Across the Sahara | Mythical Roads
From the sandy beaches in Saint-Louis to Timbuktu, they are many means of transport to cross Senegal: buses, a canoe to cross the River Niger, some walking, and the most common method here, the cart. There are few villages on this route: Borko, where people live in harmony with caymans, Gao and its economic decline, Taoudenni and its famous salt mines, Kidal and its matriarchal society. A little way off, a small caravan loads up and prepares to leave. These caravans, called after the Azalai, the Salt Road, have plied their trade for centuries and in part they made the reputation and the wealth of Timbuktu.
About Mythical Roads:
Whether remote or packed with tourists, recent or old, famous or forgotten, certain routes are paved with legends. This series explores itineraries that have made history across five continents—some roads and rivers that separated countries, and others that formed links, creating pathways for traders, fortune-seekers, evangelists, conquerors, and travelers. As historical symbols, these routes now ignite the imaginations of millions of people in search of adventure and freedom.
The original and poetic approach of this series casts a new light on these mythical roads. Throughout the journey, the routes unfold through the eyes of the men and women who live and work along them, and who continue to sustain the legends.
Personal adventures alternate with extraordinary explorations, unforgettable encounters, and surprising developments.
