2
From Dakar
Cruise Senegal
Featuring:
Modern vibrant Dakar.
Historic tranquil Saint Louis.
A 6 day river cruise from the Sahara to the Atlantic.
Tukolor, Maure and Wolof cultures.
Parc d’Oiseaux de Djoudj - a birders paradise.
In May: to include The Saint Louis Festival of Jazz.
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 for 4 hours to the historic city of Saint Louis, the former capital (deleted text) of French West Africa, situated on an island in the mouth of the Senegal River which itself marks the fringe of the Sahara Desert and the border between Senegal and Mauritania. Saint Louis's historic legacy: colonial architecture mixes with Muslim and Christian tradition; ochre, orange and maroon coloured buildings more commonly seen in the south of France decorate the lazy streets of Saint Louis, which in turn 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 a 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 up river through present day Senegalese and Mauritanian culture and back into France's exploration of west 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 a constant and 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.
En route back to Dakar I will take you through Thies which is the centre for Senegal’s artistic community. And in Dakar we will visit some of the interesting little corners I know.
West Africa in style and a touch of luxury!
Dates of Operation:
10 day small group trips:
03 - 12 September 2009
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.
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
28 double cabins
2 restaurants
Bar
Swimming pool
Massage room
Conference room
2 water-skiing boats
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 our peace. 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.
Note: Depending on the week you choose, the cruise part of this itinerary may be in reverse.
For the 8 day trip at any time of year the itinerary takes you from Day 2 to Day 9. Any further days required can be organised.
Added options include: 3 day relax on the coast.
7 day eco tour to the south of Senegal
Added days in Dakar.
Additonal options:
€350 for 5* options in hotels
€250 + 3 days on the beach.(see below)
€950 + 8 day eco-tour. (example below,
please contact me)
Children under 5 are free.
5 - 11 years - €400
11 upwards - adult fare
Price includes:
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• all transfers and accommodation
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• full board on the cruiser
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• all park and guide fees.
Not included:
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• meals and excursions in Saint
Louis and Dakar
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• Airport taxes
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• all drinks
Dakar and Saint Louis have some very nice hotels. The ones I have chosen are the best value 3 star standard to keep the price down. But they both have some very nice 4 and 5 star standard hotels. If you want to treat yourself and upgrade for the four nights we spend in Dakar and Saint Louis to the best hotels on offer you can add a supplement of €350
La folie de Baron Roger, Richard Toll
La Petite Côte
Additional beach holiday and/or eco-tour.
An extra 3 days on the Petite Côte will cost €250 per adult
(meals not included)
I can add an eco-tour to the south east of Senegal and the Kedougou region.
This trip takes you 900km to the south east of Senegal to the border with Guinea and off the beaten tourist track. We spend a night in Senegal’s most important National Park with elephant, lion, leopard, hippos and giant eland. We then go on to the Bassari Country on the border with Guinea. The Bassari are the dominant tribe who live along the large escarpment which rises up to Guinea, and their way of life gives this region its particular character. Also in this region we will come across Bedik and Fula cultures. We will do some hiking.
Price €950 (all inclusive except drinks)
Bassari country
