Everything you need to know about using Garabaly for buying and selling livestock.
Garabaly is West Africa's trusted livestock marketplace. It's a mobile app that connects livestock sellers with buyers — and the diaspora with home — with built-in escrow protection and real negotiation for every transaction. You can browse cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and poultry — with photos, verified seller profiles, and optional veterinary health certificates uploaded by sellers.
Garabaly is launching in Mali first and expanding across the Sahel and West Africa. Mobile money payments are already live in Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Cameroun. Card payments are accepted from anywhere in the world — so diaspora buyers in Paris, London, New York, Brussels, Montreal, and beyond can use Garabaly today.
Garabaly is completely free for buyers — no platform fees, no commissions, no hidden charges. The price you see is the price you pay. A small platform fee is charged to sellers and service providers upon successful transactions only.
Full interface in French, English, and Arabic with native right-to-left (RTL) layout support — Arabic isn't an afterthought, it's a first-class experience. Voice descriptions and reviews can be recorded in any language: Bambara, Mooré, Hausa, Fulfulde, Wolof, Songhai, and more. In West Africa, voice is how business gets done — sellers describe their livestock by speaking, buyers leave voice reviews, and everyone communicates in their own language. No typing required.
Garabaly is purpose-built for West African livestock trade. Unlike generic marketplaces, we have escrow protection on every transaction, a dedicated negotiation feature (because "add to cart" doesn't exist in a Sahelian market), the ability for sellers to attach veterinary health certificates and for buyers to request vet inspections through our service provider network, voice descriptions in local languages, and special support for the diaspora to buy livestock for family back home.
When you add items to your cart, the seller (and any service providers) must first confirm availability before you can checkout. This pre-checkout approval protects all parties. Once confirmed, you pay and your funds are held securely in escrow until delivery is complete.
Garabaly has a dedicated negotiation feature built in. You can chat directly with sellers, ask for more photos or videos, negotiate the price, and reach consensus — just like at a physical market. Once you and the seller agree on a price, you proceed to payment with escrow protection. We believe price is a conversation, not a label.
No. Garabaly is completely free for buyers. There are no platform fees, no commissions, and no hidden charges. The price you see is the price you pay. We only charge a small platform fee to sellers and service providers upon successful transactions.
Garabaly uses per-party staged escrow. When you pay, your money is held securely. At delivery, you enter your 6-character confirmation code: service providers (butcher, vet, transporter) are paid immediately. The seller's share then enters a 24-hour buyer-protection window — during those 24 hours, you can open a dispute if anything is wrong. Otherwise, the seller's share is released automatically at the end of the window — you don't have to do anything. If a dispute is opened, all unreleased shares are frozen and our team (two people approve together) makes the call.
You're protected. After delivery, inspect the animal carefully before you enter your confirmation code. Verify that it matches the listing — including photos, description, and any health documentation provided by the seller. If something is wrong, open a dispute directly in the app before confirming. Garabaly's team reviews the evidence and mediates. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, you receive a full refund from escrow. Your money is never released until you're satisfied.
Absolutely! Garabaly is designed for the diaspora. Whether you're in Paris, London, New York, Washington DC, Brussels, Montreal, or anywhere else, you can browse livestock, negotiate with local sellers, pay with escrow protection, and have the animal delivered to your family's compound. It's perfect for Tabaski, weddings, naming ceremonies (baptêmes), funerals, or simply caring for your loved ones from afar.
Garabaly supports multiple payment methods:
• Mobile Money (LIVE): Pay with Orange Money, Moov Money, Wave among several others. Available in Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Cameroun.
• Card Payments (LIVE): 135+ currencies through Stripe — Visa, Mastercard. Pay in XOF, EUR, USD, GBP, CAD, NGN, GHS, and more.
• Garabaly Wallet (LIVE): Deposit via card or mobile money, instant wallet-to-wallet transfers.
• Bank Transfer: Coming soon.
Garabaly supports Orange Money, Moov Money, Wave among several other mobile money providers. Mobile money is available in Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Cameroun. New providers and countries are being added regularly.
With escrow-backed methods (card, mobile money, wallet), your funds are held securely until you confirm delivery with your confirmation code. After you enter the code, the seller's share enters a 24-hour buyer-protection window — during those 24 hours you can open a dispute if anything is wrong. With cash on delivery, you pay the seller directly when the livestock arrives. Cash offers limited platform protection — we recommend escrow-backed payment methods for maximum safety.
Once the livestock is delivered, you have a reasonable inspection period to verify that it matches the listing. The specific timeframe is shown in your escrow details within the app. If you don't confirm or dispute within the allotted period, the escrow is automatically released to the seller.
Yes. Your family doesn't need to download Garabaly. You place the order, pay, and track delivery from wherever you are. The livestock is delivered directly to your family's compound. You can coordinate the delivery time so you're on a WhatsApp call when it arrives — many diaspora buyers do exactly that.
For weddings and naming ceremonies, order as early as possible to secure the best livestock. Our verified sellers maintain inventory year-round — the livestock trade never stops. You can track your order in real-time and call your family on WhatsApp when it arrives. For Tabaski / Eid al-Adha timing, see the dedicated question below.
EUR ↔ XOF: fixed at 655.957 (the official CFA peg), with no Garabaly markup. Other currencies (USD, GBP, CAD…) use the Stripe rate at the moment of payment; you always see the XOF amount the seller will receive before you pay.
It's almost always a refusal on the operator side (insufficient balance, USSD prompt not confirmed, daily cap reached, brief outage). Check your balance via the operator USSD, check no cap has been hit, and try again in the app. If it fails again, change method (another operator or card). If you were debited but Garabaly didn't confirm, message us immediately on WhatsApp +223 62 77 88 71 — that's a top priority, response within a few hours, day or night.
For a stress-free Eid (T = day of the celebration):
• T - 4 weeks: pick your seller, negotiate.
• T - 3 weeks: pay and lock your livestock.
• T - 1 week: coordinate delivery with your family.
• T - 3 to T - 1 day: delivery to the family compound.
• Day T: confirm by call + enter your code.
Eid week, roads are loaded, prices spike, and transporters are saturated. Ordering at T - 3 weeks is cheaper, calmer, and more reliable.
The date of Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) shifts by ~11 days each year based on moon sighting. Check the official calendar for the current year's exact date.
Absolutely. Many diaspora buyers coordinate the delivery timing so they can be on a WhatsApp call when their family receives the livestock. Sellers' WhatsApp contact information is available in their profile. It's become one of the most emotional parts of using Garabaly — seeing your mother's joy from thousands of kilometers away.
To become a verified seller, download the app and create an account. Then complete the verification process by providing a valid ID and a selfie. Verified sellers earn a badge on their profile, which builds trust with buyers and increases the visibility of your listings.
When the buyer enters the 6-character confirmation code, your payment enters a 24-hour buyer-protection window. If no dispute is raised during that window, the funds are released automatically to your Garabaly Wallet — you don't have to do anything. Service providers (butchers, veterinarians, delivery drivers) are paid immediately on task completion; the 24-hour window applies only to the seller's share. Once released, funds are available in your Garabaly Wallet for instant transfer to other users or external withdrawal via Orange Money, Moov Money, or Wave (among several other mobile money providers). Bank transfer coming soon.
Your Garabaly Wallet supports deposits via card or mobile money, escrow releases, and instant wallet-to-wallet transfers to other users. Withdraw via Orange Money, Moov Money, Wave among several other mobile money providers. Bank transfer coming soon. All wallet operations require your secure PIN (set during onboarding). Your wallet uses auditable financial records and military-grade integrity verification to ensure every transaction is accurate.
Garabaly charges a small platform fee to sellers upon successful sale, and to service providers upon task completion. No upfront costs, no listing fees. Buyers always pay zero fees.
Limits depend on your account status. The more verified your account and the cleaner your trading history, the higher your limits.
| Status | How to reach it | Per-tx | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling-off | First 24h after account creation | blocked | blocked | blocked | blocked |
| Unverified | Account created, not yet verified | 100 000 | 200 000 | 600 000 | 2 000 000 |
| Verified | ID + selfie validated | 2 000 000 | 5 000 000 | 20 000 000 | 60 000 000 |
| Trusted | Verified + 90 days of clean history | 3 000 000 | 8 000 000 | 35 000 000 | 120 000 000 |
| Market Builder | Market Builder badge (15 same-role referrals) or partner status | 5 000 000 | 15 000 000 | 60 000 000 | 200 000 000 |
Amounts in XOF. Absolute single-transaction ceiling: 5 000 000 XOF regardless of status (BCEAO regulation). If you hit your cap before a major event (Tabaski, large cooperative purchase…), message us 24h ahead — we raise it temporarily after verification.
For your safety, withdrawals are blocked during the first 24 hours after account creation. This is a protection against account takeover right after sign-up. Everything else — browse, negotiate, pay, sell, receive payments into your wallet — works normally during this window. Only outgoing withdrawal waits for the period to end.
A lot. Verification multiplies your limits by roughly 20× — you go from 200 000 XOF to 5 000 000 XOF per day for withdrawals. You also get a blue badge on your profile (which builds buyer trust and lifts your listing visibility), unlock professional-seller features (unlimited listings, larger transactions), and become eligible for Trusted status after 90 days of clean trading.
To verify: Profile → Become a verified seller → upload a valid ID + selfie. Validation within 24-48 business hours.
With time and exemplary behavior, you graduate automatically to Trusted, then to Market Builder. No application needed — our system promotes you.
To reach Trusted (8 000 000 XOF / day): verified account + 90 days of history + at least 10 successful withdrawals + zero disputes resolved against you in the last 90 days + at least 1 000 000 XOF withdrawn lifetime. You also reach Trusted automatically with a Champion (25 referrals), Ambassador Gold (6 same-role referrals), or Local Breeder badge.
To reach Market Builder (15 000 000 XOF / day): earn the Market Builder badge — 15 same-role qualified referrals (sellers referring sellers, providers referring providers…). It is our highest tier.
If you need a one-off raise for a specific event (Tabaski, cooperative purchase…), message us — temporary raises are granted on a case-by-case basis after verification.
Three options: wait for the period to reset, ask us for a temporary raise, or graduate to a higher status.
If it's one-off (e.g. your monthly cap resets in 5 days): just wait. Your cap resets automatically at midnight GMT.
If you need it now: message us on WhatsApp +223 62 77 88 71 with the amount you want to withdraw, the reason (Tabaski sale, cooperative purchase, family emergency…), and your verified phone / account number. Reply within a few hours, day or night. If the request is legitimate and reasonable, we raise the cap on the spot.
If you keep hitting the cap: you are probably already eligible for Trusted or will be soon. No action needed — the system promotes you automatically when you meet the conditions.
Yes, a health certificate is optional but highly recommended. Listings with verified health certificates get significantly more buyer interest and tend to sell faster. We encourage all sellers to work with local veterinarians to obtain certificates for their livestock.
Absolutely. All escrow funds are held in secure, regulated accounts — your payment is never mixed with Garabaly's operating funds. We use bank-grade encryption, industry-leading security standards for data integrity, and comprehensive monitoring. Your money is protected by architecture, not promises.
Card payments are processed by Stripe; we never store full card numbers on our servers. Sensitive payment data is handled with industry-standard protections end-to-end.
Every Garabaly order generates a unique 6-character alphanumeric confirmation code visible only to the buyer. When the livestock (or service) is delivered, the buyer enters this code directly in the app. Entering the code pays service providers immediately and starts the seller's 24-hour buyer-protection window (during which the buyer can open a dispute). The code is never shared with the seller or anyone else — only the buyer can enter it. This system prevents fraud and keeps everyone aligned on what "delivered" means.
Sellers and service providers pre-approve your order before you can checkout, so the order is already committed when you pay. After delivery, you have a 24-hour buyer protection window to open a dispute if something is wrong. If you don't confirm or dispute within that window, the seller's share is released automatically. This protection runs on our server-side scheduler — no action required from you unless you need to dispute.
If a buyer and seller can't agree, either party can open a dispute through the app. Garabaly's support team reviews the evidence (photos, messages, listing details, chat history). Disputes require dual-admin approval for resolution — meaning no single person can make a unilateral decision. During the dispute, funds remain in escrow. We aim to resolve all disputes quickly and fairly.
Your Garabaly wallet is protected by a private PIN that you set during onboarding. Your PIN is encrypted with industry-leading standards (never stored in plain text) and required for all sensitive operations like withdrawals. For additional security, we use SMS verification for high-value transactions, built-in fraud prevention to detect suspicious activity, and device verification to prevent unauthorized access.
You can report any listing or user directly in the app by tapping the report button. You can also reach our support team through the Contact page or via our social media channels. We take all reports seriously and investigate promptly. Our fraud detection system includes velocity limits and comprehensive event logging to maintain marketplace integrity.
Every transaction is protected by bank-grade encryption, military-grade integrity verification, encrypted confirmation codes, dispute mediation with manual approval, and built-in fraud prevention. This isn't a promise — it's our architecture.
Garabaly does not routinely read your messages. However, if a user files a report, our designated moderation staff may review the conversation to investigate. Deleted messages remain visible to moderators for evidence purposes and are retained for 90 days after deletion. This protects both buyers and sellers in disputes.
Tips for safe trade: inspect animals before paying, use our secure payment when possible, and never share financial PINs or passwords. For your safety, keep conversations on Garabaly — it lets us help if something goes wrong.
Go to Profile → Settings → Delete my account. The app asks for your PIN as a safeguard. If you have funds in your wallet or open orders, you must withdraw or finalize them first. Confirm: your account is marked for deletion and anonymized within 30 days. You can also email info@garabaly.com with the subject "Account deletion request" if you can't do it from the app.
What is kept: financial transaction records (invoices, accounting ledgers), anonymized with respect to your identity — to satisfy legal obligations.
You have the right to a copy of your data. Email us at info@garabaly.com from the email on your account (or from a verified phone number) with the subject "Data access request — [your name]". We send back an archive (JSON + readable PDF) within 30 days maximum, usually within 7-10 days.
18 years old. Garabaly is a financial transactions platform — the minimum age is the legal age of majority in our markets. Any account belonging to a minor will be closed and any funds returned to a legal guardian after verification.
Official WhatsApp: +223 62 77 88 71. Official email: info@garabaly.com (and any address @garabaly.com). Social media: @GarabalyApp on X / Twitter, the official Facebook page, and TikTok @garabaly. We will never ask you for your PIN, your password, your confirmation code, or for payment outside the app. If anyone contacts you claiming to be Garabaly and asks for any of these, do not respond and report it to us.
For your protection, after multiple failed attempts your code is temporarily locked. Message us on WhatsApp +223 62 77 88 71 with your order number and a selfie holding a paper with that order number written on it — that's our identity check. We unlock within a few hours.
Garabaly supports three types of service providers: delivery drivers for livestock transport, professional butchers for meat preparation, and veterinarians for health inspections and certificates. Each service provider is verified, rated, and reviewed by previous clients. All service providers are paid through the same escrow system, so everyone is protected.
Garabaly supports four order pathways. By default, all items in your cart are independent orders — each with its own order ID and confirmation code. You can also place Seller-Only orders (just livestock), Service-Only orders (just a butcher, vet, or delivery), or Multiparty Bundle orders (combine livestock and services into one order). In bundles, you drag-to-reorder the fulfillment sequence — full autonomy over which services come after the seller.
Every order has a real-time progress tracker visible in the app. You'll see each stage — from order placed, to seller confirmed, preparation, in transit, delivered, and completed. Push notifications and in-app alerts keep you updated at every stage. For multiparty orders, you'll see the progress of each party (seller, delivery, butcher) independently.
Yes! You can create a Service-Only order to book a butcher, delivery driver, or vet independently. This is useful if you've already purchased your livestock elsewhere but need a professional service. The service provider is still paid through Garabaly's escrow for your protection.
Garabaly supports 135+ currencies through Stripe, including West African CFA Franc (XOF), Central African CFA Franc (XAF), Nigerian Naira (NGN), Ghanaian Cedi (GHS), Euro (EUR), US Dollar (USD), British Pound (GBP), Canadian Dollar (CAD), and many more. Real-time exchange rates are applied automatically.
Yes! Garabaly's chat supports text messages, voice recordings, photos, and video. You can also share listing details directly in the chat. Voice messages are especially popular — they let sellers describe their livestock in any language and let buyers ask detailed questions naturally. Messages are delivered in real time with offline queuing so nothing gets lost.
While Garabaly is in review on Google Play and the App Store, our earliest users — the Pioneers — get the app through Expo Go, a tool that runs Garabaly on your phone from a QR code or a link. It's intentional, exclusive early access — and entirely real: your account, your wallet, your orders are all live and stay with you when the app launches in the stores.
1. Visit garabaly.com and tap the Download button — or go straight to the Get the App page.
2. Install Expo Go on your phone (we provide QR codes and direct links for the App Store and Google Play).
3. Scan the Garabaly QR code — with your phone's camera on iPhone, or with the Expo Go app on Android — or tap the direct "Open in Expo Go" link. Both work on both platforms.
4. Garabaly opens inside Expo Go. Create your account as you normally would.
Yes. The Expo Go version and the store version are exactly the same product on the same servers. Your account, your wallet, your orders, your reputation score, your reviews — everything migrates with no action from you. Just download the store version when it launches and log in with the same credentials.
The decision belongs to Apple and Google. The app was submitted in April 2026 and review is in progress. As soon as we have news, we share it on Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp. While you wait, your Expo Go access is fully functional.
Thank you 🙏 — a Pioneer who reports a bug is gold to us. Send it on WhatsApp +223 62 77 88 71 or by email at info@garabaly.com: the screen where it happened (screenshot or video if possible), what you were doing right before, and your phone model / OS version. We'll keep you posted on the fix.
Reach out on WhatsApp +223 62 77 88 71 (we reply within 24 hours, often within an hour during the day) or email info@garabaly.com (within 48 hours). For urgent matters — fraud, blocked payment, account security — start your message with URGENT and we reply within a few hours, day or night.
