Falaise de Bandiagara — Dogon Escarpment Base Track Dispersed Camp

The Falaise de Bandiagara drops roughly 500 metres off the Dogon Plateau and the laterite track running along its base — between Bankass and the approach to Sangha — has long been where self-sufficient overlanders throw down for the night. Sandy, open ground, no facilities whatsoever, and a wall of ancient sandstone rising straight off your windshield. Villages like Ende and Tireli sit close by, so expect children at dawn and the distant sound of Dogon drums if there’s a ceremony on. Rig count is typically one to three vehicles — this isn’t a gathering spot, it’s just the place you stop when the light fails and the track runs out of sense.

Access from Bankass is via rough piste — high-clearance 4WD mandatory after rain when the laterite turns slick. Dry season (November–February) is the window; the rest of the year, that clay surface will swallow you. Carry all water, fuel, and food from Bankass or Mopti. No permits currently enforced for roadside camping along the escarpment base, but it’s UNESCO territory — low impact, leave no trace.

Sleep under the Dogon cliff face.