Ten Days Senegal Holiday

The highlights of this holiday will include visiting the Monument of Renaissance, The Sine Ngayene complex, Abuko Nature Reserve, Fula nomadic camp, Bandia National park, Goree Island, Saint Louis, Fathala Reserve, Joal, Fadiouth

Day One: Arrive Dakar, Senegal

On arrival at the airport at Dakar in Senegal, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome and then transfer you to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Farid.

Day Two: Dakar and Goree Island

After breakfast, you will go for the city tour of Dakar and vicinity. Visit the Independence Place in the heart of the city, you will pass by presidential palace and the main cathedral before continuing by the seafront drive towards Soumbedioune market, and the mosque de la revelation.  You will also visit popular hotspots such Kermel or Tilen market. Visit the Renaissance Monument, a 164 foot 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. Visit Africa’s most modern Museum, the Museum of African Civilization, a massive 4 story complex which fulfilled the dreams of Senegal’s first president Leopold Sedar Senghor.

After lunch, you will board the ferry for a 20 minutes 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. Among the most famous buildings here is the House of Slaves which records the history of Goree’s past.   Observe the “Door of No Return” through which millions passed on the way to slavery. Dinner and overnight at  Hotel Farid

Day Three: Dakar to St Louis and Lompoul

This morning after breakfast, you will head to St Louis, Senegal’s colonial capital in the north. Senegal’s former colonial capital where you can explore the narrow streets flanked by houses with carved wooden balconies. And stop by the vibrant fishing village of Guet Ndar. After lunch continue to Lompoul in the desert of Senegal. Enjoy a camel ride to the top of the sand dunes from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of coastline.  Spend the night in comfortable tents and feel like nomads observing the moon or stars. Dinner and overnight at Lodge de Lompoul

Day Four: Lompoul , Touba and Kaolack

After experiencing sunrise in the desert, have breakfast then depart to the holy city of Touba.  Visit the Grand Mosque which is the largest and most magnificent in all of West Africa. You will learn about Cheikh Ahmadou Mbacke the founder of Mouridism and the history of Touba one of the most significant cities in West Africa. Touba is an autonomous city much like the Vatican in Italy. After Touba, continue to Kaolack with stops in Fulani and Wolof villages.  Arrive in Kaolack and visit the local market before checking into your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Relais de Kaolack

Day Five: Kaolack to Sine Ngayenne, Jufureh, James Island and  Banjul

For today, we will first stop today is the Stones Circles of Sine Ngayenne. Visit “The Sine Ngayene complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It consists 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 the sources of more than 150 stones have been traced.

The proceed to Jufureh, the ancestral village of Alex Haley’s of “Roots” fame. You will arrive first in Albreda which gained fame during slavery because of its Flag Pole, which many believed would guarantee freedom to anyone who touched it after escaping from nearby James Island. Observe the ruins of the Sao Domingo Church, reputed to be one of the oldest churches in West Africa, erected by the Portuguese during the 17th century. Arrive in Juffureh where the ancestry of Alex Haley and of Kunta Kinte are traced. The restored original home of the Kinte clan is still occupied by the Kinte family. After lunch we continue by road and the ferry to Banjul. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Hotel

Day Six: Banjul to Abuko Reserve and back to Banjul

After breakfast, we will visit Abuko Nature Reserve where there are indigenous birds and animals. Return to Banjul for the city tour of Banjul and vicinity and visit the National Museum, showing the history of The Gambia including the development of the country from colonialization onwards. Visit the busy general market where anything from live chicken and vegetables to herbs and potions can be purchased.  In the afternoon, visit Serrekunda the most densely populated area of The Gambia, here you can see displays of multiple crafts, including Tie & Dye and the beautiful Batik cottons. Dinner and overnight at Senegambia Hotel.

Day Seven: Banjul to Saly

This morning after breakfast, you will cross on the ferry and begin the journey back to Senegal. Arrive in Kaolack and visit the oldest (1500 years old) and largest baobab tree in West Africa. We then continue to the twin villages of Joal/Fadiouth, where you will visit the traditional Serere village and observe the cathedral, the market place, the sacred Baobab tree and the famous multi-religious cemetery. Joal-Fadiouth is a sleepy twin village with Joal on the mainland and Fadiouth, linked by a narrow 400-meter wooden bridge lies on an island built entirely of seashells.  We will also visit the shell islands of Fadiouth, a symbol of tolerance, where Muslims, Christians and animists are living together, and buried side by side in unusual mix cemetery. Proceed to Saly resort, arriving in time to see the picturesque sunset over the ocean. Dinner and overnight at Royam Hotel.

Day Eight: Saly to Cruise and Villages

Today after breakfast, we depart to visit a typical Serère’s village. The Serère’s, are farmers and the second largest ethnic group in Senegal. Or visit a Fula nomadic camp. The Fula are herders and are the third largest ethnic group in Senegal.  Proceed to Ndangane, from where we sail along the  Sine Saloum River through a forest of Mangrove vegetation

In the afternoon we return to Saly with a stop in Mbour to visit one of the most important fishing ports in Senegal, here you can watch the busy activities of the fishermen and their distributions haggle over prices. Return to Saly in time to watch the sunset over the ocean. Dinner and overnight at Royam Hotel

Day Nine: Saly to Bandia Park, Pink Lake

For this day, you will drive to visit the Bandia National park for a short Safari and look out for Crocodiles, Antelopes, Rhinoceros, Monkey, Buffalos, impala gazelles, among others… and numerous birds including the small hornbills, grey heron, eagles, blackbirds and kingfishers. Then go to the Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon caused by a unique combination of microorganism and high concentration of salts which gives the lake its pink color.  Recently the lake is not as pink as in past years due to the nonstop depletion of the salt for commercial use. Interact with the Salt Harvesters.  For the adventuresome, try floating in the lake. Time permitting visit the nearby Fulani village. Return to Saly for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Royam Hotel

Day Ten: Saly and fly out

Today is at leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your onward destination.