The Baobab Route (Guaranteed Departure Tour)

The Baobab Route is a guaranteed departure circuit (on fixed dates) of grouped individual travelers.

You will go to meet the main regions of Senegal, from the Cape Verde peninsula to the Saint-Louis region in the north, then discover the Sine Saloum and the Petite Côte passing through the center of the country. Varied landscapes await you, a rich fauna and flora, a warm and hospitable population.

Program

Day 1: Airport – Lac Rose

Welcome by our contact at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Dinner not included. Night at Chez Salim, at Lac Rose.

Day 2: Lac Rose – Gorée – Lac Rose

Breakfast. Transfer to the Gorée pier.

Crossing by motorboat for the island visit. Gorée, with its enchanting charm: located four kilometers off the coast of Dakar and a twenty-minute boat ride away, the island is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Successively Portuguese, Dutch, and French, the island became, from the 17th century, one of the main strongholds of the slave trade. With a past both tragic and sumptuous, the island, with its faded colors, painted wooden balconies, and small sandy streets leading to the sea, exudes an enchanting charm. Visit of the island and the House of Slaves, where slaves were gathered, sorted, and held awaiting transportation to the other side of the Atlantic: a testimony to a history of suffering, this poignant visit leaves no one indifferent.

Lunch at the Saint-Germain restaurant. Then, you’ll take the motorboat back to Lac Rose. Dinner and overnight stay at Lac Rose.

Day 3: Lac Rose – Sangalkam – Thiès – Saint-Louis

After breakfast, before your departure to Saint-Louis, you’ll take a 4×4 tour around Lake Retba (formerly known as Lac Rose) to discover its dunes and landscapes.

Next, you’ll visit the Turtle Village in Sangalkam. The Turtle Village is at the heart of the Noflaye Special Botanical Reserve under the supervision of the Water and Forest Service. Its protected, integrated, and unexploited biotope is the last of its kind in the Dakar region. This program aims to protect species and prevent their disappearance. Senegal is home to 11 turtle species, including 4 marine ones. You’ll discover various Senegalese and African species, including nursery-raised babies that will be released into their natural habitat (the Ferlo) at the age of 15. It’s an exceptional floristic and faunistic heritage in a completely natural and preserved environment.

Afterward, you’ll visit the Thies basketry, have a local lunch, and continue to Saint-Louis. Arrival and check-in at La Résidence hotel, located in the heart of the historic city. Dinner and overnight stay at La Résidence.

Day 4: Saint-Louis – Djoudj – Saint-Louis

Breakfast, then departure for Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. This natural sanctuary holds global significance and was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

Djoudj National Park is a major African wintering ground for migratory birds, with nearly 370 species observed within its 16,000 hectares. You’ll encounter various bird species such as the purple heron, egret, jacana, spoonbill, cormorant, and marabou stork. Between November and May, migratory birds escaping the European cold, waders, and several duck species nest here. The park also hosts mammals like jackals, monkeys, and various reptile species. You’ll embark on a canoe trip along the river’s branch to the bird roost, where thousands of migratory species gather for reproduction.

Return to Saint-Louis for a ‘Thiébou dieun’ (fish and rice) lunch with a Senegalese traditional tea called ‘attaya,’ hosted by a local family.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to explore the city of Saint-Louis. You’ll experience the simultaneously strange and familiar atmosphere, admire the intricacy of balconies on beautiful colonial houses, and witness the ochre-yellow hues of the streets changing with the sun’s position. Don’t miss the fishing village of Guet Ndar, where you’ll see the massive boats crossing the bar loaded with fish.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Note: From early May to late October, the Djoudj excursion will be replaced by a trip to the Langue de Barbarie reserve. The Langue de Barbarie National Park is Senegal’s third national park, situated on river islets. The Langue de Barbarie itself is a long sandbank over 30 kilometers in length and a few hundred meters wide, squeezed between the ocean and the river. It’s now only accessible by boat or canoe. The park hosts numerous seabird species. Departure by canoe for a two-hour ride. Lunch at the Ocean and Savanna Lodge in their magnificent panoramic restaurant.

Day 5: Saint-Louis – Ngaye – Koba

Breakfast and departure for Koba, passing through Ngaye Mékhé, renowned for its expertise in craftsmanship. This town, situated about thirty kilometers from Tivaouane in the Thiès region, is nationally renowned for its leather shoes, better known under the label ‘Dallu Ngaay’ (which means Ngaye’s shoes in Wolof). Enjoy a local lunch en route.

Continue the journey towards Koba. Upon arrival, settle in at the Koba Ecolodge. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride to explore the village. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Koba -Touba -Kaolack – Saloum

Breakfast and departure for Kaolack, the peanut capital, passing through Touba, the holy city of the Mouride Brotherhood.

After a brief visit, continue towards Kaolack, where you’ll explore one of the country’s largest markets. Enjoy lunch before hitting the road for the final leg of the day: Palmarin. Upon arrival, settle in at the Palmarin Ecolodge. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Saloum Delta

Breakfast and departure for a pirogue cruise: navigate the river’s branches commonly called ‘Bolongs.’ Observe the wildlife living amidst the intertwined roots of the mangroves (storks, cormorants, white egrets…).

Lunch will be Senegalese couscous with either meat or fish at a local family’s home. The afternoon is free, or there’s an option for a horse-drawn carriage ride for those who prefer not to stay at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the Ecolodge. Enjoy a folklore evening to the sounds of djembes and the kora.

Day 8: Saloum – Saly – Airport

Breakfast and departure for Saly Portugal, where prominent hotels shape the most significant beach resort. We’ll visit a village and a market along the way.

Lunch will be at a restaurant in the resort area. Then, depending on flight schedules (or for those extending their beach stay, to your hotel), we’ll head towards the airport. We’ll assist with boarding. This marks the end of our services.

Dates & Availability

(Departure guaranteed from 4 subscribers)

Legend:

Guaranteed departure
Waiting for the required number of subscribers

 

  • November 4, 2023
  • November 18, 2023
  • December 9, 2023
  • December 23, 2023
  • January 6, 2024
  • January 20, 2024
  • February 10, 2024
  • February 24, 2024
  • March 9, 2024
  • March 23, 2024
  • April 6, 2024
  • April 20, 2024
  • May 18, 2024
  • June 15, 2024
  • July 13, 2024
  • August 24, 2024
  • September 21, 2024
  • October 19, 2024

Rates

Benefit from preferential rates negotiated with our partner (starting from – rates vary depending on the date).

For a personalized quote or any specific request, please fill out the contact form on the contact page.

  • From 2 to 9 persons:                                 € 750 net per person
  • From 10 to 19 persons:                              € 670 net per person (from 20 persons, 1 person goes free)
  • Single supplement:                                   € 130
  • Mandatory New Year’s supplement:     € 70

We wish, in collaboration with you, to participate in responsible and sustainable tourism. €5 per client will be donated to LA LIANE association.

La Liane Association: www.laliane.infini.fr

These prices include:

  • Accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Dakar, a 3-star hotel in Saint Louis, and an Ecolodge in Sine Saloum.
  • Meals as mentioned in the program (full board from breakfast on day 2 to lunch on day 8)
  • A vehicle with a driver and fuel provided
  • Park entry fees, visits, and excursions outlined in the program
  • Assistance of a driver-guide for 2-4 passengers
  • Assistance of a driver and a guide for groups of 5 or more
  • € 5 per client donated to the LIANE association

These prices do not include:

  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Airfare tickets
  • Optional excursions
  • Lunches not mentioned or not included
  • Beverages during meals
  • Supplements for New Year’s Eve and New Year

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