Duration: | 6 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
DAY 1: ARRIVE DAKAR, SENEGAL
Upon arrival at the Blaise Diagne International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Relax and unwind for the rest of the day.
Hotel: Novotel
DAY 2: DAKAR CITY TOUR – GOREE
Following breakfast, we depart on a discovery tour of Dakar. Sites include the African Renaissance Monument: a 164 Feet high monument overlooking Dakar that is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The once-controversial bronze statue is a popular attraction among locals as well as visitors. It features a man, woman, and child pointing, a symbol of renewed African hope.
The woman is now decently clothed, as conservative groups forced the lengthening of her formerly short skirt, to a more modest length. We will also visit Independence Place, the heart of the city, you will pass by the presidential palace and the main cathedral.
In the afternoon, depart on a 20-minute ferry ride to visit the charming yet infamous Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the usually quiet Streets lined with pastel-colored colonial-era buildings from where you can enjoy amazing views over Dakar Bay. Among the most famous buildings here is the House of Slaves which records the painful history of Goree’s past.
Observe the “Door of No Return” through which millions passed... The tour includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture by the curator on the history of Goree. We return to Dakar overnight.
Hotel: Novotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3: DAKAR – PINK LAKE – TOUBA – KAOLACK
After breakfast check out and depart to Kaolack stopping at points of interest. En route, visit Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon caused by a unique combination of microorganisms and a high concentration of salts which gives the lake its unique pink color. Interact with the salt harvesters...
We continue to the holy city of Touba. Visit one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in West Africa. You will learn about Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, the spiritual founder of Mouridism. Learn about the history of Touba, an autonomous city that is much like the Vatican and is one of the most significant cities in Senegal.
We proceed to Kaolack, a crossroad of various civilizations and well-regarded as Senegal’s peanut production center. Enroute, visit Fulani or Wolof villages.
Hotel: Relais
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4: KAOLACK – NDAGANE
In the morning, we’ll drive close to the Gambia Border to the megalithic circles of Sine Ngayene a UNESCO World Heritage site. This complex is made of 52 circles of standing stones. There are more than 11000 carved stones on the site. Nearby is the quarry from which the monoliths were extracted and where more than hundreds have been traced.
We continue to the Sine Saloum. Sail through the mangrove forest to spot river birds and enjoy the beautiful views of nature. Overnight in Ndagane.
Hotel: ECOLODGE
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5: NDAGANE – JOAL – SALY
After a well-deserved breakfast, we check out and drive to Saly. En route, visit villages, millenary, and sacred trees. We will also visit Joal, a former Portuguese settlement and the birthplace of Senghor, the first president of Senegal. Walk on a wooden bridge to Fadiouth island settle on a pile of shells and see the mixed cemetery where Animists, Muslims, and Christians alike are buried side by side.
We continue to Mbour and visit the fishing port before checking in at your hotel in Saly.
Hotel: Royam
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6: SALY – DAKAR – DEPART
Enjoy the day at leisure. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast