15 days roundtrip
SAFARI AT THE EMPIRE OF BAOBABS AND KAPOK TREES
In this roundtrip of 15 days, which sink into the bush, we offer you a large palette of extraordinary landscapes typically identified in West Africa. From the North to the far South–East of Senegal, you should discover the country geography: sweet water lagoons of the river Senegal, mangrove trees growing at saline estuaries in the Saloum, the desert, the great forest and savannah, and some 15 community groups: The Bassaris and their traditional ceremonies, the Bedicks and their ancestral cultures, the nomadic Peuls, the Serer Niominkas and their particular life style, due to their insular environment. The Peuls dwelling at the south–east zones in Senegal exhibit their fascinating tattoos outstanding women’s beauty…. Senegal has preserved the virginity of its bush, well far from the seaside tourism.
Some lodgings should be scanty, but there is no other ecological and touristic opportunity for meeting original communities at the heart of the bush. As many great feelings when living beyond a time–scale at one of these villages, where the modern life style as well as the rampant consumerism are senseless terms! Unforgettable thought at the end of 15 days roundtrip.
Majestic baobabs – space and conviviality
The majestic kapok tree «Bantan Woro» (1)
The Great Kapok tree «Bantan Woro»: surprise and respect (2)
Tradition et ceremonies – vivacity (Casamance), (1)
Tradition et ceremonies – vivacity (Casamance), (2)
Saloum islands: balade nautique (1)
Day 1: EUROPE – AIBD Airport – LAC ROSE (40km/1h)
Welcoming and assistance at the airport, transfer and overnight stay at Salim, nearby Lac Rose (Pink Lake).
Lac Rose (Pink Lake), (1)
Lac Rose (Pink Lake): artisanal excavation of the salt (2)
Lac Rose (Pink Lake): salt transportation (3)
Day 2: LAC ROSE – BANDIA – THIÈS – LOUMPOUL (200km/3 h)
Round of the Lake for meeting the collectors of salt. The lagoon changes from mauve to violet pink contrasting with the huge heaps of salt under sun radiation. About one thousand of collectors are extracting salt, which is next transported by small canoes.
Way up to the Bandia animal reserve located into a great forest of baobabs, where giraffes, rhinoceros, buffalos, gazelles, monkeys, warthogs…., are living in full harmony.
Lunch at the city Thies and way on to reach the most beautiful desert in Senegal.
Walk at sunset or on a dromedary back through the huge sand dunes.
Evening with percussion at the heart of the desert and overnight stay in a Moor tent installed at the eco–lodge in Lompoul or similar accommodation structure.
Majestic Giraffe (Natural reserve of Bandia)
Rhinoceros (Natural reserve of Bandia)
Desert of Lompoul (1)
Desert of Lompoul (2)
Desert of Lompoul (3)
Desert of Lompoul (4)
Desert of Lompoul (5)
Day 3: LOMPOUL – SAINT LOUIS (145 km/2h 30mn)
After a small walk on the dunes at sunrise, we make the way on to Saint Louis, the ancient capital of Senegal and also a city of the French Western Africa namely Afrique Occidentale Française (AOF).
Lunch at a great restaurant in Saint Louis, next visiting the old city by horse drawn carriage. The city was classified in 2000 by UNESCO as the World Heritage of humanity.
Overnight stay at the hotel Diamarek or similar accommodation structure.
Cart services in Saint Louis
Historical and cultural city – Saint Louis (1)
Historical and cultural city – Saint Louis (2)
Day 4: SAINT LOUIS –DJOUDJ – SAINT LOUIS (134km/1h 45mn)
Arrival at Djoudj in the morning.
Making a round by pirogue on the river Senegal for observing the nests of pelicans, various migratory birds, monkeys, crocodiles, warthogs….
Visiting a Moor village and back to Saint–Louis for lunch.
A relax afternoon at the swimming pool of the Diamarek hotel.
Ornithological Park – Djoudj (1)
Ornithological Park – Djoudj (2)
Ornithological Park – Djoudj (3)
Ornithological Park – Djoudj (4)
Ornithological Park – Djoudj (5)
Day 5: SAINT– LOUIS – TAMBACOUNDA (385km/4h 40mn)
Way to the Eastern Senegal.
Visiting the Mosquee of the city Touba. Meeting with the Peuls, a community group originating from Niger. They are known for their very warm welcome. Peuls have preserved their life style, their dresses and jewelry, hair braiding and tattoos which make the women appearing as princess.
Overnight stay in Tambacounda at the hotel Oasis or similar accommodation structure.
Mosque – Touba (1)
Mosque – Touba (2)
Woman of the community Peulh – braiding and tatoo..
Nomad family in relocation: tradition and harmony
Day 6: TAMBACOUNDA – MAKO (220 km/2h 20mn)
Way on to Mako.
A magnificent view over the river Gambia and the washerwomen in their busy activities at the river bank.
Overnight stay at the encampment Keur Annick or encampment Badiang, nearby the river Gambia populated with settlements of hippopotamus.
Day 7: MAKO – ANGEL – KÉDOUGOU (40km/1h)
For escaping islamisation process, the Bassari and Bédicks communities have taken away at the hills, where they have been practicing for long years ancestral traditions.
Walk through the village for meeting these communities in their natural environment.
Overnight stay in Kedougou at the hotel le Bédick or similar accommodation structure.
Day 8: KÉDOUGOU – DINDEFELO (35km/1h)
Laterite runway for reaching the village Dindefelo at the foot of the hill ground.
A 25 min walk directly to the refreshing waterfalls at the heart of a luxuriant forest. There is a possibility of surprising or hearing some settlements of chimpanzees very protected in this region.
Swimming and barbecue at the foot of the waterfalls.
Overnight stay at the village Dindefelo at the encampment Dogon du Fouta or similar accommodation structure.
Fresh waterfalls (1)
Fresh waterfalls (2)
Day 9: DINDÉFELO – WASSADOU (253 km/3h 30mn)
Departure to reach the village of gold panners at the locality Tomboroncoto. The panners come from the whole West African countries and are active in exploiting this precious metal. The activity is performed at open cast by using hand–made technique and equipments.
Installation at the eco–lodge of Wassadou overhanging the river Gambia and the majestic forest populated of monkeys and multicolor birds.
Dinner and overnight stay at the encampment hotel of Wassadou or similar accommodation structure.
Gold panners – artisanal techniques
Day 10: SOUTH – EAST – CASAMANCE (Wassadou– Ziguinchor), (385 km / 5h)
Way on to Ziguinchor, the bush is becoming more and more luxuriant.
Crossing several villages of the community Peuls, which are settled at the Northern Casamance.
Lunch at the city Kolda.
Overnight stay and installation near the Casamance river bank at the hotel Kadiandoumagne or similar accommodation structure in the city Ziguinchor.
The unique art for mastering palm tree (Casamance), (1)
The unique art for mastering palm tree (Casamance), (2)
Jour 11: ZIGUINCHOR – CAP SKIRING (70km/1h 30mn)
Visit of the old city with its colonial architecture et also the fishing port.
Crossing through very beautiful landscapes consisting of palm trees and paddy fields for reaching Cap Skirring (seaside resort).
Arrival to the hotel in Cap Skirring at noon and lunch.
In the afternoon, swimming and relax at the beach in Cap Skirring.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel Maya (or similar accommodation structure), nearby the sea bank with a superb view to the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 12: CAP SKIRING – CARABANE (30 mn by car and 1h 30mn by sea link)
Boarding into the pirogues at Katakalousse for reaching Carabane island. It was an ancient trading post in the region Casamance at the XIX century.
Visit of the marine cemetery and the renovated Breton church.
Swimming and walking in the afternoon on the immense beach of the island.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel Carabane or similar accommodation structure.
Day 13: CARABANE – ZIGUINCHOR (55km/ 1h)
Boarding into pirogues and cruising to Elinkine, a small fishing port in Casamance with its multicolor pirogues.
Way on to Mlomp known for its compartments (houses) of clay (banco) and giant as well as majestic kapok trees.
Visit of the Diola museum.
Overnight stay at the hotel Kadiandoumagne (or similar accommodation structure) at the city Ziguinchor.
The art of building – house of clay (banco), (Mlomp)
Kapok tree in Mlomp: conviviality with inhabitants
Day 14: ZIGUINCHOR – SALOUM ISLANDS (385 km/4h 30mn)
Departure, early in the morning and cruising to the Northern direction.
Crossing the forest of Bounkiling and the Gambian territory along with the Ferry at the site Farafegny.
Arrival at the Saloum Island late in the evening.
Installation at the eco–lodge of Simal or similar accommodation structure.
Saloum islands (1)
Saloum islands (2)
Saloum islands (3)
Day 15: SIMAL – AIBD AIRPORT – EUROPE (180 km/3h)
Wonderful crossing by pirogues or cart for discovering the community Serere in its various cultural facets.
Transfer to the AIBD Airport at evening.
