Day 1: DAKAR. The capital – Senegal
Arrival in Dakar and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: DAKAR, contemporary metropolis & Gorée. From Dakar to Gorée (transfers in town and ferry)
Dakar is located at the end of the Cape Verde peninsula, the western-most point on the African continent and has a population of about 2.4 million people.
Nowadays, a large and vibrant African metropolis it was the cultural and intellectual capital of the former French West Africa.
Also, the Senegal’s capital, is currently a window on contemporary art and music and the center of all kinds of creativity.
We visit the Musée des Civilisations Noirs, opened in December 2018, is the creation of the vision of Léopold Sédar Senghor (first president of independent Senegal, intellectual, poet and writer). The museum represents the historical and contemporary cultures of the African diaspora around the world, the art and soul of black people, which he called Negritude. We also visit the Cathédrale Notre Dame. The construction project of the Dakar cathedral was started in 1910 to pay tribute to African combatants; the cathedral was built on a Muslim cemetery in the Neo-Sudanese style, a style inspired by the architecture of mosques in the Sahara and Sub-Saharan land, and consecrated on 2 February 1936.
Before boarding for Gorée, we will visit the Kermel Market. The market is truly a unique experience. Founded in 1860, it is not only a commercial center but also a cultural landmark of the city. Its colonial architecture, with its brightly colored façade, is striking at first glance and represents an excellent blend of history and modern life.
Inside, the market is a riot of colors, sounds, and smells, offering a glimpse into everyday Senegalese life, with people bargaining among themselves—making the visit not only an opportunity to shop, but also a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture. It is a place that tells stories and preserves traditions, not to be missed by anyone visiting Dakar.
After visiting the Kermel market, we will depart from the port of Dakar and set sail for Gorée, the island where enslaved people were gathered before being transported to the Americas. Some restored buildings remain as testimony to those times.
The Portuguese were the first to establish a presence on Gorée in 1450 where they built a small stone chapel. After the decline of the slave trade from Senegal in the 1770s and 1780s, the island became an important port for the shipment of peanuts, Arabic gum, ivory, and other products of legitimate trade.  Thanks to the nice breeze, and the many restaurants and shops, Gorée today has become a pleasant and trendy location. In the late afternoon and evening, when the tourists are gone, we will experience the real feeling of this special island.

Day 3: Lac Rose fisherman villages and Lampool. From Gorée to Lac Rose (ferry and drive 180 km – driving time 4 hours)
Waking up in Gorée before the crowd arrives is a pleasure, as strolling in the tiny stone-paved alleys of this historical settlement.
Ferry to Dakar and onward by road to Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose.
Lake Retba is located a few kilometers from the ocean; its waters take on shades ranging from pale pink to deep coral, an effect caused by the presence of tiny organisms that thrive in extreme salinity. When the sun is high, the light sets the lake aglow. Along the shores, men and women work slowly, harvesting salt.
Kilometers of exciting driving along the beach in a 4×4 vehicle (tides permitting) will take us to find out the largest fishing village in Senegal, Kayar. More than 4,500 painted wooden pirogues come ashore with the day’s catch… On the beach, fishermen sell their fish to the women of the local market. Then we will meet the craftsmen who carve the large pirogues and the painters who decorate them with colors.
We will continue to the Lampool Desert where we will spend the night.
The Lompoul Desert is not a vast desert, but that is precisely what makes it surprising.
The dunes resemble motionless waves sculpted by the wind. In the Lompoul Desert, there is no grandeur, but rather intimacy. It is a place that does not overwhelm, but gently envelops, leaving space for silence, for thoughts, and for that rare feeling of being, for a moment, completely outside of time.

Day 4: Bird Sanctuary and Saint Louis. From Lampool to St. Louis (210 km – driving time 4 hrs.)
Early morning departure northwards to discover Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Parc National des Oiseaux du Djoudj), a natural oasis formed by hundreds of miles of partially flooded lands that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This “humid paradise” between the Sahara and Ferlo desert, is the best habitat and nesting site for over a million migratory and resident birds – lies on the southeastern bank of the Senegal River and offers a range of wetland habitats that are attended by many migrating birds, some getting here after crossing the Sahara. Out of more than 400 species, pelicans and flamingos are the most common, whereas aquatic warblers are a bit less conspicuous – migrating here from Europe, this park is their single most important wintering site yet discovered. Apart from birds, there is also a wide range of wildlife such as warthogs and crocodiles. Motorboat excursion led by a local ornithologist- guide.
Depending on the season, considering the time of migrations and level of water, the visit to Djoudj may be replaced by a similar experience in Langue de Barbarie, a thin, sandy peninsula, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, located in western Senegal, in the neighborhoods of the city of Saint-Louis. The peninsula separates the ocean from the final section of the Senegal River. The Langue de Barbarie National Park is home to an abundant variety of bird species and three species of turtle.
In the afternoon we will arrive in Saint Louis. We will stay at the charming and historic Hotel de la Poste, once the residence of the “Aéropostale” pilots flying between Europe, Africa, and South America. Saint-Exupéry, the famous writer and author of The Little Prince, was one of the Aéropostale pilots on this route and was based at La Poste.

Day 5: Saint Louis & Nomadic tribes. From St. Louis to Ferlo desert (150 km – driving time 4 hrs.)
Saint Louis, known to locals as Ndar, is a charming ancient town that was a French capital territory from 1673 until 1895 and the capital of all French West Africa colonies from 1895 until 1902 when the capital was moved to Dakar. From 1920 to 1957, it also served as the capital of the neighboring colony of Mauritania.
It has been the former base of the “Aeropostale” airmail pioneer operation between Europe, Africa, and South America. Saint Exupéry, the famous writer, and author of “The Little Prince”, was one of Aeropostale’s pilots following this route.
The best way to explore the narrow streets of Saint Louis is by calash, just as the locals do. It’s the perfect moment to stroll through the small alleys and soak in the unique atmosphere of this historic city.
Saint Louis is a city rich in culture and is also known as the “Archipelago of Museums.” This remarkable collection brings together a series of fascinating sites: eight houses of colonial-era architecture that trace the history and culture of Senegal and West Africa—from the Origines Museum, which displays exceptional artifacts, to MuPho (the Museum of Photography).
In the afternoon, continue to the Ferlo Desert to discover the arid region which nomadic Fulani tribe herd large droves of zebu. The Fulani (also called Peul) are the largest nomadic tribe roaming West African Savannahs, living in a vast area from Senegal to Chad. Their origins are still covered with mystery.
They all share a common aristocratic cult for beauty and elegance.

Day 6: Tuba Brotherhood. From Ferlo desert to Kaolack (160 km – driving time 3,5 hrs.)
In Touba, we discover the great sense of hospitality that characterises African brotherhoods. The inhabitants follow the Muridi movement and the sacred city is almost a ‘state within a state’ ruled by a caliph.  The founder was a Sufi named Amhadou Bàmba Mbake.
Amhadou Bàmba founded Touba in 1887. The sacred place remained a small isolated spot in nature until his death and burial at the site of the Great Mosque 40 years later. The Grand Mosque was finally completed in 1963 and since its inauguration, the city has grown rapidly: from less than 5,000 inhabitants in 1964, the population has grown to 529,000 in 2007.
The Mouridi have a great social and economic impact in Senegal: thanks to their peaceful (and African) vision of Islam, Muridism, with the other brotherhoods that follow the Marabout cult, has become the bastion that protects Senegal from radical Islam.
During the Grand Magal, the annual pilgrimage, the city is visited by four million pilgrims.
The Mourides welcome any interest in their traditions. However, since Tuba is a holy city, all visitors must accept the traditional rules. Therefore, we must apply a respectful dress code: no smoking, no drinking alcohol and no listening to music during the visit. If we follow these rules, we will be welcome. A Baye Fall, a member of a colourful branch of Muridism, will accompany us during in visiting it.

Day 7: Sea-shells. From Kaolack to Sine Saloum (70 km – driving time 1,30’’ h)
Transfer to Sine-Saloum
Sine-Saloum is a region of Senegal located north of The Gambia and south of the Petite Côte. It comprises an area of 24,000 square kilometers, about 12 percent of Senegal and is home to the Saloum Delta National Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
Flowing very slowly, this delta allows salt water to enter deep inland.
Private boat excursion: visit the mangroves and discover many species of birds in their natural habitat, as well as the reforestation programs implemented to protect this region.

Day 8: Sine Saloum. MAHICAO MUSEUM  & PALMARIN
We will visit one of the most important museums in Senegal: MAHICAO – Musée d’Art et d’Histoire des Cultures d’Afrique de l’Ouest.
MAHICAO was created through a private initiative by the French gallery owner and renowned African art expert Reginald Groux, a member of the French Antique Dealers Association and professor at the Higher Institute of Art in France.
The rural community of Palmarin, about 150 km south of Dakar, offers a unique mix of landscapes and authentic experiences. Rooted in a strong connection to nature, local communities manage resources sustainably through initiatives like the Maison de l’Écotourisme and a Community Nature Reserve. Visitors discover a rich mosaic of savannah, mangrove, beaches, and winding bolongs, while engaging with the traditions of Serer people culture.The region can be explored on foot, by bike, pirogue, kayak, horseback, or microlight. Nearby Ngallou is known for its striking multicoloured salt pans, reflecting an ancient local craft.

Day 9: Sea of shells & Dakar out. From Sine Saloum to the airport (110km – driving time 3 h)
Morning departure. Traveling north, we will stop at Joal-Fadiouth: two villages connected by a bridge.
The island of Fadiouth was built on seashells, which are also used in the construction of buildings and decorations. On the island of Fadiouth, where the population is mainly Christian/Catholic, there is a cemetery that is surprisingly shared by Muslim and Christian graves side by side.
Then, trasfer to the aiport.