Bandia Reserve & Somone Lagoon Wildlife Boat Tour

See rhinos, giraffes and monkeys on safari, then boat through mangroves at the lagoon

A day tour from Dakar combining a 4x4 safari through Bandia Reserve (a 3,500-hectare park where rhinos, giraffes, antelopes, monkeys and other wildlife roam) with a boat ride into the mangroves of Somone Lagoon for bird watching. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours with an accredited guide in your choice of language, hotel pickup included, and children welcome from age 3.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife and lagoon boat tour

• Arrive and board 4x4 safari vehicle
• Visit Bandia animal reserve
• Take boat ride in Somone Lagoon mangroves
• Relax and enjoy fresh seafood at lagoon
• Transfer to airport or Dakar/Saly

The experience

Your day starts with pickup from your Dakar hotel and a drive into Bandia Reserve in a 4x4 built for safari. The park spans 3,500 hectares and holds animals reintroduced to Senegal after vanishing for decades: rhinoceros, giraffes, large antelopes, dama gazelles, Derby elks, buffalos, patas monkeys, vervets, warthogs and jackals. The accredited guide navigates the reserve while you watch from the vehicle, camera ready for close sightings that would be impossible on foot.

After the reserve, you head south to Somone Lagoon, a 700-hectare estuary where the ocean feeds into calm, shallow waters. A boat carries you into the dense mangroves, the real draw for bird watchers, and afterward you have free time to swim, wade or simply sit at one of the beachside bars and restaurants. The lagoon mouth opens onto a nearly pristine beach where you can rent boogie boards and surfboards if the mood strikes, or order fresh oysters and seafood while the water laps at the shore. Low tide brings shallower water, which some travelers prefer for wading.

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language of your choice. The tour wraps by dropping you back at your Dakar hotel, airport or onward to Saly. All fees and taxes are included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dakar.
• 4x4 safari vehicle with accredited guide.
• access to Bandia Reserve.
• boat ride through the mangroves at Somone Lagoon.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (25 to 63 years) · Senior (64 and older) · Youth (16 to 24 years) · Child (7 to 15 years) · Infant (3 to 6 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Agsil Senegal Travel Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are spending your first day in Dakar or have a free afternoon and want to see wildlife and water in one outing. The fixed route and timing fit a single day, and the mix of safari and lagoon means you are not sitting in one landscape for hours.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 24 years); Child (7 to 15 years); Infant (3 to 6 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see at Bandia Reserve?

Bandia Reserve is home to rhinos, giraffes, large antelopes, dama gazelles, Derby elks, buffalos, patas monkeys, vervets, warthogs, hippotragues, jackals and mongooses. Many were reintroduced to Senegal after disappearing from the country decades ago, so sightings depend on where the animals are on the day you visit.

Is the boat ride through the mangroves included, or do I pay extra?

The boat ride into the mangroves at Somone Lagoon is part of the tour. It is the best time for bird watching and happens after your time at the beach and lagoon.

Can I swim or wade in Somone Lagoon?

Yes. The lagoon waters are calm and shallow, especially at low tide, so wading is easy. You can also rent boogie boards or surfboards at the beach, or simply relax at one of the beachside restaurants and bars.

How long is the drive from Dakar to these two sites?

The tour runs 6 to 7 hours total, including the 4x4 safari at Bandia Reserve, the boat ride and beach time at Somone Lagoon, and travel between them. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dakar are included.