"Segou and the Niger River" Segou by atufft

Segou Travel Guide: 18 reviews and 75 photos

Segou is a good stop over

On our way from Burkina Faso to Djenne, we stayed a day in Segou. We found this sleepy town a worthwhile stay due to the great views of the Niger river. The town has a seawall along it, so river access is easy without risk of getting flooded. At the time we visited the port was mainly being used for the distribution of sand, the ingredient required for concrete building construction, but mostly we watched the boats slowly ply the river.

We hired a pirogue to cross the great river

Boatman & Guide at Segou

A young man met us late at night when we arrived, and since he wasn't too pushy, we agreed to have him come again in the morning after breakfast. He led us to the port and we climbed into a leaky handmade boat which could ply the shallow waters. The Niger is quite wide, but very shallow at the time we visited.

Various villages are on the other side

Bozo Family

Bozo and Fulani villages line the shore of the other side, and those there were delighted to greet us. Children played and adults showed us their homes and work.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Segou is a pleasant place to appreciate the Niger River
Cons:It's a sleepy town with not a lot to do after dark
In a nutshell:Good place to stop for a day or so

Last visit to Segou: Jul 2005
Intro Written Aug 23, 2005
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Reviews (7)

Village Life opposite to Segou Things to Do (4)

Private hired pirogues will take tourists across the shallow Niger river to the villages on the other side. Some... more travel advice

Photos of Children Things to Do (4)

With my camera and printer, I wandered down the levee to visit with those doing laundry at the riverfront. A number of... more travel advice

Rent a guide and pirogue to cross the... Things to Do (4)

The other side of the Niger river has a number of peaceful Fulani and Bozo villages worth a morning visit. The homes,... more travel advice

Walk along the seawall and watch the... Things to Do (4)

After our trip across the river, I decided to do some people watching. I passed the ceramics, which appeared similar to... more travel advice

Transportation (2)
See All Crossing the Niger

Hotels (1)
Hotel de l'Esplande has a view of the...

Comments (1)

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BillNJ May 3, 2008 at 5:35 PM

Great tips and photos. I especially like the story about your crossing of the Niger River. Best from New Jersey, Bill