Niger River Traffic

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Rosemary
Pinasse typical of traffic on the Niger River sails upriver loaded with passengers and cargo

Niger River

Mali 1998

Evening. A pinasse, loaded with passengers and cargo, is slowly poled upriver from Mopti. Across the river, a Bozo village is obscured by dust blown from the Sahara.

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2 Responses to Niger River Traffic

  1. JP Garrett says:
    April 10, 2014 at 12:50 pm

    I lived on The Niger for 3 yrs (Peace Corps) in the triangle where Niger (the Country), Benin and Nigeria met. Traveled by “pirouque” much smaller than vessel (pinasse?) pictured. Ironically, most people on board inc. “crew” could not swim. Currents relatively strong during wet season, almost slack during the dry spell. Fish [including the Nile Perch (“Capitaine”) up to 4 ft] abounded and market hunters took advantage of resident and migratory waterfowl (Inc Egyptian Geese, wing span 3 ft.) – JP

    Reply
    • Rosemary says:
      April 11, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Hi, John.
      Enjoyed reading of your experience in Niger. It is odd that the boatmen could not swim. The same can be said of many Burmese boatmen on Lake Inle. I remember the Nile Perch, an ugly looking fish, but pretty tasty.
      Thanks for visiting my blog.
      Rosemary

      Reply

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