Visiting the Kingdom of Biffeche

VISITING BIFFECHE

The Kingdom of Biffeche is very easy to visit. Wherever you are in the world, in less than 24 hours from now you can be in Biffeche! Don't miss the opportunity to visit us!

Biffeche can be reached from Mauritanie by riverboat or pirogue, but it is much easier to drive in by road from the city of Saint-Louis, Sénégal, only 20 kilometers away. 27 airlines now have service to Dakar, Sénégal. It is possible to fly from many world capitals non-stop to Sénégal……New York City, Paris, and Dubai are but 3 of the possibilities. Hotel accommodations in Dakar range from the luxurious to the inexpensive.

A convenient way to approach The Kingdom of Biffeche would be to spend a few days at the King Fahd Palace Hotel in Dakar to both see the capital of Sénégal and to become a bit acclimated. Then a rental automobile from Hertz to drive north to the city of Saint-Louis. A charming old colonial hotel, the Hotel de la Poste is recommended. The following day it is only a 20k drive to The Kingdom of Biffeche. It is HIGHLY ADVISED that one hires a knowledgeable driver for this.

Regrettably, the once-great Dakar-Saint-Louis train no longer carries passengers regularly.

To reach The Kingdom of Biffeche from Saint Louis go through Sor (the land-side suburb of Saint-Louis) northeast on the highway that goes to Richard-Toll and Rosso. Pass the suburb of Dakar-Bongo and then the noted Université of Gaston-Berger, both on the left.

Some kilometers after the Université, look for the lone palm tree in a field on the left, and then turn left past the Tomato Factory on the left. Cross the marigot (a small river branch) and you come to the first agricultural fields of our beloved Kingdom. The delightful towns of Savoigne and Savoigne-Pionniers (Christian and Muslim, respectivement) are straight ahead, at the top of the hill. There's a sandy part of the road just as you enter Savoigne, going up the hill; be careful of it.

The first thing to do on arrival is visit one of the Chefs de Village to get your passport stamped with the Marque de Visite. There is a nominal charge of 1 Dinar-Haut or 1 Euro for this. For example, should you choose to visit Savoigne, the largest town in the Kingdom of Biffeche, please see the Hon. Chev. Sir Seydou DIA, K.G.C. The correct protocol in all villages is the same. Each Chef De Village will be most happy to help all visitors. Also, you may choose to give the Chef the customary visitors' presents (see the section on People and Cultures).

In Savoigne you will definitely want to make your pilgrimage to the site of the Royal Monument, the great tomb of King Edward I of Biffeche, the last resting place for His Royal Remains.There is a church, a mosque, shrines, a market and other sights in the two Savoignes. We have some splendid new wells. The houses of the people are the very authentic African types with the traditional thatched roofs.

If the King or any Biffeche aristocrats are in town, you will want to meet them. You may get the village children to sing for you the Biffeche Anthem and the Edward Song, in any of several languages. Some guides may take you to visit the haunts of the Biffeche Dragon in the marigots of the Kingdom; but really it is a matter of luck, or rather the will of the Almighty, whether you will really see the Dragon or not.

After Savoigne, you may want to visit our capital, M'Boubene (ancient Biffeche-Ville), bird-watch at the great Parc du Djouj, cross the interesting Sénégalese-Mauritanian dam at Maka-Diama on the Sénégal River. The more adventurous may seek out the mysterious Isle de Tieng in the Sénégal River in the northern part of Biffeche. The Royal palace at M'Boubene-Naar is not open to the public. For a much more physically splendid palace, anyway, take a few hours to drive up to Richard-Toll, Sénégal, and see the palace of Baron Roger on the east side of town.

As long as you are driving or walking in Biffeche, keep your eyes open to see a Biffeche Dragon, Great Baboon, Monkey, Crocodile or Wart-Hog alongside our roads and marigots. And the most spectacular array of bird species on Earth. You may obtain an excellent photograph if you are quick. However: If you ever think you see a White Leopard at night, treat it with the utmost respect and stay away, giving it wide berth, and do not try to photograph it.

Dawn and dusk are great times in Biffeche. Sunrise and sunset are beautiful here; sometimes in certain seasons you will see great visual effects of the great Harmattan wind rising over the Kingdom from the Sahara Desert to the north.

The Biffeche people love to have visitors, but visitors too-rarely come to our part of the world. You will be very welcome here! To visit, or perhaps, better still, someday to live in our pleasant Kingdom.

E-Mail The Kingdom of Biffeche: info@kingdomofbiffeche.net