Senegal – Coast and Delta Explorer, a 7-day small group tour.
When it comes to culture, Senegal is a one of the best of the west African countries to visit.
An intriguing journey touching the edge of the Western Sahara. Start in Dakar and explore this bustling city before immersing yourself in the slave history at Goree Island. Travel north through Senegal, reaching the border with Mauritania and the Djoudj National Park, a natural oasis composed of hundreds of miles of partially flooded land. We then head south to the holy city of Touba and visit its Grand Mosque before visiting small, ethnic villages and ending the tour back in Dakar.
- Fitness
- Off the beaten track
- Culture
- History
- Wildlife
Tour Pace
Relaxed
Tour style
Traveller
Relaxed Pace
Relaxed tours are easy paced with plenty of leisure time built in. The tour will in all probability still be off the beaten track, with the occasional early start and there may still be occasional long drives. In general on a relaxed pace tour you can enjoy easy-going activities and experiences with opportunities to absorb the sights and immerse yourself in the local surroundings.
Moderate Pace
Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a tour experience that combines activities and experiences with some time to relax. Typically you will be active and busy for part of the day but then also have time to rest and recharge your batteries. In general on a moderate paced tour there may be some long journeys involved but the tour is not an expedition or a road trip. On a moderate paced tour it will be necessary to have some early starts.
Busy Pace
A busy paced tour means that you can expect to be doing, seeing or experiencing something new almost every day, and moving on from place to place to pack in as much as possible. There may be early starts, long journeys and tiring days along the way, but you’ll return home feeling you’ve really experienced as much as you possibly could.
Pioneer Class Tours
On our Pioneer tours, you will be amongst an elite group of intrepid travellers and some of the first to explore a country that few have been privileged enough to discover. Of course, exploring such areas of the world will come with its challenges; it may mean several nights camping, long journeys by 4WD and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for when carefully laid plans change. These are challenging tours in countries and areas that may have poor infrastructure, high levels of poverty and illiteracy. This can translate in to low standards in hotels, bad roads and poor driving standards among other issues. We try and smooth out as much of these issues as we can but you should be prepared to experience the bad with the good.
Traveller Class Tours
Our Traveller itineraries are at the core of our programme. These journeys are designed for travellers who still want to discover a land away from the tourist crowds but expect minimum standards. Accommodation will be primarily hotel based, although you could still find yourself camping, or the guest of a local family. Depending on the destination and itinerary, you’ll likely be travelling in a private vehicle, with occasional use of public transport. This is adventure travel with some of the rough edges smoothed out.
Itinerary.
Day 1- Arrival in Dakar
(62km, approx. 1hr10m)
Arrive in Dakar and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Ibis Dakar or similar (D)
Day 2 – Dakar City Tour – Goree Island – Pink Lake – Langue de Barbarie
(25min Ferry + 275km, approx. 5hr50m)
This morning we take a city tour of Dakar. Highlights include the Presidential Palace, Republic Square and Soweto Square to see the National Assembly. We then drive to the Cathedral du Souvenir Africain and the train station, with its elegant and inspiring façade, and is the region´s oldest major transit hub. Visit the Museum of Black Civilizations, the museum is dedicated to African civilizations, a place of civilizational encounter and dialogue between cultures before we catch a ferry to Goree Island. On arrival we visit the house of slaves, a living testimony of the times of slavery, where you se the ‘door of no return’ where slaves were allegedly sent through to board boats. Continue to visit the town square and Catholic Church before stopping at the historical museum.
Return to Dakar for the second part of the city tour, visit of the Great Mosque Massalikoul Djinaan, University “Cheikh Anta Diop”, the monument of the African Renaissance, the divinity Mosque on the West Corniche, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the “Village des Arts” composed of fifty-two artist’s studios (ateliers).
Next depart to Retba Lake, also nicknamed Pink, nestled between white sand dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. Tour of the lake and see how women harvest the salt from the depth of the lake. Lunch at a local restaurant and continue to Ocean et Savane Lodge located in Langue de Barbarie National Park in front of the river. Enjoy a beautiful sunset in front the river. Dinner and overnight in Ocean et Savane Lodge or similar (BLD)
Day 3 – Langue de Barbarie – Saint Louis
(35Km / approx. 1h)
Spend the morning at leisure. After lunch we head to St. Louis, Senegal’s first capital, and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch at a local restaurant, before enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city. Visit the fisherman’s district, the lively fishing community of Guet N’Dar in the “Langue de Barbarie”, a magical place with dozens of pirogues used for local fishing as well as the Cathedral, situated next to the Governor’s Palace, an 1828 building. with a neoclassical facade and one of the oldest churches in Senegal. Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Residence or similar (BD)
Day 4 – Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
Today visit Djoudj National Park, the third largest bird reserve in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A living sanctuary, situated in the Senegal River Delta, with a wetland of 16,000 hectares and 1, 5 million migratory birds. It is a lush setting with wetlands comprising lakes, streams, valleys and pieces of sand. Bird watching in a pirogue, with particular emphasis on the white pelican, cormorants, Gambian geese, ospreys, crocodiles, among other species. Return to St. Louis for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Hotel La Residence or similar (BLD)
Day 5 – Saint Louis – Touba – Palmarin
(340Km / approx. 6h30m)
Depart to Saloum Delta. Along the slopes, you will have chance to meet the Peuhls breeders at the time of the regrouping of the zebus herds for the milking of animals. Then visit the holy city of Touba and its famous mosque. After lunch we continue our journey on the Saloum Delta in Senegal. Dinner and overnight at the eco-lodge of Palmarin or similar (BD)
Day 6 - Palmarin – Mar Lodj
(30Km / approx. 45min + 30min boat trip)
We take a canoe to cross to the picturesque island of Mar Lodj, just opposite Ndangane. Visit the villages of Mar Lodj and Marfafaco, home of the Sérère ethnic group. Lunch at the Essamaye camp on the edge of the lagoon before returning to Palmarin in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Ecolodge of Palmarin or similar (BD)
Day 7 – Palmarin – Joal Fadiouth – Dakar Departure
(80Km / approx. 2hrs)
Depart for Joal Fadiouth where we drive into a palm tree and baobabs forest. Stop at Fadial Village to admire one of the biggest baobab trees in Senegal then continue to Joal – Fadiouth. Drive through the forest of Samba Dia and charming “Serere” villages with traditional huts. Visit Fadiouth Shell Island by foot. Highlights include the cemetery for Muslims and Christians, the market, the church, and the white alleys where shells are ubiquitous. Have lunch at the restaurant of Taverne du Pêcheur of Joal before transferring to the airport for your departure flight* (BL)
*if you are combining this with our Guinea Bissau tour, the departure flight to Bissau is at 1700hrs (subject to change)
*if you are leaving Dakar for the end of the trip, please book a flight after 1500hrs.
Dates & Price.
Tour Notes
Single Supplement
Single supplement from £275-£385
Flights
Flights in to Dakar start from £620 return.
Back to Back Tours with Guinea Bissau
This tour runs back to back with our Guinea Bissau – Archipelago Adventure tour. Please contact us for more details.
For expert advice get in touch now with our passionate,
well-travelled team.
+44(0) 191 296 2674 from THE UK
1-800-614-2967 from THE US & CANADA
1-300-956-415 from AUSTRALIA
Tour inclusions.
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All accommodation
- Transport as described
- Services of English speaking guide / tour leader
- Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
- Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary
Tour exclusions.
- International flights
- Any airport taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Visas
- Drinks
- Tips (discretionary)
- Items of a personal nature
Download PDF.
Download the full tour dossier for this trip here.
Read more about our tours in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Bissau and our other Africa tours
Undiscovered Destinations
1b St Oswins Place, Tynemouth, NE30 4RQ, England
© 2022 | UNDISCOVERED DESTINATIONS
