Gorée Island - Dakar City Sightseeing

Gorée Island - Gorée Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global emblem of the slave trade. A visit to Gorée Island is a must, located just 20 minutes by boat from Dakar. For three centuries, Africans were transported from Gorée to America. The renowned House of Slaves is one of Senegal’s most visited museums, encapsulating the poignant history of this era. The island’s charming architecture, with its ocher-plastered facades, invites visitors to step back in time. Gorée Island captivates visitors with its unique allure and emotional resonance. Dining by the ocean on the island is an option. Return to Dakar to explore the city’s hidden gems.

Dakar Railway Station - A stunning example of colonial architecture, the Dakar Railway Station boasts a beautiful facade. Constructed in 1885, it connected Dakar to St. Louis and served the Dakar-Niger line, facilitating travel to Bamako (Mali) in 36 hours, twice weekly. Tens of thousands of soldiers from Sudan, Dahomey, and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) passed through this station en route to European fronts. It quickly became West Africa’s most significant railway hub, bustling with activity and serving as a transit point for peanuts, gum arabic, cola, mail, and countless travelers. Located at Place Dakar-Niger, renamed Place des Tirailleurs on August 23, 2004, it was restored by Eiffage Senegal.

Place de l’Indépendance - Situated in the heart of the city, Place de l’Indépendance is surrounded by majestic colonial buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the former court of French West Africa, the Governance (office of the French governor), and the Chamber of Commerce.

Marché Kermel - Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kermel Market is a beautiful building from 1860, rebuilt identically in 1997 after a fire in 1994. This colonial-style market is well-preserved, showcasing vibrant colors inside and out. It offers fresh, typical Senegalese products, with market gardeners, grocers, butchers, and fishmongers at its core, surrounded by vendors of decorations, artists, and artisans.

Senegal - The Presidential Palace is a pristine white, spacious, and attractive with its greenery and peacocks, featuring a red carpet from the gate to the corridor. Since Senegal’s independence, the Place de la République has been the residence of the Head of State, located in Dakar’s Plateau district. Built in 1902, it was the official residence of the Governor General of French West Africa (AOF).

Cathédrale du Souvenir Africain de Dakar - The Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, or Cathedral of African Remembrance, is Dakar’s largest church and the archbishop’s seat. Located on Boulevard de la République in the Dakar-Plateau district, it was built in the 1930s and consecrated in 1936. The cathedral stands out with its immaculate white color, constructed with materials imported from various countries (Sudan, Gabon, Tunisia, Benin, France), resulting in a unique blend of influences. Originally a tribute to African soldiers, it was once called the Pantheon of Africa. The cathedral features impressive architecture and extraordinary interior vault paintings. It hosted Pope John Paul II in 1992. Visitors should note that hats, mini skirts, or shorts are not allowed inside.

Le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine - Inaugurated in 2010, the African Renaissance Monument is a colossal 52-meter-high bronze statue accessible via a 198-step stairway, offering a stunning view of the peninsula. The figures of a man, woman, and child face the sun, symbolizing the continent’s openness to the world. The ground floor features a slideshow on the monument’s construction and a fresco depicting Africa’s history and notable figures. The third floor houses a small temporary exhibition room, the fourth floor the main lounge, and the fifteenth floor offers a breathtaking view from the man’s head of Dakar and the peninsula.

Pink Lake - Saint Louis

Lake Retba - Better known as Pink Lake, Lake Retba is famous for its color, shifting from pink to purple depending on the sun’s intensity. Separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a large dune, the lake and its surroundings offer excellent terrain for dune crossings. Salt collection has been a tradition for decades among local villagers, Guineans, and Malians. Standing waist-deep in water, they use a tool called “djodj” to break the salt crust at the bottom, transferring shovelfuls of salt into canoes. Women unload and pile the salt lakeside to dry and bleach in the sun. Activities include:

• Touring the lake, nearby Fulani villages, and beach by quad bike, 4x4 vehicle, or camel strolls
• Boat rides to observe salt collectors
• Bathing in the lake to experience the floating sensation due to the salt, a delightful experience
• Lakeside lunch

Saint-Louis - The Island of Saint-Louis, the gateway to West Africa’s ocean, offers a unique landscape. This narrow strip of land, nestled between the Senegal River’s two arms, boasts an exceptional environment, blending land and river scenery. Established as the first French trading post on Africa’s Atlantic coast in 1659, Saint-Louis was a hub for European traders seeking slaves, gum arabic, gold, skins, and other goods. The small ocean city served as the political capital of the colony and French West Africa (AOF) until 1902, and the capital of Senegal and Mauritania until 1957, before declining due to the capital’s relocation to Dakar. The island exemplifies a colonial city, characterized by its natural setting and illustrating colonial governance development in the region.

Saint Louis - Djoudj Park - Lompoul Desert

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary - In the morning, visit the Djoudj ornithological park. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located about 60 kilometers north of Saint-Louis along National Route 2. It is the first water point after the Sahara crossing for migratory birds. Open from November to June, it offers a magnificent spectacle not to be missed. Visitors can admire thousands of gray pelicans, waders, teals, dendrocygnas, pink flamingos, spoonbills, crowned cranes, ospreys, orico vultures, Arabian bustards, egrets, geese, gambia, gray herons, cormorants, kingfishers, jacanas, marabous, and black storks. About 350 species are recorded here. Visitors will also encounter red monkeys (patas), warthogs, monitor lizards, pythons, and crocodiles. A canoe tour of the park through the backwaters is available. Return to Saint Louis city for lunch and a city tour.

Faidherbe Bridge - Explore the city by horse carriage tour: Saint-Louis of Senegal is renowned for its famous bridge, the Faidherbe Bridge, which connects the island of Saint-Louis (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the rest of the city. The 511-meter-long structure, 114 years old, has been the city’s pride since its inauguration in 1897 and contributes to its global reputation. Listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site and considered the lungs of this former French colony, the Faidherbe Bridge facilitates the daily crossing of 19,000 vehicles and over 21,000 pedestrians, sustaining the economic vitality of the old town’s business and administration. It was inaugurated on November 19, 2011.

Saint-Louis - Gouvernance de Saint Louis Senegal
Upon arriving on the island via the Faidherbe Bridge, visitors are greeted by a block of buildings: the governance of the old colonial fort, with its thick base walls and remnants of the first buttresses visible from the street. To the west, the governance opens onto a shady square named after Governor Faidherbe, whose statue stands in the garden. Place Faidherbe, initially called the Savannah and then Place d’Orleans, is bordered by the northern and southern barracks. On either side of this central square are the island’s two districts: the south and the north. Along the way, visitors can discover old buildings with unique architecture. Enjoy a free afternoon at the beach or pool, with dinner at the hotel or in town.

Désert de Lompoul - After the Saint Louis city tour, travel to Lompoul, where a vehicle will transfer visitors to the desert. On the coastal border between Dakar and Saint-Louis, the Lilliputian desert of Lompoul offers a captivating fictional landscape. Spanning just 18 km², the ocher-red sand dunes, shaped by trade winds, reach nearly 50 meters high, providing an unparalleled view of the Atlantic Ocean waves meeting the desert waves. The desert’s solitude is equally mesmerizing. Accommodation includes a sublime and comfortable Khayma tent with a nomadic style, offering a magnificent sunset view. Enjoy a morning camel ride or walk in the dunes, with the possibility of dune surfing.

Lompoul - Touba - Kaolack

Kaolack-Tambacounda-Mako

Tambacounda - (Approximately 468 km) After breakfast, depart for eastern Senegal through the shrub steppe, a favored area for nomadic herders. Arrive in Tambacounda, the largest city in eastern Senegal, bordering Mali and Guinea. Some of its remains were listed as Historic Monuments in 2003. Tambacounda naturally developed around its train station. Local activities include cattle breeding, cotton farming, and tourism, due to the proximity of hunting camps and Niokolo Koba National Park. Visit the Tambacounda market. Enjoy lunch in Tambacounda before departing for MAKO on the outskirts of Niokolo Koba Park.

Bedik Country-Dindefelo-Kedougou

Kedougou-Tomboronkoto-Wassadou

Kedougou - Visit the vibrant and colorful market of Kedougou. This market is one of Senegal’s most fascinating, offering fabrics imported directly from Guinea-Conakry and Mali, including indigo, batiks, and handmade cotton fabrics, shea butter, palm oil, honey, natural health products, and a variety of regional and West African products and fruits.

Kedougou - Travel to Tomboronkoto village, attracting many African nationals for gold discovery. Visit the artisanal gold mining site. After visiting Tomboronkoto, head to Wassadou village for lunch and an overnight stay.

Wassadou - Wassadou is situated in an exceptional location, amidst the forest, where one can observe the lively fauna and experience the bush’s sounds and scents. Facing playful baboons in the palm tree forest overlooking hippos, the camp offers a view of the Gambia River. Take a canoe ride to observe hippo colonies (water level permitting) or enjoy a guided walk along the river to discover local flora and fauna.

Wassadou- Saloum Delta Park

Le Relais Hotel - Depart early for the Saloum Delta. Cross the steppes, encountering nomadic Fulani with their herds and villages. Stop at “Relais de Kaolack” in front of the Saloum River for lunch.

Saloum Delta Park

Parc National du Delta du Saloum - Enjoy a full day in the National Park of the Saloum Islands, a World Biosphere Reserve. Covering about 180,000 hectares, it features mangroves, lagoons, forests, and sandbanks, home to a rich fauna, primarily birds: pelicans, flamingos, herons, cormorants, green parrots, and more. A fishing trip is possible (upon request). Settle on a beach of these virgin islets and have a picnic in nature.

Joal-Fadiouth & Bandia Safari

Joal Fadiouth - Depart for the twin village of Joal and Fadiouth, visiting one of West Africa’s largest baobab trees along the way. Joal is located on the mainland, the birthplace of the first president, Léopold Senghor. Fadiouth is on a small island connected by a long wooden bridge made entirely of shells. These shell middens are remnants of mollusks consumed by humans since ancient times, hosting both Muslim and Christian tombs. Visitors can take the bridge or a canoe to connect Joal to Fadiouth. Afterward, depart for the Bandia reserve.

Reserve De Bandia - Visiting the Bandia reserve offers the chance to observe wildlife up close in an environmentally friendly setting. Upon arrival, take a 4×4 WD specially used for safari. This 3,500 ha park is home to many animals, some reintroduced to Senegal after long absences, such as rhinoceroses, giraffes, large antelopes, dama gazelles, Derby elks, buffalos, patas monkeys, vervets, warthogs, hippotragues, and jackals. After the visit, guests are taken to their accommodation or dropped off at the airport, marking the end of the service.

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Hotel Pick Up

• Beverage

We present an opportunity to delve into the indigenous culture, interact with the Bassari and Bedik communities that have maintained their conventional lifestyle, and relish the varied natural marvels and narratives of Senegal. The distinct aspect of this route is its diverse terrain encompassing mountains, forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, all in one, along with a vibrant geographical landscape.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.