Caimans

Last weekend I took a mini vacation to Youba and Aorèma to visit some other volunteers. I really needed a break and some time away from site. I love visiting smaller villages since mine is neither small nor a village. It's almost like taking a hike in the woods, except that the trees here don't exist!

The ride to Youba was difficult because we were biking the whole way against the wind. At times it was easier to get off the bike and walk.

Cloud trail over my lycée (before setting out)

The cultivating season doesn't start here for at least another three months, but we saw this man already starting to work. Very strange and definitely not easy.

Even though the trip was hard, it was worth it. Not far from Aorèma is a very beautiful barrage with caimans. I officially saw my first crocodiles in Burkina. :)

Cows leaving the barrage

the barrage

biking down to the water with a group of moutons in the distance


caiman!


caiman on a sandbar in the middle

We tried to get a little bit closer (not too close!), but they spooked readily. As the hot dry season progresses the water becomes less and less. Maybe they're starting to feel the pinch...

Essentially we were walking on the dry barrage floor. It was so crinkly and sounded like walking on brittle ice. If only it were cold enough for ice ...

Almost better than the large repitiles was the tree in the middle of the dry barrage which was covered in bird nests.

bird nests

dried barrage floor

On one end of the barrage were three kids making mud bricks. Ours bikes are in the background.

the mud bricks