Senegal is located in the western part of the African continent. It is a great plain raised about 200 metres above sea level with topography of hills and small river valleys.
Nature is exuberant and vibrant, and its inhabitants take care of it, respect it and live off it. Families are large and extended and women are the real centres of them.
Living amongst these women enchanted me. To see the way they perform on the stage of their daily life, so out-going, cheerful, loving and hard working, made me become passionate about their culture and their way of understanding life.
Africa is a lively experience, one that makes you feel very happy. The experience of knowing Senegal through its women is an opportunity that you should not miss, because it is genuinely authentic. The wealth of customs and traditions of their way of life will make you feel alive, you will follow their example as I do, and who knows? - it may even change your life!
DAY 1
ARRIVAL IN DAKAR
We arrive at the International Airport of Blaise Diagne de Diass and transfer to Dakar.
DAY 2
GOREE ISLAND - PINK LAKE - MBOUR
We will visit the capital and go to the Dakar pier, where a ferry will bring us to the legendary island of Goree, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
On foot, we will visit the island stopping at its main museum: the House of Slaves. We will walk through its streets bedecked with bougainvillea and we will make a stop at "Adore", the Association of Women Vendors on the island, who have organized themselves into a cooperative. We will learn about the life experiences of these women first hand by the coordinator of the association.
On the way to the Pink Lake, we will stop in Pikine, at the KASSUMAY ONGD sewing workshop. Fatou, the head of the workshop will tell us what her work consists of.
In the Pink Lake we will visit the most famous salt mine in the country and we will meet women, who will tell us about their daily life, and the traditional salt extraction process.
At the end of the meeting with these wonderful women, we will move to Mbour and the Kassumay ONGD premises.
DAY 3
KASSUMAY ONGD - MBOUR
We will take part in the different projects that KASSUMAY ONGD has launched. KASSUMAY dedicates its efforts to the empowerment of women and their children.
DAY 4
MBOUR - TOUBACOUTA
Now we will head south, to the nature reserve of Saloum.
En route, we will make a stop in villages of the Serer and Peul people. We will share some time with their inhabitants and immerse ourselves in their way of life, mainly that of the women.
In the afternoon, we will leave for the fishing village of Missirah. By bike or on foot, we will go through villages where we can interact with their friendly inhabitants. When we get to Missirah we will walk on to the town’s port. We will see the oyster harvest (depending on the season), and fish drying carried out by the women.
Finally, we will visit the town’s enormous ancient baobab before leaving for Toubacouta.
DAY 5
SIPO - TOUBACOUTA
The Saloum region is a group of about twenty islets scattered between forests and mangroves. Here, we will use the area’s local transport - the canoe - to explore one of the richest ecosystems in the country, populated by the Niominkas, the Serer fishermen, who inhabitant these islands.
We will walk through the bolongs full of mangroves where oysters cling to the roots and we can admire a wide variety of birds, all within the Saloum Delta Reserve.
We will visit Sipo, a typical village, whose chief is a woman, as well as the town of Toubacouta with its women's garden, where they grow fruit and vegetables.
And to finish off, we will meet the women from the association "Nebeday" (Moringa Oleifera), a very prominent association in Toubacouta, whose work is dedicated to the protection, management and evaluation of natural resources by and for local populations. This is of huge value in the protection of nature and they were the first to offer a "bio" alternative to charcoal.
DAY 6
TOUBACOUTA - PALMARIN
After crossing the Saloum Foundiougne river by ferry, we will follow the route which leads to the Serer villages.
In Palmarin we will firstly visit the town, then continue to walk to the fishing port of Djiffer, where you can see the landing of several colourful canoes full of fish.
DAY 7
MAR LOTHIE - PALMARIN
We will leave Ndangane by canoe for the island of Mar Lothie. We will visit the village and meet its women: We will help them prepare their food, then share it. Then they will teach us the local dance as an essential part of the digestive process.
We will also meet women who are dedicated to the conversion of food products into local juices, cereals and tinctures.
DAY 8
SALOUM - JOALFADIOUTH - DEPARTURE
Plying the waters of the Saloum River, we will go through bolongs until we reach the shore again where we will be picked up to take us to the famous town of Joal Fadiouth, birthplace of the first president of Senegal Leopold Sedar Senghor.
We will visit the “island of the shells”, Fadiouth, with its incomparable artificial cemetery built from seashells.
Then we will return to the airport to take the flight to Spain.
SERVICES INCLUDED
Inbound and Outbound travel
Stays in hotels or camps, Half Board and Full Board, except on arrival and departure days
Air-conditioned vehicle for the entire trip
All visits described in the programme
All activities mentioned on the route
Gambian border crossing
Spanish speaking guide
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED
Drinks and personal expenses
Tips
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