Bassari Country + Saloum Delta: 10 Day Tour

Bassari Country + Saloum Delta: 10 Day Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Dakar - Pink Lake

Welcome to the capital of Senegal! We'll pick you up at Dakar airport and drive to Lac Rose. Once there, you'll have the rest of the day free to rest from the trip and have dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Pink Lake - Kaolack

After breakfast at the hotel in Lac Rose, we'll start visiting this area, considered one of the great jewels of Senegal. We'll walk through its surroundings to marvel at its landscapes of dunes, palm trees and baobabs. Did you know that its colour is due to the salt levels of its waters?

We'll leave you free time for lunch in a local restaurant and, with our batteries recharged, we'll head towards Kaolack. Here we'll approach its popular market, where it's possible to find almost anything.

Finally, we'll head to a centrally located hotel in Kaolack for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Kaolack - Tambacounda - Mako

After breakfast at the hotel in Kaolack, we'll leave for Tambacounda: the capital of Eastern Senegal. You'll have lunch on your own in this town and, after lunch, we'll cross the beautiful Niokolo Koba National Park. In this spectacular protected area we'll see a large number of native species such as antelopes, wild boars and monkeys.

After spotting these animals, we'll head to the banks of the Gambia River to settle in a Mako camp. We'll rest there for a few minutes and then, if the weather conditions are favorable, we'll embark on a short hiking route to try to spot hippos. We'll conclude this special day by returning to camp, where a comforting dinner awaits us.

Day 4: Mako - Bassari Country - Kedougou

After breakfast at Mako camp, we'll cross the Kedougou region to reach the so-called Bassari Country. This is a remote area in the interior of Senegal where the inhabitants maintain a traditional way of life.

We'll stop at a hotel in Bedick, in the middle of the Kedougou region, so that you can leave your luggage and recharge your batteries. After lunch, we'll embark on a one-hour hiking route to visit the Bassari villages in the area, whose indigenous tribes will show us their customs and traditions.

We'll end the day returning to the hotel in Bedick, where dinner is included.

Day 5: Kedougou - Dindefelo - Dande - Tambacounda

On the fifth day of the tour, our focus will be on exploring Dindefelo and Dande, two villages inhabited by the Peul ethnic group within the Bassari Country. Our journey begins with a visit to the majestic Dindefelo waterfall, a towering cascade standing at an impressive 115 meters (377 feet). Following this, we embark on a two-and-a-half-hour trek to Dande, ascending the Futa Yallon range, the highest mountain range in West Africa.

We'll then head to the Dande waterfall for a refreshing swim in this waterfall. We'll have lunch in the middle of nature, so it's recommended that you bring a picnic for this day. Finally, after replenishing our strength, we'll move to a central hotel in Tambacounda, where you can have dinner.

Important: the hike is optional. If you prefer not to do it, the only part that you won't see will be Dande; the rest will remain the same.

Day 6: Tambacounda - Toubacouta - Faoye

After breakfast at the hotel in Tambacounda, we'll cross the Toubacouta area to enter the Salum Delta National Park, a spectacular natural area declared a World Heritage Site.

We'll stop in the village of Soukouta, and from there we'll take a boat ride on the Salum River to Faoye. Once we disembark at this point, we'll walk to the camp where we'll stay for the next two nights. You'll be able to have lunch and dinner on your own at the camp.

Day 7: Faoye - Joal Fadiouth - Marfafaco

After breakfast at the Faoye lodge, we'll drive to the shell cemetery on the island of Joal-Fadiouth. This is the only cemetery in the country that houses the graves of both Muslims and Catholics.

After this visit, we'll head back to the Salum Delta, specifically to the area of Marfafaco, where you'll have the rest of the day free to swim in the river and recharge your batteries.

Day 8: Marfafaco

After breakfast at the Marfafaco camp, we'll take a boat trip on the Salum Delta. After a stop for lunch at a local restaurant, we'll continue the tour visiting the village of Marfafaco.

We'll learn about the customs and traditions of its inhabitants and, finally, we'll rest in a local camp, where you can have dinner.

Day 9: Marfafaco - Somone

Early in the morning, after breakfast at the Marfafaco camp, we'll move to the Somone lagoon, formed by the mouth of this river in the Atlantic. Did you know that this place is home to one of the richest ecosystems in Senegal? In fact, it's a real paradise for birdwatchers.

We'll end the day at our accommodation in Somone where we'll rest until the next day.

Day 10: Somone - Dakar Airport

You'll enjoy a breakfast overlooking the Somone lagoon and, after having recovered your strength at the hotel, you'll have free time to take a swim in the lake and do the last shopping of your trip.

Finally, we'll head back to the Senegalese capital and drop you off at the airport. Have a safe flight back!

Accommodation

The tour includes 9 nights accommodation with breakfast in the following 3 star hotels:

• Lac Rose (1 night): Hotel Chez Salim or similar
• Kaolack (1 night): Hotel Relais or similar
• Mako (1 night): Badian Camp or similar
• Kedougou (1 night): Bedick Hotel or similar
• Tambacounda (1 night): Hotel Relais Tamba or similar
• Mafafaco (2 nights): Mafafaco Camp or similar
• Faoye (1 night): Faoye Solidarity Camp or similar
• Somone (1 night): Hotel Les Pieds dans l'eau or similar