Tour Overview
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Senegal — Dakar to Casamance |
| Price From | $2,541 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Cultural Immersion / Off-the-Beaten-Path |
| Data Source | TourRadar — 2026 (Africa For Tourism) |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Dakar
Welcome to Dakar! Transfer to your hotel in the Plateau district. Evening walk to the Soumbedioune night market for grilled fish and live mbalax music. Overnight in Dakar.
Day 2: Dakar City Tour
Full day exploring Dakar: African Renaissance Monument, IFAN Museum of African Arts (one of West Africa’s oldest museums), Kermel Market for fabrics and crafts, and the bustling Sandaga Market. Afternoon visit to the Village des Arts with working artists’ studios. Overnight in Dakar.
Day 3: Goree Island & Pink Lake
Morning ferry to Goree Island. Visit the House of Slaves, the Historical Museum in Fort d’Estrees, and the Castel — a hilltop viewpoint. Afternoon at Pink Lake (Lac Rose) — float in the pink-tinted waters, watch salt harvesting. Overnight at Saly beach resort.
Day 4: Saloum River Journey
Travel south to the Sine Saloum Delta. Pirogue expedition through the mangroves to the shell-built island of Fadiouth. Walk shell-paved streets and visit the mixed cemetery. Evening at a riverside eco-lodge with fresh seafood dinner. Overnight in Toubakouta.
Day 5: Queen of Sipo & Ziguinchor
Visit the village of Sipo, meet the Queen and learn about Diola traditions and matriarchal society. Drive through cashew and mango plantations to Ziguinchor, the vibrant capital of Casamance. Explore the Creole architecture, bustling Saint Maur des Fosses market, and riverside promenade. Overnight in Ziguinchor.
Day 6: Oussouye & Diola Culture
Full day in Oussouye, the heart of Diola animist culture. Visit the Sacred Forest and learn about traditional rituals from village elders. Participate in a cashew wine-making demonstration. Afternoon visit to the fromager (kapok) tree — a centuries-old sacred tree used for community gatherings. Overnight in Oussouye.
Day 7: Cap Skirring — Paradise Beaches
Arrive at Cap Skirring on the Atlantic coast. Pristine beaches lined with coconut palms, warm turquoise waters. Afternoon at leisure: swim, kayak, or walk to the border where you can see Guinea-Bissau across the water. Fresh grilled lobster dinner. Overnight at a beachfront hotel.
Day 8: Karabane Island
Boat trip to Karabane Island at the mouth of the Casamance River. Visit the ruins of a French colonial trading post, the 19th-century Breton mission church, and the old slave traders’ cemetery. Walk through mangroves and watch for dolphins in the estuary. Afternoon pirogue ride through the bolongs (tidal creeks). Overnight in Elinkin.
Day 9: Diembereng & Return to Dakar
Visit Diembereng, known for its sacred crocodile pool where locals swim alongside the reptiles in peaceful coexistence. Drive north through Gambia and back into Senegal. Evening in Dakar for last-minute artisan shopping at Soumbedioune. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Dakar.
Day 10: Depart Dakar
Morning at leisure — last chance for Senegalese coffee and croissants in the Plateau district. Transfer to airport. Adieu, Senegal!
Inclusions
- 9 nights accommodation (hotel, eco-lodge, beach resort)
- 9 breakfasts, 8 dinners
- Airport transfers
- English-speaking guide
- Pirogue excursions in Sine Saloum and Casamance
- Village visits and cultural demonstrations
- All entrance fees
Why Visit Casamance
- Casamance — Senegal’s tropical south with lush forests, rice paddies, and palm-fringed beaches
- Diola culture — one of Africa’s most intact animist traditions with sacred forests and spirit kings
- Cap Skirring — consistently rated among West Africa’s most beautiful beaches
- The Sacred Crocodile Pool of Diembereng — a unique example of human-wildlife coexistence
- Karabane — a time-capsule island with French colonial ruins overtaken by nature
