the plateau, about to hike down

Climbing down a Dogon ladder to reach a village

Hiking down to Ireli Village - We had no idea of the view we were about to see, pictured below

Dogon homes at the bottom, hundreds of Tellum dwellings in the cliffside - Ireli village

Closer view of the Tellum dwellings

Chilling with village elders in front of their town hall 'toguna' (Females are NOT allowed inside)

Side view of the Toguna

Upon arriving in the village, we were greeted with a warm bowl of ... millet beer.