富塔贾隆(Fouta Djallon)高原横跨几内亚中北部,占地面积大约有8万平方公里。这里被称为西非水塔,因为尼日尔河、塞内加尔河与冈比亚河这三条滋养半个非洲的大河都发源于这片高地。这里的地形由厚重的砂岩构成,经过亿万年风雨剥蚀,切割出了无数深邃的峡谷和垂直坠落的瀑布。如果你厌倦了常规的非洲游猎,想找个地方背起包走上几天,富塔贾隆高原那海拔1000米左右的清凉气候和起伏的绿地绝对是西非最顶级的徒步目的地。
达拉巴(Dalaba)是很多徒步者进入高原的第一站。这里海拔1200米左右,气温常年比首都科纳克里(Conakry)低上5到10度。早年法国殖民者把这里当成避暑胜地,至今你还能在镇上看到不少欧式风格的旧建筑。最出名的是1932年建造的帕拉布尔草屋(Case à Palabres),那是当时当地酋长集会的场所,内部精美的壁画和几何图形装饰非常有富拉尼(Fulani)文化特色。说到住宿,镇上的旧总督别墅(Villa Sili)虽然有些破败,但周围的松林散发着一股不像非洲的清冷气息,清晨起来甚至能看到浓浓的山雾。你可以在这里找向导,也可以以此为基地去附近的森林散步,感觉非常惬意。
拉贝(Labé)是富塔贾隆的行政和经济中心,城市人口超过20万,生活气息比达拉巴浓厚得多。如果你计划深入更偏远的徒步路线,拉贝是最好的补给站。这里的市场非常热闹,你可以买到新鲜的当地土特产,顺便给登山鞋加固一下。这里最重要的地方是塔塔酒店(Hotel Tata),这不仅是一个住处,更是各国徒步者的信息交换中心。酒店老板对周围的山路和瀑布了如指掌,能帮你介绍靠谱的持证向导。说真的,在拉贝别指望能靠手机信号在山里导航,雇一个当地向导不仅是为了带路,更是为了帮你跟山里只会说普拉尔语(Pular)的富拉尼村民沟通,毕竟在那样的原始村落里,基本的礼仪比GPS更管用。
萨拉瀑布(Chutes de la Saala)距离拉贝大约30公里,路况糟糕得让人怀疑人生,坐在摩托车后座上颠簸两个小时是常有的事。但这处瀑布的落差非常惊人,萨拉河从山顶平坦的砂岩地带突然跌落进150米深的深渊,那种视觉冲击力在旱季依然很强。通往瀑布底部的山路很陡峭,踩在长满苔藓的岩石上一定要留神。瀑布下方的天然泳池水质清凉得甚至有些刺骨,徒步大半天后跳进去游个泳是极致的享受。建议带上足够的饮用水和零食,因为瀑布周围除了几户零星的人家,基本没有任何商业设施。
底丁瀑布(Chutes de Ditinn)被公认为几内亚落差最大的瀑布之一,高度达到了120米左右。它位于达拉巴附近,瀑布像一条银色的长丝带斜挂在垂直的赤褐色岩壁上。去底丁的路需要穿越一段茂密的丛林,如果你运气好,还能在树冠层看到成群的黑猩猩或长尾猴。这里的地形非常像《印第安纳琼斯》里的探险场景,尤其是当你站在瀑布顶端的岩石边缘往下看时,整片科库洛谷地(Kokoulo Valley)的景色尽收眼底。不过得提醒你,那里的风力很大,靠近边缘拍照时千万别为了角度把自己置于危险之中。
在富塔贾隆徒步,向导的行情大约是每天25万到30万几内亚法郎,这通常包含了向导的食宿和劳务费。如果你打算走长线,比如从皮塔(Pita)走到拉贝的五天穿越线,装备一定要精简。高原温差大,12月份的深夜气温可能会降到10度以下,轻薄的羽绒服或高质量抓绒衣是必需品。另外,一定要准备一双抓地力强的徒步鞋,高原上的砂岩碎石很多,下坡时极易打滑。进山前最好在拉贝买几个当地那种耐用的塑料水壶,山里的泉水虽然清澈,但肠胃敏感的游客还是建议加净水片后再饮用。
富塔贾隆是富拉尼人的传统聚居地,他们是西非著名的游牧民族。在这里你会看到极具标志性的圆顶草屋,屋顶覆盖着厚厚的干草,冬暖夏凉。进入这些村庄时,先找到村长(Chief)打个招呼是基本礼貌。富拉尼人非常热情好客,他们可能会请你喝一碗新鲜的牛奶或是酸奶。当地人的饮食主要是用福尼奥米(Fonio)熬成的粥,配上浓郁的花生酱。虽然生活条件艰苦,但那里的孩子笑声非常纯粹,你可以带一些圆珠笔或笔记本作为小礼物送给他们,但尽量不要直接给现金,那会破坏当地传统的社交习惯。
最常用的交通工具是七座拼车(Sept-place),在科纳克里的拼车站可以找到前往达拉巴或拉贝的车。路程大约400公里,但因为路况极差加上沿途检查站较多,通常需要开8到10个小时才能到。建议早上六点就去车站等车,车满即走,票价根据行李多少和季节变化大约在15万到20万几内亚法郎之间。
富塔贾隆高原是几内亚社会治安相对较好的地区,当地民风淳朴,极少发生针对游客的抢劫事件。主要的风险来自于野外环境,比如地形崎岖导致的扭伤或在雨季通过湿滑的小路。只要雇佣当地专业向导并遵循他的建议,安全系数是很高的,建议出发前买好涵盖国际救援的商业旅游保险。
11月到次年1月是这里的黄金季节,此时雨季刚结束,草木翠绿,瀑布水量依然丰沛,但空气已经变得凉爽干燥。6月到10月是雨季,山路会变得泥泞不堪,很多通往瀑布的土路会被洪水冲毁,这个阶段不建议进行长距离徒步。3月和4月虽然干燥,但天气开始转热,景观也会因为干旱而显得有些荒凉。
Christophe Demuray Scam / but Beautiful. It’s a PUBLIC place. Which means they can not ask money for this. A big scam is going on, Typical guinnee I guess. the locals will try to scam you for money. The scam goes up to 200.000 xaf and the “guides” will try aggressively to get money out of your pockets. They will say it’s obligatory to pay to enter , the “guide/scammer” said it’s 200k xaf to enter per person. Then they lower the price. They say it’s necessary to have a guide blah blah blah. “The reason they ask money” ; the money is used for the community, (wich is like 5%) and the rest goes to the 3 guys sitting there. You don’t have to pay since it’s public , they put a rope on the road so you have to stop. You can just drive through or by the side of the road. I did not pay.they just started laughing. Sad that so many people go along with these scams and pay up. It’s toxic and ruins all these places. The money doesn’t get divided well and so i can not (with good intentions) donate money. I did however buy papayas from the people in the village. If you want to give money away, make sure it goes to the people and not to those “guides”. Honestly you don’t need a guide for this. Tip to avoid this shituation; What you want to do is come from the north side , stop on the last place before you have to cross the big river , and from there go by foot down the waterfall. If you get to the other side of the road you walk up like 5-10 minutes (steep) untill you see a wider road, there you go into the bush (little path) and you will arrive to a cliff with the spectacular view over the whole waterfall. With a normal car it’s possible if you don’t plan on crossing the river. I did it with a RWD van with limited slip differential on the back. Crossed the river/waterfall and drove up the other side.
Ibn Cholil Hello Guinea, we are your opponents in the race for Olympic tickets... Indonesia
Tommy Lin It was ok some scenery’s of the places were absolutely beautiful while some when quite strange. But i would still recommend it highly! Thanks for reading
Rashid M A sacredly beautiful place populated by gentle civilised people. They make the average European look like crude white apes.
Tahni A Very fun and unforgettable experience. would DEFIANTLY recommend to everyone that wants to have an unforgettably great holiday. this amazing place is full of great food and friendly hospitable people. so much to do and a rally good place to take the kids. My husband LOVED it.! incredible experience.10/10. would go again.