Tour Itinerary
Day One
Arrive in Senegal – Dakar
On arrival in Senegal you will transfer to your Dakar hotel (Lodge des Almadies or similar). Depending on your time of arrival, you will visit the Mamelles lighthouse for a panoramic view of the nearby island of Dakar, and to discover the mosque of Ouakam.
Day Two
Pink Lake - Kayar - Lompoul Desert – Saint-Louis
You will set off for the Pink Lake to see the salt gatherers and drive through the dunes in a 4x4 in the tracks of the Paris-Dakar rally. You return via the beach and lunch is at a campsite by the lake. You will see the arrival of the fishermen at Kayar and drive along tracks in the dunes and through Peul villages to the Lompoul Desert. You will take the road on to Saint-Louis to the Hotel Cap Saint-Louis (or Mermoz) on the Langue de Barbarie.
Day Three
Djoudj Park / Langue de Barbarie – Saint-Louis
There are two possible options for this day:
- From December to April: You depart early for Djoudj National Park and explore by pirogue, discovering numerous species of migratory birds (ducks, herons, pelicans, spoonbills…) and reptiles (lizards and crocodiles).
- From May to November: You depart for the Gandiol lighthouse to embark on a pirogue to go down the river towards the old river mouth to cross over to the Langue de Barbarie National Park to discover the island of birds where numerous species nest.
A meal of Saint-Louisienne specialities is served in a restaurant beside the river with a view of the Faidherbe Bridge. You will take a tour of the fishing quarter in a horse drawn carriage with your guide.
Day Four
Touba - Kaolack – Toubacouta
You depart by road for Touba, the holy village of the Mouride congregation. You visit the marble Grande Mosque with your guide who will explain the history of Mouridisme and the life of its founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Taking the road via Djourbel towards Kaolack, you will have lunch beside the River Saloum with free time by the pool. You then take the road towards Toubacouta to the heart of the Saloum Delta National Park.
You will stay at Hotel Keur Saloum (or similar), which has a commanding position over the mangroves and a large bolong (river) with spectacular views, swimming pool and rooms scattered amongst a garden of trees and flowers.
Day Five
Missirah – Saloum Islands by pirogue
You set off for Missirah, a fishing village and home of a thousand year old kapok tree. You will take a pirogue trip along a bolong nicknamed the little Amazon; a tunnel of mangroves, of which the roots form an inextricable body where oysters gather in clusters. You then go on to Djinack, a former colonial customs post. A picnic is served in the shade, followed by swimming, a walk along the deserted beach, or relaxing, to the sound of the birds. Returning by pirogue to the hotel, you may be lucky and meet a pod of dolphins, a common sight in this area. You stop off to visit the island of Sipo, a village that has remained authentic with its straw huts.
Day Six
Free day on full board
Relax by the pool or visit the village of Toubacouta (the local bee hives, the agricultural project, the school, the maternity clinic). Lunch at the hotel.
Optional excursions: ½ day walk in the bush; ½ day visit to Fathala Safari Park; ½ day fishing in the bolongs; day trip to the Bamboung Marine Preservation Area.
You will take an excursion by pirogue to an island of shells (a funeral tumulus) and a bird nesting area, returning at twilight to your hotel for dinner.
Day Seven
Foundiougne - Joal-Fadiouth – Bandia – Dakar
You take the road to Foundiougne where you catch the ferry to cross the Saloum. You then travel along tracks through the biggest forest of rôniers (palm trees) in Senegal and through the middle of the tanns to arrive at Joal. There you visit the shell island at Fadiouth, with its grain stores and cemetery built on a hill of shells. After lunch you head to the Bandia Wildlife Reserve where you will go on a mini-safari in your vehicle. You then return to Dakar for dinner whilst enjoying the sunset at Almadies Point (the most easterly point of Africa).
Day Eight
Gorée Island – Dakar
You take a boat to visit Gorée Island with its slave house, alleyways and viewing point. After lunch you will visit Dakar (the Presidential Palace, cathedral, markets…) before going to the airport or your chosen hotel.
PLEASE NOTE
THE ITINERARY MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DEPENDING ON WEATHER, TIME OF YEAR ETC.
