SENEGAL
A travel experience in Senegal is the best way to introduce you to Black Africa. In Middle-Africa we are experts in Senegal as a tourist destination and we offer all types of tours around this African country. The advantages of travelling to Senegal are many: It is only a few hours away from major tourist markets; five hours away from Western Europe and about seven hours away from the East Coast of the United States. Besides it is a sunny country claiming more than 3000 hours of sunshine yearly. All forms of tourism can be experienced in Senegal seaside resorts (leisure, aquatic sports, horseback riding, discovery and more), cultural tourism, bird watching, sport tourism (hunting, scuba diving), ecotourism, historic museums, gorgeous natural sites, six major game parks and reserves, diversified fauna and flora to name a few.
10 REASONS TO VISIT SENEGAL
1. Dakar, the capital of Senegal is a modern city of more than 1.5 million people with beautiful contemporary buildings and some historical colonial houses. It is a vibrant city with active open-air markets, cafe terraces, a wide range of hotels, delicious food and a great night life. You can discover Dakar by taking a walk along the ocean or the busy city streets.
2. Gorée Island is about 20min ride from Dakar. The island of Goree, deeply rooted in the history of the slave trade. From the beginning of the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century, men, women, and children were gathered on this small piece of land, locked up in cells before being shipped away to the New World.
3. Saly Portudal, a coastal area known as ‘Petit Cote’ (Little Coast) is just one hour and a half south of Dakar and the ideal place to relax before going back home. Mbour is a big fishing town 20 minutes from Saly center.
4. Pink Lake can be visited on your way to Saint Louis. The Pink Lake is shallow, warm, and is surrounded by white foam. Everything floats on it, because of its very high salinity.
5. Lampoul Desert is a beautiful virgin area between the Atlantic Ocean and the road that unites Dakar with Saint Louis. There are tented camps in the middle of the golden colored dunes. It’s a great place to spend a night and admire the stars of the unpolluted sky.
6. Saint Louis, founded in 1673, is Senegal’s former colonial capital and today’s jewel of the crown in tourism terms. From Saint Louis, exciting trips can be taken down the Senegal River to the traditional and historic towns of Podor, Bakel, and Matam with their distinctive mud architecture. Langue de Barbarie National Park is located in northern Senegal about 18km south of Saint-Louis in the region of Gandiol. The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary lies on the southeast bank of the River Senegal in Senegal, in northern Biffeche, north east of St-Louis.
7. Bassari Mountains (Southeast). There, far from the tourist areas, you will enjoy the traditional African life of the little villages. The Bedik and the Bassari people of the Kedougou area proudly retain their customs, costumes, and ornaments. Their villages are perched on top of green hills, near waterfalls, in the middle of breathtaking landscapes. Niokolo Koba, the largest of Senegal's National Parks is located in the heart of the region.
8. Fuladu Valley is one of Senegal’s less explored areas. It is a wonderful rural region inhabited by the Fulani or Peul people. From Velingara, the regional capital you can explore villages like Sare Soukande, Sare Konko and the colourful market of Djaoube.
9. Casamance is Senegal’s jungle southern region and a great place to experience real tribal life. The Mandinga and Diola people live in the islands and forests of this remote region of Senegal. Villages like Kaparan, Oussouye, and Djembering still keep the traditional architecture and the fetish Shrines to honour the ancestors.
10. Saloum Delta Islands. The river Saloum Delta, 4h ride from Dakar, consists of an archipelago of small islands which are home of ecotourism practice. A good place to start the exploration of the region is Ndangane and from there go to Mar Lodj Island where you can experience the authentic Serer culture.
