Day 78, 8109 km, Teli, Dogon country, Mali

I’ve left the main roads again to visit some Dogon villages – one of the few African tribes to successfully retain their culture and traditions by living along a remote and inaccessible cliff face. I have deliberately not bought the village head and elders a gift of kola nuts as recommended in all the guide books as I’m sure, given the number of tourists the area attracts and the centuries they have been eating nuts, that they are sick of the sight of them! No, people who believe God had sex with the earth which then gave birth to a jackal, deserve something much more excitingly fruity and I have just the answer for them – malt loaf! I have requested to see the village chief to present him with Soreen’s finest, but nothing has happened yet, if not soon, I will at least have it at the ready when I explore more fascinating cliff side communities by foot in the morning. My only concern is the precedent I am setting future tourists whose gifts will no doubt be met with utter disappointment! The toothless cola bean sellers better watch out, there may be a need for a Soreen stand in the local market soon!