Dakar City Tour and Museum of Black Civilisation

Dakar Railway Station - The Dakar train station is a stunning example of colonial architecture, with a facade of remarkable beauty. Constructed in 1885, it connected Dakar to St Louis and served the Dakar-Niger line, allowing travel to Bamako (Mali) in 36 hours, twice weekly. Tens of thousands of sharpshooters from Sudan, Dahomey, or Haute Volta (now Burkina Faso) passed through this station to be deployed to European fronts. These sharpshooters were key elements of the black army within the French colonial empire from 1857 until their dissolution in the early 1960s. The station quickly became the most significant railway hub in West Africa, a center of city activity, and a transit point for peanuts, Arabic gum, cotton, cola, postal mail, and thousands of travelers. Located at Place Dakar-Niger, renamed Place des Tirailleurs on August 23, 2004, it was restored by Eiffage Senegal.

Marché Kermel - The Kermel Market, a colonial-style building recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a beautiful structure from 1860 that was destroyed by fire in 1994 and rebuilt identically in 1997. The Kermel Market remains excellently preserved, showcasing vibrant colors inside and outside. The market offers fresh products typical of Senegal, with market gardeners, grocers, butchers, and fishmongers at its core, surrounded by vendors, artists, and artisans.

Place de l’Indépendance - Place de l’Indépendance is the bustling heart of the city, home to majestic colonial buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Governance (office of the French governor), and the Chambre de Commerce. The square is surrounded by travel agencies, banks, and insurance companies.

Cathédrale du Souvenir Africain de Dakar - The Cathedral of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, or Cathedral of African Souvenir, is the largest church in Dakar and the seat of the archbishops. Located on Boulevard de la République in the Dakar-Plateau district, it was built in the 1930s and consecrated in 1936. The Cathedral of African Souvenir stands out in Dakar’s landscape with its pristine white color. Materials were imported from various countries (Sudan, Gabon, Tunisia, Benin, France) for a unique result with diverse influences. Erected on a former Lebou cemetery, visitors should note that hats, mini skirts, or shorts are not permitted inside.

Presidency of Senegal - The Palace of the Republic is a historic residence in Dakar’s Plateau district. After five years of construction, this neoclassical building, inspired by the Trocadero in Paris, was inaugurated on June 28, 1907, as the Palace of the General Government. Initially the official residence of the Governor General of French West Africa, it is now the residence of the President of the Republic of Senegal.

The Museum of Black Civilisations - Opened on December 6, 2018, the museum was an idea conceived during the first World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar in 1966 by Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal’s first president. It was created to represent the contemporary histories and cultures of the black world. The museum, inspired by the impluvium huts of Casamance, spans 15,000 m² over four levels, with nearly 5,000 m² dedicated to African civilizations. It serves as a place for civilizational meetings and cultural dialogue. The Museum of Black Civilizations is a symbol of civilization, identity, and the promotion of African memory. The museum has requested the repatriation of African artworks, as up to 95 percent of Africa’s cultural heritage is held outside Africa by major museums.

Monument of African Renaissance and Art Complex

Le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine - Inaugurated in 2010, the Monument of African Renaissance is a colossal 52-meter-high copper statue accessible via a 198-step stairway, making it the tallest statue in the world that can be climbed inside. The first floor features a slideshow on the monument’s construction history and a fresco depicting Africa’s history and its great figures. The second floor houses a small temporary exhibition room, the third floor is the main lounge, and on the 15th floor, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of Dakar and the peninsula from the man’s head.

Mosque of the Divinity - Located in Ouakam, a Lebou village, this mosque was built from May 1992 to October 1997 on Dakar’s West Corniche, following Allah’s (swt) recommendation through Mohamed Seyni, who received the descriptions. Each guide is granted a meditation place by Allah (swt), and for Mohamed Seyni, it is this mosque, called Masdjidou Rabaani (Mosque of the Divinity). The divine instruction came in a dream when Mohamed Seyni saw the mosque in the sky. He was told to follow it to see where it would land. The mosque appeared to him as a carpet, and upon circling it, he saw “Allahou Akbar” (Allah is great) written in gold letters at the entrance.

Village des Arts - The Village des Arts de Dakar, a cultural showcase of Senegal, was made available to the artistic community by the State in 1998. It is under the Ministry of Culture and Communication’s supervision. The Village des Arts spans four hectares, featuring an exhibition gallery, a cafeteria, a bronze foundry, a multipurpose room, a library, and workshops for resident and visiting artists. It is a space for creation, production, distribution, research, animation, promotion, and exchange. The place’s originality lies in its ability to foster a stronger connection with the works through creative interaction with the artists.

Visit Gorée Island and Departure to Saly

Gorée Island - A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gorée Island is a global symbol of the slave trade. A visit to Gorée Island is essential, located 20 minutes by boat from Dakar. For three centuries, Africans were shipped from Gorée Island to America. The famous House of Slaves is one of Senegal’s most visited museums, showcasing the harrowing reality of this historical period. Its picturesque architecture invites visitors to journey back in time through the ocher-plastered facades of the houses. The island holds a special charm and extraordinary fascination for visitors, evoking a unique emotion. Lunch on the island near the ocean is possible.

Visit the Twin Village of Joal-Fadiouth

Joal Fadiouth - Depart for the twin village of Joal and Fadiouth, visiting one of the largest baobab trees in West Africa along the way. Joal is located on the mainland and is 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 and a quiet shell graveyard, hosting both Muslim and Christian tombs. Visitors can take the bridge or a canoe to connect Joal to Fadiouth.

Baobab Sacré - The sacred baobab of the village of Fadial is a giant compared to other baobabs in Senegal. It is the largest baobab in West Africa, measuring over 26 meters in circumference. According to the curator, the baobab is 850 years old, with a narrow opening of just 50 centimeters allowing access to the interior. Those brave enough can enter, but the opening is tight. This tree has a unique history, as its interior cavity served as a cemetery for the local griots. When they died, they were mummified inside the baobab. For the animist populations of the time, griots did not practice agriculture, and burying them underground would render the land infertile. For years, the griots were hung there. In 1960, this practice was banned, according to curator Massamba Sall. As the site is frequented by travelers, the baobab is surrounded by shops.

Exploring the Saloum Delta and Villages

Parc National du Delta du Saloum - Established in 1976, the Saloum Delta National Park is a biosphere reserve, classified as Man and Biosphere (MAB) by UNESCO in 1981. Covering 76,000 hectares, including 59,000 hectares of classified forests, the main biotopes are mangrove and tanned mudflats, sandy coasts and islets, the marine environment, and the Sudanian woodland savannah. Birds are abundant in this reserve, home to species like the lesser flamingo, goliath heron, pelican, and dimorphic egret. There are also 36 species of mammals, including warthogs, spotted hyenas, and red colobus monkeys. Exploring the Delta by canoe is possible, with the option to have lunch amidst nature.

Departure to The Gambia

Stone Circles of Senegambia - In the West African countries of Gambia and Senegal (often referred to as Senegambia), numerous stone circles can be found along the Gambia River. The stone circles in Senegambia cover an area of over 30,000 square kilometers, divided into two sections: Wassu in Gambia and the Sine-Saloum region of Senegal. The most significant and largest concentration of stone circles is in Wassu, where there are 11 stone circles. The largest stone is 2.59 meters high, and since 2006, the area has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Departure to Albreda Juffureh and Banjul

Kunta Kinteh Island - Kunta Kinteh Island is a small island in the Gambia River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its strategic location in the river made it a key point for controlling the waterway. Visited by explorers and merchants seeking a sea route to India, it became one of the first cultural exchange zones between Africa and Europe. By 1456, the island had been acquired by Portugal from local rulers, and fort construction began. The site’s specific and significant role in the slave trade, both in its propagation and conclusion, makes Kunta Kinteh Island and its related sites an outstanding memory of this important, albeit painful, period of human history. The island is visited by painted local canoes.

Exploring Banjul Highlights

Kachikally Crocodile Pool - The Kachikally Crocodile Pool is located in the southern section of Bakau, known by local Gambians for its healing powers and as a place where people come to pray for blessings. It is sometimes seen as a last resort for infertile women wishing to conceive. Sacred rituals are occasionally held here, often accompanied by dancing and drumming. Most of the time, however, the only visitors are tourists. There are about 80 crocodiles in and around the pool, and visitors can often spot over a dozen dozing on the banks. The non-nesting crocs are known to be very docile, and visitors often stroke or touch them. The complex includes a museum displaying a collection of about 1,000 historic artifacts housed in four African round huts.

National Museum - The Gambia National Museum is a cultural museum located in the heart of Banjul, home to historical documents and displays concerning the history of The Gambia. The museum features three floors of exhibits. The ground floor showcases the political and cultural history of Banjul, the nation’s capital. The basement level highlights the musical heritage of The Gambia and popular instruments throughout the country. The second floor details the archaeological history of West Africa and The Gambia, as well as the nation’s colonial and post-independence political and economic history. The museum offers significant educational value, with Gambian school children forming the largest group of visitors. The museum’s education program includes art classes, quizzes, and history video shows, supplementing civics and social studies classes. The museum embodies the country’s cultural and historical identity.

Visit Eloubaline, Ediounguou in Casamance

Visit Oussouye, Mlomp, and La Pointe St Georges

Visit Museum Kadioute de Boucotte

Visit Bandia Reserve

Reserve De Bandia - A visit to the Bandia reserve offers the opportunity to observe wildlife up close in an environmentally friendly setting. Upon arrival, visitors will take a 4×4 WD vehicle specially designed for safari. This 3,500-hectare park is home to many animals, some of which were reintroduced to Senegal after having disappeared for a long time, such as rhinoceroses, giraffes, large antelopes, dama gazelles, Derby elks, buffalos, patas monkeys, vervets, warthogs, hippotragues, and jackals. After returning to Saly in the afternoon, visitors are free to enjoy the beach or go shopping.

• Private transportation
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Breakfast

• Beverage

Think about this vibrant 12-day itinerary if you’re eager to experience the best of Senegal and Gambia and partake in unique activities that will lead you into some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes. In Dakar, you’ll take in the highlights, including the monument of African renaissance, the Museum of Black Civilisation, the ‘Village des Arts’ market, and Goree Island. We will discover the petite coastline, encompassing the twin village of Joal-Fadiouth and the Saloum Delta National Park. Journey to Gambia to visit the Stone Circles of Wassu, Baboon Island, Kunta Kinteh Island, Kachikally Crocodile Pool, and Monkey Park. Move on to Casamance, a beautiful blend of culture and adventure, where we will explore the island of Eloubaline, participate in a cooking class, and bond with the farming community in Mlomp. Visit the open-air Kadioute museum in Boucotte, dedicated to the Diolas culture, before catching a flight back to Dakar. On the final day, we will venture to the Bandia safari. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the beach, indulge in some pool time, or go shopping.

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