A few kilometres from the Atlantic coast lies a surprising place: Lompoul, a desert of sand dunes dotted with eucalyptus groves. Here we stay in a camp of traditional tents (Mauritanian luxury), with time to enjoy the dunes and take a camel ride to watch a magnificent sunset.
Perhaps Senegal does not have a Taj Mahal or a Machu Picchu, but the variety of landscapes and surprises we find every day make it one of the most valued trips in our post-travel surveys.
If you want to discover the essence of African life, the former French colonies are hard to beat. In Senegal we see the contrast between the different cultures: customs, traditions, beliefs and architecture of the various peoples, rooted in the land and of origin prior to the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
In the country of teranga, or Senegalese hospitality, different ethnic groups live alongside one another, each maintaining its ancestral traditions and customs.
Senegal by boat or by vehicle with navigation
Crossing the river Senegal aboard the legendary Bou el Mogdad It is quite an experience. Cruising aboard the iconic ship and visiting places far from tourism is one possibility. Another way to reach less-visited places is combine journeys in vehicle with canoeing and hiking.
The goal of everything trip to Senegal means discovering the most interesting places, from the arid, less-visited north to life on the coast and islands, enjoying ‘teranga’, Senegalese hospitality.
Some families open their homes to us, and we share their traditional dishes.
Travel to Senegal
✔️ Senegal 15 days
✔️ 30 JUL > 13 AUG > 3 SEP 2022
✔️ Price from 1700€
✔️ Travel to Senegal
✔️ Price in preparation
✔️ Travel to Senegal
✔️ Price in preparation
Staying with local people
In Senegal, different ethnic groups coexist and each maintains its ancestral traditions and customs.
This itinerary explores the most interesting places, from the arid, less-visited north to the coast and islands, enjoying teranga (Senegalese hospitality). Local families will open their homes to us and share their traditional dishes.
To reach less-visited places, we combine vehicle journeys with canoe trips and hiking.
Ethnic diversity. Contrasts between cultures: the customs, traditions, beliefs and architecture of the peoples we meet, rooted in the land and predating the arrival of Christianity and Islam.
La Casamance, a different Senegal, between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Lush and wild... Fishing beaches and animist villages inland. A perfect way to end the journey!
Gorée Island. From the ferry, you can see the terracotta and honey colours of its pedestrian streets, whose beauty conceals former slave houses. Picturesque and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it transports us to the French colonial era. Busy with locals and visitors by day, it becomes peaceful again at night.
North Coast, Gorée Island, Saloum Delta, Bassari Country and Casamance
On this Senegal trip, we visit its two main cities, Dakar and Saint-Louis. In the north, we explore Pink Lake, where salt is extracted traditionally, UNESCO-listed Gorée Island, the Lompoul dunes and the Djoudj or Langue de Barbarie nature reserves. In the south, we discover the Saloum delta’s labyrinth of channels and Serer fishing villages.
For those with more time, we recommend an extension to the mountains of Bassari Country and the Casamance coast.
Saloum River Delta. A land of fishermen; by motorised canoe we will explore the waterways and the villages of the Serer fishing communities.
Lompoul. We will spend a night in the desert, staying in a traditional tent beneath the stars and enjoying the calm before waking to sunrise over reddish dunes. A night unlike any other.
The Senegal River aboard the Bou el Mogdad
Exploring the Senegal River aboard the legendary Bou el Mogdad is an experience in itself. Sailing on this iconic vessel and visiting places far from the tourist trail are two highlights of the route.
In colonial times, this waterway played an important role in trade between the continent’s interior and the Atlantic. Eventually, access to the sea became blocked to large vessels, leaving the Bou el Mogdad as the only boat.
As we sail, we will see small coastal villages and old colonial buildings.
The Senegal River In the north, marking the border with Mauritania, the Senegal River brings life to the region. On its banks, we will discover traditional villages and buildings dating from colonial times.
Bou el Mogdad. Built in the early 1950s, the Bou el Mogdad provided transport links between border settlements in northern Senegal. After several periods away from the river, it returned to Saint-Louis in 2005 to resume journeys along this iconic waterway.
St. Louis. The former colonial capital of French Senegal still has magnificent administrative buildings from that era. The fishing neighbourhood is quite a spectacle when the boats return.