Senegal with your family: practical guide

Letting yourself be enchanted by the old-fashioned charm of the Saint-Louis streets, the country’s former colonial capital and the jewel of West Africa. The villas with wrought iron balconies, the blue shutters carved into warmly coloured facades and other architectural remains will leave you with stars in your eyes. Authentic and surprising, Saint-Louis can easily be explored with your family.

Enjoying the calm and the landscapes of the Lengua de Barbarie Marine Park. Being a meeting point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal River, this long strip of sand abounds in lush vegetation. Amongst the fine needles of filao trees, egrets, Ox-keeping birds and other birds with exotic plumage nest and reproduce. In recent years, the site has also become a nesting site for sea turtles.

Reliving the tragedy of slavery off the coast of Dakar, at Gorée, the slave island (Ile aux Esclaves). Its historical museum, as well as a visit to the former « house of slaves » are essential stops for both the young and old who visit Senegal. This « memory island » is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, its streets are adorned with colours and populated by painters and graphic artists who give it an arty twist.

It is the emblem of Senegal; it can live up to 1000 years and can attain an incredible circumference (of up to 40 meters!)… Here, we’re talking about the Baobab! Under the majestic shade of these sacred trees, any walk becomes a source of amazement. Generous as it is, this impressive tree provides locals with something to eat or to treat themselves with. Its fruits have even described as superfoods!

Letting yourself be carried away by the colourful energy of a picturesque market. Elegant with colourful boubous, mischievous children and delicious fragrances complete the decor. There are also wax fabrics of all kinds, loincloths embroidered with shells and all kinds of crafts, sometimes the most unusual ones, such as the repairers of basins and plastic buckets!

Diving into the heart of the African art, at the Théodore Monod Museum in Dakar. In addition to the magnificent carved wooden masks and ritual statuettes, you will be able to discover everyday objects, musical instruments and a splendid collection of jewellery and boxes enhanced with gold, a reminder of the fact that the trade in this precious material was once flourishing in Senegal. Complete this visit by exploring the new Museum of Civilization, which was only inaugurated in 2018.

Lazing endlessly on the golden beaches of Cap Skirring, Kafountine and of La Petite Côte, which are all places bursting with sunshine and joie de vivre. The Popenguine ochre cliffs are worth a nice walk, barefooted on the sand. The shellfish island of Fadiouth and its dunes are also worth visiting.

Venturing by pirogue or canoe-kayak in the maze of Casamance bolongs, in the heart of the mangrove … The meanders of the Saloum Delta, green mangroves, have earned it the nickname of the Amazon of Senegal. This is an opportunity to savour oysters au gratin (bred locally at the foot of the mangrove) and to lose track of time, somewhere on one of the small lagoon islands.

Getting enveloped by the shades of Lake Retba. Depending on the time of day and the intensity of the sun, its surface changes from pink to mauve in a series of gradients: it’s simply magical!

The baobab is a sacred tree in Senegal; however, its tortuous branches and its huge trunk are undoubtedly suitable for climbing. So why not try to climb the incredible canopy of this king of the jungle? In the heart of nature, Acrobaobab is the only park in the world to offer a course exclusively on baobabs… Climbing, adventure courses for children and adults, as well as zip lines flying over the savannah offer sensational memories to families of acrobats. An unusual experience in a magnificent landscape. Itinerary

When we think of safari, Tanzania or Kenya usually come to mind. However, in Senegal, the savannah is also full of all kinds of animals! Antelopes and other gazelles with crooked horns, buffaloes, zebras, rhinoceros and smart monkeys happily inhabit the Bandia reserve, in the centre of the country. Here, you can equally spot giraffes. After the visit, children can let off steam on the few swings in the reserve’s playground, while their parents drink at the bar. Itinerary

Different park, different spirit: the Djoudj National Park, located in the north of the country, is a paradise for birds. Indeed, it is well established as the world’s third best ornithological reserve, and it’s, in addition, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage! It is in a meander of the Senegal river that you will find countless numbers of birds (no less than 400 species have been counted). Gambian geese, summer teals, purple herons and other migratory birds stop there to rest or breed. A little tip for you and your toddlers is that you should get here early in the morning, in order to avoid suffering from too much heat, but also because this is the time when the animals are out! Itinerary

Adventurous families will be completely overwhelmed with joy during an outing through the meanders of the Siné Saloum mangrove. Along the water, comfortably seated in a colourful dugout canoe, this is the perfect opportunity to explore the green landscapes, worthy of the Amazon and to set off for the discovery of the small deserted islands of the region. Among the lush vegetation and their sacred trees, you will sometimes find shell dunes or natural pools dug in the dunes… The numerous organized excursions will immerse your tribe into the heart of African culture, inviting you to eat at the inhabitant’s home or even to get acquainted with the tam-tam telephone network, through which the villages communicate with each other. Timeless days, during which your little deckhands will see themselves as freshwater sailors! Itinerary

In the Southwest of the country, not far from the town of Ziguinchor, Cap Skirring is a well-equipped beach that is suitable for seaside sports. Here the change of scenery is complete under the shade of the coconut grove! In between the palm trees, charming little colourful straw huts serve delicious juices and tasty cocktails. In the evening, by the light of the fires, the beach becomes the setting for the best festivals in the region… always set out to the rhythm of the djembes!

Off the coast of the Cape Verde peninsula, the Ngor Island is far away from the Dakar frenzy. There are no cars here, and to get there you need to board the famous Senegalese fishermen’s dugout canoe: fine and colourful they promise an authentic trip with those who constitute the pride of the country. In addition to the few waves that make swimming dynamic (it is also an ideal surfing spot; surf-lovers should take note!), It is the ideal place for exploring the seabed and to do some snorkelling. This very fishy location is full of multicoloured species, which you can discover. Around this small island, wrecks and remains are within snorkelling reach.

A little bit of Normandy air floats on Popenguine Beach and its sumptuous cliffs which flow into the sea. The only exception being that the sea is much warmer than in the Cotentin region! On this wildly beautiful beach, the golden ochre of the sand is enhanced by the deep black of the scattered volcanic rocks. After a stroll along the water or a day of swimming, expats could meet at l’Echo-Cotier, a trendy seaside restaurant with an unbeatable décor. The bonus? There are small dishes that are specially dedicated to children!