Bandia Wildlife Reserve and Lake Retba day tour from Dakar

Safari animals, salt harvesting, and floating in pink water

A full-day tour from Dakar combines a 3,500-hectare wildlife reserve with Lake Retba, the pink lake separated from the Atlantic by a salt dune. You travel by 4x4 safari vehicle through Bandia to see reintroduced animals (rhinoceros, giraffes, antelopes, gazelles and monkeys), then move to the lake for quad bike or dune buggy rides around salt-harvesting villages, boat trips to observe workers, and the option to float in the hypersaline water. Hotel pickup and drop-off included. The full outing runs around 6 hours of travel and activity combined.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Pink Lake and Bandia Reserve

• Depart hotel at 9 am
• Travel to Lac Rose
• Tour around Pink Lake and villages
• Ride quad bike, dune vehicle, or camel
• Float and bathe in Pink Lake
• Travel to Bandia Reserve
• Take 4x4 safari vehicle tour
• Observe wildlife in Bandia Reserve
• Return to accommodation

The experience

The day starts with a 9 am pickup from your hotel heading toward Lake Retba, a three-hour drive each way. The lake's color shifts from pink to purple depending on the sun's angle, and it sits behind a massive sand dune that separates it from the ocean. Once there, you choose how to explore: quad bike, dune vehicle, or camel boat rides let you move through the surrounding Fulani villages and beach while watching salt seekers work the lake bottom with a tool called a djodj, scraping the salt crust and loading it into canoes for women to pile on shore. You can wade into the lake itself to experience the floating sensation created by the salt content: a physical sensation the operator emphasizes as a core part of the visit.

The second half moves to Bandia Wildlife Reserve, a 3,500-hectare park where you travel by 4x4 safari vehicle. The animals here include species reintroduced to Senegal after disappearing: rhinoceros, giraffes, large antelopes, dama gazelles, Derby elks, buffalos, patas monkeys, vervets, warthogs, hippotragues, jackals and mongooses. The reserve is designed for close wildlife watching in an eco-friendly setting. After the safari, you return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• 4x4 safari vehicle for the Bandia reserve.
• quad bike, dune vehicle or boat rides at Lake Retba.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:30, 09:30 and 11:00

AgesAdult (27 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (17 to 26 years) · Child (7 to 16 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupPrivate

Live 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Agsil Senegal Travel Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the quad bike or dune vehicle option if you want speed and control crossing the dunes around the lake. Pick the boat rides if you prefer to stay dry while watching salt harvesters up close. Both approaches reach the same villages and viewpoints. The difference is how you move through the landscape.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (17 to 26 years); Child (7 to 16 years); Infant (under 7).

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 animals will I see at Bandia Wildlife Reserve?

Bandia is home to rhinoceros, 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 region.

Can I actually float in Lake Retba, and why?

Yes, you can bathe in Lake Retba and float due to its high salt content. The operator lists this as a core activity and describes it as a wonderful experience.

How much time do I spend at each location?

The tour runs around 6 hours total including travel time. The journey to and from Lake Retba takes about 3 hours combined, leaving the remaining time split between the lake activities and the Bandia reserve.

What transport options are available at Lake Retba?

You can explore the lake and surrounding villages by quad bike, dune vehicle, or small boat rides. Each option lets you get close to the salt-harvesting villages and observe the workers.

What time does the tour start and when will I return?

Departure is 9 am from your hotel. The full outing takes around 6 hours of travel and activity, with hotel drop-off at the end of the day.