Senegal Day Excursions

½ DAY DAKAR CITY SIGHTSEEING Afternoon departure on a city tour of Dakar, visiting the Great Mosque, the Presidential Palace, passing some of the colorful markets, the Great Mosque, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Grand Corniche, the Ifan Museum and the Parliament House, Diop University, the Medina District and the residential district of Fann. Tour will stop for a visit to the tailors ending at the Market of Soumbedioune with time for shopping. ½ DAY GORÉE ISLAND Morning departure for tour to Gorée Island. Less than 2 miles off the coast of Dakar, a brief 20-minute ferry ride, Gorée Island stands as a reminder and memorial to the slave trade. From the 16th century to the 19th century, thousands of men, women and children were gathered on this island, locked up in cells and either died or were shipped off into slavery. Tour will visit the slave house that retains all traces of its terrible past, the historical museum and leave time to explore the island on your own. Mid-afternoon return to the hotel. FULL-DAY PINK LAKE Full day tour to the Pink Lake, Retba, a warm, salty and shallow lake that turns from pink to purple depending on the sun. The lake, surrounded by sand dunes and a Baobab tree forest, has a high density of salt that forms a crust on the bottom that provides revenue for those villagers nearby who make their living crushing the salt to sell at the market. After lunch, tour will visit a nearby village and witness traditional life and meet the people. Early evening return to hotel. FULL-DAY TOUR SALY Morning departure for full day excursion to Saly, 90 minutes away via motorcoach. Spend the day at the beach. Enjoy windsurfing, jet skiing, water-skiing, snorkeling or scuba diving in a warm and clear ocean cooled by gentle sea breezes. FULL-DAY TOUR TO JOAL FADIOUTH A fullday trip to the area called la Petite Côte approximately 60 miles south of Dakar. After passing through the suburb Rufisque and small villages surrounded by Baobab forests all along the road, you will arrive at Mbour, chief town in the area. Visit the local market, and then drive on to Joal, an old colonial spot discovered by the Portuguese during the 15th century, and still a very important center in the region and the birthplace of President Leopold Sedar Senghor. A short tour by pirogue will take you to the island of Fadiouth, famous for it’s Oyster-banks and sea-shell cemetery. Lunch in a restaurant close to the beach, afternoon free swimming and sunbathing . Stop for some other visits on the way back to your hotel. ½ DAY TOUR TO KEUR MOUSSA Sundays Only Travel to Keur Moussa just 15 miles outside Dakar. Here in a monastery built in the early 1900, benedictine monks celebrate the Sunday mass with the accompaniment of traditional African music instruments. You will pray and meditate at the sound of the Koras, balafons, soft drums. A profound moment of communion. FULL-DAY TOUR TO SALOUM AND JOAL Depart Dakar early in the morning for the Saloum islands. You will pass by the forest of palm grove trees of Fumela and the Serer traditional villages. Upon arrival at Ndagane you will take the motor canoes to visit the Saloum Islands which have been classified as exclusive protected natural eco- site. You will discover the rich ornithology of the Saloum Island, the fishermen villages, the ‘’bolongs’’(vegetation corridors on the water). Return at noon to Ndagane. Lunch in a typical restaurant alongside the river. In the afternoon you will visit Joal and Fadiouth, typical Serer island with its shells cemetery, the granaries on piles and its colorful and typical streets. On the return to Dakar, you will visit the city of Mbour and its market. FULL-DAY TOUR TO TOUBA Best on Fridays Touba is the most famous Muslim pilgrimage center of West Africa. It was founded by Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, and this small village in twenty-five years has become one of the leading and most influential cities in Senegal and West Africa. You will visit the wonderful mosque (decorated with gold, silver and crystal). You will be welcomed by the spiritual leader of the community (the Serigne) who will lecture you on Cheikh Bamba and the Mourid Brotherhood he created in the purest tradition of hospitality which characterizes this Holy City. Return to Dakar after visiting the surrounding villages and after having met the ‘’Baye Fall’’(the defenders and workers of The Brotherhood). FULL-DAY ARTS TOUR This exciting and unique art tour is led by a Senegalese Professor who is a specialist of African Arts. In the morning you will visit the IFAN MUSEUM, the richest museum of Arts in the sub region. Your tour of the museum will include viewing the traditional arts of the countries of Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Guinea , Senegal and The Gambia. Then visit of the National Gallery of Arts (exhibition of modern Senegalese Paintings) , the private gallery of Senegalese Painters and the Art village. This Art Tour continues to the city of Thies where you will have lunch and then visit the world renowned National Art Tapestries Factory . Once a year the most beautiful and outstanding Senegalese Painters are selected in a in nation wide competition and woven into very exclusive tapestries. Return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.

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