FULL DAY TOUR

You will go to the pier to take the boat which will take you to the island of Gorée after 20 minutes of crossing.

Visit the Fort d’Estrée which now houses the Historical Museum, visit the House of Slaves, walk on the cliff of the island called Castel where you can see the monument of the Gorée Almadies Memorial.

Stroll through the charming alleys of the island, lined with houses dating back to the colonial era.

Then departure for Lac Rose where lunch is planned.

The lake was born from a lagoon, which a movement of the dunes, along the sea, finally closed in the 15th century. It is located a few hundred meters from the ocean, in the middle of a landscape of dunes and bush. Its peculiarity is quite exceptional, it is pink when the sun is level and at dusk, the pink darkens until it takes on nuanced shades of mauve or purple.

Besides its color, its high salinity (300 gr / liter) places it in second position after the Dead Sea. Everything floats there. This salt concentration allows women from surrounding villages to directly extract the salt which settles at the bottom of the lake. Visiting the salt flats will allow you to witness the extraction of salt by the Fulani women from the surrounding villages. This exploitation, by means of peaks, is a windfall which supports a large number of families. Then, ride in an all-terrain vehicle on the sand dunes surrounding the lake, guaranteed sensations. Return to the hotel.

THE BUSH AND DELTA DU SALOUM

Visit a weekly market along the way where all the residents of surrounding villages meet once a week to sell, buy or barter all kinds of goods ranging from lighter flint to zebu, spices and other thrift stores. Market very rich in colors and smells.

Continue to the bank of the Saloum river where we will take a traditional motorized canoe for a ride through a maze of inlets and the river. You will be able to see pelicans, herons, egrets…

Lunch in a restaurant on one of the Saloum islands and return via Joal to visit one of the most important artisanal fishing ports in Senegal where you can witness the arrival of fishermen aboard their immense multicolored canoes . Return to the hotel in the evening.

The Bandia Animal Reserve

Description

1/2 day

Departure from the hotel in an all-terrain vehicle for the Bandia reserve, located about 30 minutes from Saly. Consisting of 1000 hectares, in the heart of a baobab forest, animals can move around in complete freedom and in complete safety.

Opened in 1997, this unspoiled place will allow you to observe with a licensed guide from the park giraffes, white rhinoceros, oryx, impala, Cape elk, Derby elk, warthogs, buffalo, golden jackals, crocodiles, green monkeys …

A large variety of birds can also be observed on the savannah and around the water point: small hornbills with red beak, gray herons, African eagles … This walk will also allow you to discover religious vestiges: a tomb of griots in a hollow baobab and serer pyramids.

The visit of Joal Fadiouth

Description

1/2 day

Departure from the hotel for Joal Fadiouth, a former Serer animist village where the first president of the Republic of Senegal was born.

Visit the city and the artisanal port considered to be the largest in Senegal and continue to Fadiouth.

Connected from Joal by a wooden bridge, the village of Fadiouth is built on a seashell mountain. Its millet granaries on stilts implanted in the river and its Catholic cemetery make the charm of the animist village of Catholic adoption.

1.5 hour walking tour through the neighborhoods. Return to your hotel.

Hours available: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

SENEGALESE DAY / MOM AMY’S KITCHEN

Departure towards the village of Mbour inhabited by the Serer people who constitute one of the largest fishing ethnic groups in the region.

Arrival and visit of the traditional market and the village before heading towards the craft market. There you will find painted fabric, masks, all artisanal products specific to Senegal but also products from neighboring countries.

After visiting the market, continue to the port where you can witness the arrival of the canoes. The arrival of the fishermen is a real chaos of activities. It is an exceptional spectacle to see this crowd get active when the canoes return to port with their nets overflowing with fish. Difficult work but always done in a good mood.

DIRECTION TO MOM AMY’S

at our host MAMAN AMY
Be sure to communicate your dietary preferences and any dietary restrictions in advance.
Participate in the cooking workshop: On the day of your experience, you will meet your host at her home. She will welcome you warmly and introduce you to the local ingredients you will use to prepare the meal. You will have the opportunity to learn traditional cooking techniques and ask questions about the dishes.
Share the meal: Once you have finished cooking, you will sit down to share the meal with your host and perhaps their family or other guests. It’s a great time to exchange stories, learn about daily life in Senegal, and enjoy the delicious cuisine you helped prepare.
Appreciate local culture: In addition to cuisine, your host might also share with you other aspects of Senegalese culture, such as music, dance or crafts. Take advantage of this opportunity to enrich your cultural experience.
Express your gratitude: At the end of your experience, remember to express your gratitude to your host for their hospitality and generosity. A small gift or gesture of thanks may also be appreciated.
By participating in a cooking workshop and homestay meal in Senegal, you will have the opportunity to create lasting memories and connect with local people in a meaningful way.