Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Dakar international airport .We met you and transfer you to one of Dakar hotels. Check in hotel Novotel 4star or similar. Overnight. (Possibility to enjoy Dakar nightlife with its nightclubs, cafes, concerts…)

Day 2: In the morning you will have a Dakar city tour to discover some highlights: Presidential palace, independence square, old cathedral, colourful markets, art craft markets and galleries, IFAN museums, Monument of the African renaissance…
Dakar is the capital of Senegal and it is a modern city with more than 2 million people.  The city features beautiful contemporary buildings, combined with historical colonial houses. It is vibrant, with active open-air markets, cafe terraces, and delicious food. Dakar is also is a shopper's paradise, where exquisite crafts can be found in markets, on the streets, and in stores throughout the city. Transfer to Dakar Dock to take the ferry boat around midday for Goree Island (25mins boating) the former slave trade center. Visit of the slave house museum, women museum and historical museum. Stroll around that beautiful island. Possibility to have lunch on the island. In the late afternoon you take the ferry back to Dakar and transfer to Lac rose (pink lake) which was the final end of the famous rally Paris-Dakar. Overnight in lodge of Lac rose. (Keur Salim hotel lodge) or similar.

Day 3: : Around 9:30 am you will get on 4 X 4 pick up for a tour around the lake following the last tour of the rally Paris-Dakar. The lake was born from a lagoon, now closed by a movement of dunes along the sea in the fifteenth century. Located few hundred yards from the ocean amidst a landscape of dunes and small trees, its particularity is quite exceptional as it gets its pinkish coloration when the sun is straight, and at dusk we can see tints of purple or violet. The pink color of the lake is explained also by the presence of some algae in the water. Besides its strange color, the large salinity (380 g/liter) placed it second after the Dead Sea. So everything floats on it. You will stop to visit the salt collectors of that salty lake.
Continuation to Lompoul desert. Visit of a Wolof village along the way. Arrival in the evening at Lompoul lodge. Accommodation under nomadic tents in that exotic place. Overnight.

 Day 4: : In the morning you will have some camel riding experiences through this wonderful sand dunes (15mins camel riding) before we  transfer you to Saintlouis the old French colonial city where you will have Lunch. City tour on horse drawn carriage in the afternoon to discover the history of Saintlouis Island and the impressive fishermen living areas. Return to your hotel. Overnight (Possibility to enjoy Saintlouis nightlife with its nightclubs, cafes, concerts…)

  Day 5: In the morning you will visit one of the birds’ parks of that region. You will enjoy a boating tour in the park of Djoudj or the park of the Langue de Barbarie according to the season to watch the various birds’ species. This park is home to an abundant variety of migrant bird species: pelicans, gulls mocking, cormorants, royal and Caspian terns, egrets, teals, lapwings spurred sandpipers, flamingos, herons, ibis... Transfer back to Saint-Louis around midday. In the afternoon you will visit Saintlouis art craft market. Overnight in the same hotel.

Day 6: Around 8:a.m departure for Sinesaloum region. Visit Touba Mosque the biggest in West Africa. Lunch on route. Arrival in the evening at Toubakouta Village near the Gambia border. Overnight in one of its nicest hotels located at the border of the Sine Saloum River. Hotel Paletuviers 3star or Keur saloum 3star hotel.

Day 7: Relax in the morning.In the afternoon you will be transferred to Missirah fishing village with its huge sacred tree. You will visit local Missirah harbour and fishermen. After the visit return to the hotel. Overnight same hotel.

Day 8: Check out in the morning and depart with your vehicle towards Banjul. Possibility to have lunch at nice restaurant in Banjul. After lunch departure to visit the Abuko park about 45 minutes from most hotels, The Gambia's only Nature Reserve comprising of approximately 200 acres of thick tropical woodland. The trip takes you on a 2.9 km walk through this dense jungle intermittently stopping along the way to observe the rich bird life in addition to the red colobus and green velvet monkeys which inhabit the place. Right in the middle of the Reserve is the enclosure, which houses some monkeys, antelopes, and hyenas. We will spend about 2 hours in The Reserve. From Abuko Nature Reserve we drive back to Banjul. Check in Laico Atlantic  hotel 4* or similar. Overnight

Day 9:  Relax day or enjoy an optional tour as extra excursion.Departure in the morning for a Gambia roots river cruise: Enjoy a relaxing day out on the comfortable motor vessel. Step back in time and trace the steps of the Kinteh family.
After a 2-hour sail up river, passing Dog Island and Pelican Island, we arrive at Albreda on the North Bank of the River Gambia. Once an old French trading post and the site of the Freedom flag pole, Albreda is now an important fishing village.
A short walk from Albreda is the village of Juffureh where, the last remaining relatives of the Kinteh family live. Visiting this village, made famous by Alex Haley in his book, “Roots”, you will have a chance to chat with the local chief and some of the inhabitants.
Whilst sailing on to James Island, the centre of the slave trade, you can enjoy a fabulous cold buffet. Drinks will be available for sale.
On our return journey you can try and catch a glimpse of the dolphins or enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 10: Today you will enjoy Banjul city tour. This is an ideal day to brush shoulders with the friendly locals, whilst discovering the sheer delights that the Gambia has to offer.
Shop at the local market for souvenirs and visit the Crocodile pool. This pool is owned by the Bojang family, the first settlers in Bakau and has existed for over 500 years. Not only is this pool the home of approximately 70 crocodiles, it is also considered to be a sacred place for people facing difficulties in life. If someone has problems at work or is barren, they will often come here to either drink from, or bathe in, these waters. We also have a chance to pat the friendly crocodile 'Charlie'.
You will visit a local Tie Dye factory, Serekunda area and acquire some background history at the National Museum in the capital city of Banjul before returning to the hotel. Free afternoon. Overnight same hotel.

Day 11: Check out in the morning and transfer to the Sine Saloum Delta river location  where narrow creeks and slim sand banks are perfect for boat tours, presenting you with rich bird life as your boat cruises through the narrow waterways. Meeting with local tribes such as Serere, Fula ethnic group will be a valuable cultural interaction experience. Break  at Kaolack city and visit its big colourful market. Continuation of your trip down to Ndangane fishing village where you will take a motorised local boat for your transfer to the fancy hotel lodge Niominka hotel 4star located on the island of the Delta of the Sinesaloum river. Overnight.

Day 12: Relax day  or enjoy extra leisure activities available on the spot. Overnight in the same hotel.

Day 13: in the morning check out and embark on a local motorized boat for a tour around the beautiful mangrove.Stop to visit Marlodj village island and transfer back to the mainland.Continue by car to visit Joal-fadiouth village to learn another rich cultures of local Serere ethnic group. After the visit, transfer to one of Saly seaside resorts.Accomodations in hotel Savana saly beach hotel 3* or similar Overnight. Your last stay in Senegal will be Saly-Portudal a thriving holiday centre with its superb sunny beach resorts, leisure activities such as boating, horseback riding, water sports, surfing, sailing, catamaran, jet ski, quad bike, golfing…

Day 14: Day off.

Day 15: Check out and transfer to Dakar airport. (84km away from the airport).


 

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