4-day Senegal tour: Pink Lake, Saint-Louis, Djoudj, Bandia

Senegal circuit: dunes, UNESCO bird park, colonial architecture, West African wildlife tour at sunset

A 4-day tour from Dakar that strings together Lac Rose, the Lompoul desert, the old city of Saint-Louis, the Djoudj ornithological park and the Bandia reserve, with nights in tents and hotels, canoe trips, a camel ride, and a game drive. Pickup is included; lunch is provided each day; your guide speaks English, Spanish or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Dakar to Pink Lake and Lompoul Desert

• Depart from Dakar in afternoon
• Canoe trip on Lac Rose
• Drive to Lompoul desert village
• 4x4 transfer through dunes to accommodation
• Camel ride or walk on dunes at sunset
• Dinner and evening under stars
• Overnight in tents at ecolodge

Day 2: Lompoul to Saint Louis City Tour

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Drive to old town of Saint Louis
• Check in at hotel
• Explore city by horse-drawn carriage
• Visit Pont Faidherbe and colonial sites
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 3: Djoudj Park and Saint Louis

• Early departure to Djoudj ornithological park
• Canoe tour through park backwaters
• Return to Saint Louis
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 4: Bandia Reserve and Somone

• Drive to Thiès city
• Continue to Bandia reserve
• Lunch overlooking waterhole
• Safari in Bandia game reserve
• Drive to Somone
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

The experience

The circuit opens in the afternoon at Lac Rose, the former finish line of the Paris-Dakar Rally. A canoe trip crosses the lake before a 4×4 carries you into the Lompoul desert, where you arrive at an ecolodge or camp. After dinner under the stars, you ride a camel or walk the dunes to watch the sunset. The first night is in a tent.

Day two takes you north to Saint-Louis, Senegal's former capital, where the architecture echoes New Orleans: wooden balconies line narrow colonial streets. A horse-drawn carriage tour passes the Pont Faidherbe, the Cathedral, the Town Hall and the fishing district of Guet Ndar with its painted canoes. You stay in a hotel in the city. On day three, an early departure heads to the Djoudj ornithological park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first water source migratory birds reach after crossing the Sahara. A canoe winds through the backwaters where cormorants, pelicans, fish eagles and about 350 other species gather. Crocodiles, monitor lizards and warthogs also live here. You return to Saint-Louis for the night.

The final day drives south through Thiès toward the Bandia reserve, a forest of baobabs and acacias where giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, monkeys and rhinoceros roam. Lunch is at the reserve's restaurant overlooking a waterhole where animals drink. A safari follows in the afternoon before the drive to Somone or Saly for the last night.

What’s included

• Pickup from Dakar.
• four nights' accommodation (one in a tent, three in hotels).
• lunch each day.
• canoe trips on Lac Rose and through the Djoudj backwaters.
• a camel ride or dune walk at sunset in Lompoul.
• horse-drawn carriage tours of Saint-Louis.
• a safari in the Bandia reserve.
• a guide in English, Spanish or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 00:00

Book up to12h before

AgesUp to 80 years

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Senegal Tourist Guide

Is this one for you?The fixed 4-day route packs four distinct landscapes (desert, colonial city, bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve) into a single trip, so you see the range of Senegal without backtracking or choosing between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lac Rose and why does the tour start there?

Lac Rose, or Pink Lake, is the former finish point of the Paris-Dakar Rally. The tour begins there in the afternoon with a canoe trip before heading into the Lompoul desert for the first night.

Do I sleep in a tent the whole time?

Only the first night is in a tent at the Ecolodge de Lompoul or Le Camp du Désert. Nights two, three and four are in hotels: the Diamrek in Saint-Louis and a hotel in Saly or Somone.

What animals will I see in the Bandia reserve?

The Bandia reserve is home to giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, monkeys and rhinoceros, among other West African mammals. You explore the reserve by safari in the afternoon of day four.

Is the Djoudj park really a UNESCO site?

Yes. Djoudj is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as the first water point migratory birds encounter after crossing the Sahara. About 350 bird species are recorded there, along with crocodiles, monitor lizards, warthogs and jackals.

What does the tour include and what costs extra?

Pickup from Dakar, accommodation, lunch each day, the canoe trips, camel ride, horse-drawn carriage tours, and the safari are all included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or French throughout.