River Cruise

At 8: am transfer Dakar-St Louis (4 hours’ drive). Boarding on the Bou El Mogdad and welcome cocktail. Installation in cabins. You will enjoy Saint Louis city tour on horse cab, visit of the colonial district and the fishermen living area. Dinner and overnight on board.

Start sailing until Diama Dam that represents the limit of the salt waters to which it prevents from going back. Visit of the dam during the passage of the lock. Lunch on board and up the river along the Diouling reserve through which you can catch a glimpse of numerous species of birds. Stop at the entrance of Gorom ‘bolong’ that allows the access for the bird’s park of Djoudj.

Visit of this third ornithological reserve in the world, listed among World Human Heritage by UNESCO. It reaches out 12 000 hectars on the delta of the river Senegal and attracts many birds coming from Africa and Europe especially in winter. From November to march, three millions birds take an appointment to hibernate there. Return to the boat. Dinner and overnight on board, on the big branch of the river.

We’ll keep on sailing up the river coasted by Senegal and Mauritania. Senegal banks are used for rice culture while those of Mauritania are incultivated. Then we’ll pass by Rosso, border city between Senegal and Mauritania, where outrigger canoes and a Ferry boat goes across with people, animals and vehicles. In the evening, arrival at Richard Toll “the garden of Richard. Visit of the sugar cane factory (ten thousands hectars) principal source of income of the locality.

Dinner and overnight on board.

Discovery of “la folie du Baron Roger”, a French style castle, closed to public and surrounded by banco constructions, the typical architecture of the region. Then continue sailing to a mango plantation bordering the village of Goumel and have the chance to taste a local food for lunch called “tiep bou djen” or ‘’fish and rice’’ in the middle of mango’s farm and palms trees on the Senegal banks river. Visit of the Wolof village of Dagana, so-called “the capital of Walo”, ancient colonial trading post that still preserves the ruins of an ancient fortress and of some shop. Visit of Dagana market. Come back on the boat to the sunset.

Dinner and overnight on board.

You will get access to the banks for a walk of about two kilometers in Goumel Forest. Visit of a traditional Fulani village, made by oblong thatched huts built by women. Return to the boat and sail up the river to get into the heart of African Sahel, in the Toucouleur kingdom.
Lunch on board. Stop and visit a Toucouleur village completely made with mud, in equilibrium on the steep shores of Senegal River. These villages are the oldest Toucouleur villages on this river, dating from the XIII century. Come back on board and departure. Enjoy a dinner “méchoui” (grilled mutton) on the river boat, light provided by the oil lamps.

Night on board.

We keep on sailing until another Toucouleur village. Visit of the village and return on board for lunch. Continuation to Podor, ancient trade post during the French settlement. Houses coasting the river, with their big internal courtyard and their warehouses that stocked Arabic gum, firewood, ivory and slaves, are today vestige of colonial times. Visit of its fortress, just restored, and built by Faidherbe, a former French Colonial Governor. In the evening, you would like to take a stroll to the market and in the calm alleys or just take a seat on the steps of one of these ancient houses to admire the sunset on the Mauritanian shores.

Dinner and overnight on board

Breakfast – End of the cruise.
Transfer to Saint-Louis. Check in a 3star hotel. Dinner + BB.

Transferback to Dakar. Visit Goree Island in the afternoon. Check in hotel La Villa Racine 4star or similar. At night you can enjoyDakar nightlife or attend a live Africa music show in a local café as an option.

Transfer to Dakar international airport.
End of the trip.