Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island: Dakar walking tour

Lighthouse views, then an island of artists and quiet

A half-day tour of Dakar combining the Mamelles Lighthouse museum with a motorboat crossing to Ngor Island, a car-free artist community. Private transportation and an English or French-speaking guide are included. The tour runs 4 hours and covers the city's highest vantage point, then a peaceful offshore retreat known for its creative residents and year-round calm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island

• Observe city from Mamelles Lighthouse
• Listen to lighthouse navigation stories
• Drive to Ngor Island
• Walk and explore Ngor Island
• Relax by the seaside and swim

The experience

The tour starts at the Mamelles Lighthouse, the second most important lighthouse in Africa, where you climb for views across Dakar and hear the guide's account of the building's navigation history inside the museum. From there, the route heads to the coast for a 3-minute motorboat ride to Ngor Island, a car-free settlement opposite the village of Ngor where artists, photographers and musicians have made their homes.

Ngor itself runs on solar power and sits apart from the city's pace: no vehicles, no motorcycles, just the sound of Atlantic waves. The island stays around 25 degrees year-round and draws people for water activities, seaside drinks and the chance to walk past the studios and residences of working artists. Colorful mosaics and graffiti mark the streets, and bird watchers often spot rare species. The place appeared in the surf film Endless Summer and remains a working creative space rather than a museum piece.

An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up and handles the transport between sites. Soft drinks are provided during the day. The guide speaks English or French and knows the island's history, the artists' stories and the quieter corners most visitors miss. The whole outing fits into a morning or afternoon, leaving time for other plans in Dakar.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation.
• entry to the Mamelles Lighthouse and museum.
• motorboat crossing to Ngor Island.
• soft drinks.
• English or French-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (11 to 85 years) · Under 11: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

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 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VISIT SENEGAL

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free morning or afternoon in Dakar and want both a high vantage point over the city and a quiet escape to an artist community offshore. The private vehicle and small group size suit travelers who prefer not to navigate between sites on their own, and the 4-hour length fits easily into a partial day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

How do I get to Ngor Island from the lighthouse?

A motorboat takes you across in 3 minutes from the coast near Dakar. The crossing is included in the tour and departs after you finish at the lighthouse museum.

What can I do on Ngor Island besides walk around?

Ngor Island has water activities available, and you can swim, relax by the sea with a drink, and explore the artist studios and residences scattered across the island. The island has no vehicles, so walking is the only way to move around.

What is included in the price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry tickets and taxes, soft drinks during the tour, and a guide in English or French are all included. Food beyond what is provided is on your own, as are tips.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 4 hours total, covering both the lighthouse and Ngor Island with the motorboat crossing and time to walk and explore.