Koundara is the first major town when coming via N5 from Senegal or via N9 from Guinea-Bissau. In 2014, it was home to about 27,000 people.

Understand

The prefecture is populated mainly by Foulakounda, Peuls, Coniaguis, Bassaris, Badiarankés, Diakandés, Mandinkos and Sarakolés. The languages ​​of these ethnic groups coexist there, but the Fulani being the majority in this region of Guinea, it is Pulaar which is mainly used. 70% of the population is Muslim while 15% is Catholic and the other 15% are animists. Large mosques still adorn the city of Koundara.

Agriculture and trade are the main economic activities of Koundara prefecture. The main crops are rice (plains of Oudaba, Oulandji and Wanoumou), peanuts, maize, sorghum, fonio, millet, cassava and cotton.

Climate

The Koundara region is considered the hottest and driest region of the country. The average relative humidity rate is 60.

Get in

• By shared 4x4 taxi from the Guinea-Bissau border (Kandika) for 40,000 GFr, luggage included. From Gabu (Guinea-Bissau) to this border it is 2,000 CAF by bus, luggage excluded. (2023)

See

• The Niokolo Badiar National Park: a valuable zoological area covers an area of ​​43,860 hectares divided into two zones (Integral Zone: 36,230 Ha and Buffer Zone 7,630 Ha). Badiar National Park had hundreds of thousands of wildlife and birds. The specimens encountered are among others: monkeys or cynocephali, warthogs, bushbucks, red-flanked cynocephali, hyenas, antelopes, wild dogs (wild dogs), zebras, Buffon's waterbucks, defassa waterbucks, antelopes, buffaloes, some lions, without forgetting the birds in large numbers.
• Assalamalékou beach: It is a real strip of fine gravel carefully carpeted along the Koliba, the river between Gaoual and Koundara. It is also a zone of revival and pleasure, but its access is very difficult for lack of development.
• Inguinor beach: It is also a huge layer of fine sand along the Koliba.
• Djourdé and Mayahoun beaches: In the forest of the sub-prefecture of Saraboido, young people from the villages of the locality go there to swim.
• The Tamou-Tamou site of Marou: A site where the traces of men and animals of a distant era exist on the rocks. The inhabitants make it clear that we do not know the period during which these traces took their origins. There are no related scientific studies. In the same site exists the Facékotö, former track of King Alpha Yaya to go to Guinea-Bissau.
• Other interesting sites exist in the prefecture, but they are less known, namely the site of the bees of Allontènè in Ityou (Youkounkoun), the sacred pond of Akana (Saréboido), the mausoleum of Allotènè in Ityou, the cliffs of Badiar, the vestiges of colonial artillery in Youkounkoun and so many others.

Sleep

• 1 Hotel de ville. Rooms are very basic and a bit dirty. No water, only bucket showers. 100,000 GFr for a double room. (updated Aug 2023)

Go next

The Gare Routiere (Bus Stop) of Koundara is quite a bit outside the city. You get there when taking the N5 south-east. Walking will take 30-45 minutes.

• Labe
• Gabú
• Mali (au nord du Guinée)