- Dry in the west, more tropical further east with palm trees and lush green vegetation/trees.
- Speed humps in every village
- Goats, chickens, cattle crossing the road at every opportunity.
- Dirt roads or roads in bad condition. They are being upgraded by the Chinese.
- Locals washing and bathing in the rivers.
- Ability of women to balance a heavy bowl of fruit or clothes on their head.
- Humidity – sweat running down your face most of the time.
- Mosquitoes and bites galore.
- Locals collecting mangoes from trees with long sticks.
- Kids chasing/playing with tyres.
- Smaller goats compared with Senegal.
- Motorbikes – main choice of transport. Hi-vis jackets are worn by those that are licensed and regulated.
- Very few commercial lorries where road infrastructure is not quite there but progress is evident.
- Thatched houses with a cone roof shape and buildings are either sand, concrete or red brick.
- Many buildings in construction or abandoned.
- Beige school uniforms.
- Police officers in blue camouflage military uniform.