Senegal in 7 days: Dakar, the Saloum, Saint-Louis
A day-by-day route from Gorée Island to the Saloum mangroves and the birds of Djoudj, with an activity sheet and its sources for every stage.
Seven days along the coast from south to north: Dakar and Gorée, Lac Rose, the Bandia reserve, the Saloum Delta, then Saint-Louis and Djoudj park. Every stage links to an activity sheet, where each fact cites its source.
Our sources give distances, rarely travel times: this notebook gives a duration only where a source gives one.
Day 1 · Dakar and Gorée Island
Two kilometres off the port of Dakar, Gorée is an 18.2-hectare island with no cars or bicycles, a World Heritage Site since 1978. Climb to the Castel for the view, and visit the history museum in the Fort d’Estrées.
Day 2 · Lac Rose and the Soumbédioune craft village
Some 35 km north-east of Dakar, Lac Rose owes its colour to an alga; it is strongest in the dry season, especially from late January to early March. On the way back, on the western Corniche, the Soumbédioune craft village gathers 349 workshops.
Day 3 · The Bandia reserve
65 km from Dakar on the Mbour road (motorway exit 14), Bandia is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., no booking needed. Allow 2 hours; 12,000 CFA francs per adult and a compulsory guide at 6,500 CFA francs per vehicle, according to the official site on 1 November 2026.
Days 4 and 5 · The Saloum Delta
Over 200 islands and islets, channels and mangroves: the delta has been a World Heritage Site since 2011. Its villages include Djilor, Fimela, Ndangane, Mar Lodj, Palmarin and Simal.
Day 6 · Saint-Louis
320 km north of Dakar on the N2, Saint-Louis was the capital of the colony of Senegal from 1673 to 1902. The tourist office runs tours of 1.5 to 3 hours, on foot, by bike or by horse carriage. A variant on the way: the Lompoul desert, halfway between Dakar and Saint-Louis.
Day 7 · The birds of Djoudj
Some 60 km north of Saint-Louis, the park hosts nearly three million migrating birds. It is open from early November to late April, and visits are usually made by pirogue.
Sources · 10
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