...from here
2
Cruise Senegal
Description
This trip begins and ends in Dakar, Senegal’s proud capital city, famous throughout West Africa for its food, music and nightlife. There is plenty to fill any days spent in Dakar: wander the massive vibrant markets, take a boat out to an island for swimming and barbecued fish on the beach, and at night sample the great food and top class live-music in one of the fine restaurants.
From Dakar you will travel north to the historic city of Saint Louis, the former capital of French West Africa, situated on an island in the mouth of the Senegal River which marks the fringe of the Sahara Desert and the border between Senegal and Mauritania. In Saint Louis colonial architecture mixes with Muslim and Christian tradition; ochre, orange and maroon coloured buildings commonly seen in the south of France decorate the lazy streets of Saint Louis, which give way to the vibrancy and bustle of the fishing community on the Langue de Barberie, a long sand dune which shelters Saint Louis from the sea.
From Saint Louis you will join the cruiser for 6 days. Every day we stop off to visit places of interest en route - Tukolor, Wolof and Maure villages, and the Parc d'Oiseaux de Djoudj, the third most important breeding grounds for migrating birds, to name a few. You will be taken on a journey through present day Senegalese and Mauritanian culture and back into France's main route into the interior of Africa.
The cruiser is a beautifully refurbished old colonial ferry which has been charting this route for 50 years and has “a mythical status to the communities of the region” as it provides an important link with Saint Louis. Your guide on the cruise is an energetic and enthusiastic English speaking Senegalese man. He will lead you through the history of the region, both colonial and tribal.
Itinerary
Day 1 All to have arrived in Dakar. We may as well hit the ground running and have an evening in one of their good restaurants with live music - all the Senegalese greats like Youssou N’Dour play at these venues when they are in town.
Day 2 am: transfer from Dakar to Saint Louis.
pm: lunch and relax on the Langue de Barberie – a large spit of sand between the Senegal river and the Atlantic for swimming and birding. Transfer to a hotel in Saint Louis.
Day 3: am: explore the historic and pleasant town of Saint Louis, the former capital of French West Africa.
pm: Transfer to Podor, one of the jewels of the River Senegal to begin the cruise
Dine and sleep on the cruiser.
Day 4: Breakfast on board. Visit Podor. This former colonial customs town dealt with much of the Saharan trade coming west.. We see the Faidherbe fort and wander the streets, before setting off down river. We stop off to visit a Maure village before getting in smaller craft to ride up a tributary river to a Tukolor village.
Dine and sleep on the cruiser
Day 5: A beautiful morning’s cruise through the Tukolor kingdom, palm trees lining our route and colourful village life punctuating ourlazy morning’s cruise. At lunchtime we arrive at Dagana, a Wolof town and another former customs town. Visit the daily market.
Dine and sleep on the crusier
Day 6: On to Richard Toll, or “the garden of Richard” named after the park of the Chateau of Baron Roger. We visit this old colonial town by horse and cart, stopping off at its sugar cane factory and “La folie de Baron Roger”
Dine and sleep on the cruiser
Day 7: Passing by Rosso, a border town with people, animals and goods crossing the river in pirogues. Before we stop off at the Parc d’Oiseaux de Djoudj. . We will enter the park in the afternoon and get in motorised pirogues for a few hours twitching! Flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, herons.. they’re all here.
Dine and sleep on the cruiser
Day 8 And on past the Diama dam which signals the beginning of Saline water and our approach to Saint Louis.
pm: Horse and cart tour of Saint Louis.
Dine and sleep on the cruiser.
Day 9 Disembark the in the morning and transfer to Dakar.
Day 10 End of tour.
Notes:
Added days in Dakar = €100 per day.
Depending on the week you choose, the cruise part of this itinerary may be in reverse.
The 8 day unguided trip goes from Day 2 to Day 9
Price:
10 day small group trips: €1650,
+ Festival of Jazz in May 2010: €1850
8 day trip at any time of year: €1350
€300 single supplement for all trips.
Additonal options:
€350 for 5* options in hotels
€250 for + 3 days on the beach.(see below)
€950 for + 8 day eco-tour to south east
Senegal. ( please contact me)
Children under 5 are free.
5 - 11 years - €400
11 upwards - adult fare
Price includes:
• all transfers and accommodation
• full board on the cruiser
• all park and guide fees.
Not included:
• meals in Saint Louis and Dakar
-
•Airport taxes
-
•all drinks
West Africa in style and a touch of luxury
Vibrant Dakar
Historic Saint Louis
Great birding including one of the most important breeding grounds in the world for migrating birds.
Tukolor, Maure and Wolof culture
Cruise trip from the Atlantic ocean into the Sahara desert on the River Senegal
Set tours:
25 February - 06 March 2010
+ Festival Of Jazz - May 2010
Outside the group tour dates I can organise an 8 day cruise trip for you all year except June, July and Sept.
Saint Louis
takes you
...from Dakar
2
Timbuktu
ABOUT
PHOTOS
SLIDESHOWS
