Mali is one of the countries that left a strong mark on me.

In 2005, accompanied by my husband Sébastien Gay and Karina Hollekim, we were captivated by the beauty of these cliffs on the border of Burkina Faso, called the Hand of Fatima.

This summit seemed inaccessible because it was so vertical. It was one of my most incredible experiences climbing these red sandstone walls.

As soon as we arrived in the village of Daari, the inhabitants told us a fabulous story. Deprived of water and threatened with death, they found salvation thanks to a woman, Fatima, who, with her bare hands, climbed this enormous 600-meter cliff overlooking the village to reach a spring. And it was by flying from the top of this mountain that she brought back the water! The legend enchanted us.

Before climbing "The Hand of Fatima", we had to obtain permission from the village chief. He said to me: "Aren't you feeling good with us? The mountain is beautiful from here!" I told him that I wanted to go there to admire his village from up there. It was a win! We slept twice at the summit because the conditions for flying were not optimal and it was like a waking dream: we could almost touch the Milky Way. And when I landed after the wingsuit flight, the children ran to dance around me. It was unforgettable.

We were able to fly from the Hand of Fatima of Kaga Tondo and Kaga Pamari, from Kikiri and opened several other departure points on Mount Hombori and Mount Ania.

A trace in the desert

By sharing the daily life of these people, I realized how lucky I was to live in Switzerland. Despite our differences, the mountain and the values ​​of nature brought us together. Each of us received something from the other. As a token of our gratitude, the film we shot in Daari ("The Hand of Fatima") allowed us to install a well there. A lasting trace, I hope, in this desert."

-> Read the article of Le Temps (French)