Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Dakar
You'll land at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Daass and get transferred to your hotel in Dakar. Breakfast is included, and you'll settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Dakar to Saint-Louis
After breakfast, you head to Saint-Louis and have lunch at Hotel La Residence around 1 PM. At 3 PM, you board your boat for a carriage tour through colonial Saint-Louis, passing ochre-colored houses, the Faidherbe Bridge, and the town hall. The afternoon includes stops at a fishermen's village and the Muslim cemetery where graves are decorated with fishing nets. Dinner and overnight happen on the boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hotel La Residence (or similar)), Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Saint-Louis by horse carriage
- Visit to Faidherbe Bridge
- Visit to historical buildings (town hall, law courts, hospital, girls college)
- Visit to fishermen's village
- Visit to Muslim cemetery in Guet Ndar
- Visit to market of Ndar in Langue de Barbarie
Landmarks/POIs Faidherbe Bridge Place Faidherbe Governor's House (Governance) - Day 3
Senegal River to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
The boat cruises toward the Diama Dam, which divides saltwater from freshwater in the Senegal River. You'll have lunch on board, then continue upriver and stop at the GOROM arm to access Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary by motorized canoe. From November through March, this UNESCO site hosts roughly three million birds wintering there. You'll take a canoe excursion to spot flamingos, pelicans, and cormorants before returning to the boat for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise on Senegal River to Diama Dam
- Excursion to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
- Motorized canoe bird-watching expedition
Landmarks/POIs Diama Dam Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary - Day 4
Senegal River to Richard Toll
Continuing upriver with the Senegal-Mauritania border on both sides, you pass Rosso, a border town where ferries move people and vehicles between countries. You arrive at Richard Toll, founded in 1822 as a site for colonial-era cultural experiments. A carriage tour covers the city, the sugarcane factory, and the 'madness of Baron Roger,' a French-style castle standing among traditional mud brick buildings. Dinner and overnight stay on the boat.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Richard Toll by barouche
- Visit to sugarcane factory
- Visit to Baron Roger's castle
Landmarks/POIs Richard Toll Baron Roger's Castle Rosso - Day 5
Richard Toll to Dagana
You sail through mangrove forests along Goumel village, a loop settlement in the river. Lunch features traditional 'Thiep bou dieune' (rice with fish) under mango and palm trees. By midday you reach Dagana, the Wolof village and old colonial trading post known as the 'capital of Walo.' Checking out the market and exploring the old fortress and trading stores happens before you return to the boat by sunset for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional rice with fish (Thiep bou dieune)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Goumel village
- Visit to Dagana colonial trading post
- Visit to Dagana market
Landmarks/POIs Goumel Dagana - Day 6
Dagana to Fanaye
Morning time is spent in the ranching and nomadic village of Goumel, where you see traditional straw hut architecture. Lunch comes on board while navigating toward the Thiangaye tributary. In the evening, a barge ride of about thirty minutes takes you to Fanaye village with its adobe and brick houses. You have dinner on the riverbank and overnight on the boat.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Dinner on the banks of the river)
Included Activities
- Visit to Goumel nomadic village
- Visit to Fanaye village
Landmarks/POIs Goumel Fanaye Thiangaye - Day 7
Fanaye to Podor
Navigation continues with lunch on board. Around 2 PM you arrive at Podor, a former French colonial trading post where historic quays and original buildings with balconies are waiting. You tour the fort built by Faidherbe that's currently under rehabilitation, then check out the former Cour du Fleuve trading post and the Inn of Tekrour. Optionally wander the market and peaceful alleys or catch the sunset from historic house stairs overlooking Mauritanian banks. Dinner and overnight on the boat.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Podor fort built by Faidherbe
- Visit to Cour du Fleuve former trading post
- Visit to Inn of Tekrour
Optional Activities
- Market visit in Podor
- Walk through peaceful alleys
- Watch sunset from historic houses
Landmarks/POIs Fort of Podor Podor - Day 8
Podor to Dakar
After breakfast on board, you transfer back to Saint-Louis and have lunch there before driving to Dakar. Check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 9
Dakar City Tour and Goree Island
Following breakfast, you explore Dakar's colonial heritage including the Presidential Palace, Independence Place, and Chamber of Commerce. From the harbor, a 20-minute ferry ride takes you to Goree Island, a historically significant 300m by 900m island shaped by Portuguese, English, Dutch, and French colonial periods. You visit the 'Slaves' House' with its door opening directly to the ocean, a sobering connection to the slave trade. Back at your Dakar hotel for overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Dakar
- Visit to Presidential Palace
- Visit to Independence Place
- Visit to Chamber of Commerce
- Ferry trip to Goree Island
- Visit to Goree Island
- Visit to Slaves' House
Landmarks/POIs Presidential Palace Independence Place Goree Island Slaves' House - Day 10
Departure from Dakar
After breakfast, you head to the airport at the appropriate time for departure. Tour services end here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
