Authentic West Africa

Dates: Flexible

Sample Itinerary

10 Nights

*For customized dates, please submit an inquiry requesting different travel dates.

Price starting from $3,499 per person (double occupancy)

Deposit: $500 USD per person

Experience an enriched and exciting authentic cultural experience! West Africa has plenty to offer ranging from its beautiful plush sandy beaches, historical sites, villages, safaris, nightlife, and stunning views of Lake Retba also known as the “Pink Lake”. The beauty of West Africa is breathtaking; its friendly people, gorgeous landscape, and rich culture is a life changing experience not to be missed! Not to mention great shopping deals for beautiful art, jewelry and other unique finds.

Ms. Travelista Inc. West Africa Tour is designed to give you an authentic cultural experience unlike any other tour. Join the journey throughout Senegal and Gambia exploring historical sites, engaging village life, relaxing on beautiful beaches, riding in wildlife safari game drives, shopping in some of the largest arts and craft markets in the world and more!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Gorée Island – World Heritage Site of Gorée Island, “Door of No Return” – Atlantic Slave Trade Museum
• Dakar City Tour
• Lake Retba (Pink Lake), naturally the lake has a pinkish color caused by a unique combination of high concentration of salts which gives the lake its pink color
• Wolof & Fulani Village Tour
• James Island – Banjul: Home of Kunta Kinte “Roots Saga” Tour
• Banjul City Tour
• Missira village tour
• National Forest of Bandia Safari tour
• Leisure time to relax on beaches, shopping, and/or enjoy local night clubs

INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE

• Meeting and assistance on arrival and departure
• Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers
• Hotel accommodation in the indicated property or similar
• Ransportation in private vehicle
• Experienced English-speaking tour guide
• Admission to all listed sites
• Meals listed – All Breakfast

SERVICES DO NOT INCLUDE

• Flights to/from Dakar
• Meals not listed
• Travel Insurance
• Travel Immunizations
• JTravel Visas
• Tips to driver and guide

IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO & KNOW

• Please indicate during time of booking if you will need a single room supplement by e-mailing info@mstravelista.com.
• Once your international flight is purchased, please e-mail a copy of your flight details to info@mstravelista.com. This information is needed to schedule your airport transfers (pickup & drop off).
• Ensure your name on this registration matches your exact name as it appears on your passport.
• Make sure to obtain your travel visa for Gambia.
• Contact your local travel immunization doctor for recommended vaccines.
• Note: The arrival and departure airport is the same. It is the International airport Blaise Diagne (DSS), Dakar (Senegal). ITINERARY

Day 1 

DEPART USA

In-flight to Senegal

Day 2

ARRIVAL – DAKAR

On arrival in Dakar, our expert cultural  tour guide will meet, assist and transfer you to your hotel in our private vehicle. As official hotel check in time is 2pm you may begin the sightseeing tour of Dakar and vicinity until it is time to check in. Check in time is 2 pm

Day 3

GORÉE ISLAND & DAKAR CITY TOUR

Today morning, visit the World Heritage Site of Gorée Island.

Tour includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture by the curator on the history of Gorée Island.

In the afternoon, go on a city tour of Metropolitan Dakar. In the afternoon, visit the colourful markets including Tilen Market, famous for a variety of medicinal herbs and traditional healers. Visit the National Art Gallery and the picturesque residential district of Medina. Overnight in Dakar.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 4

DAKAR – PINK LAKE – SAINT LOUIS

After breakfast, depart Dakar for a tour of Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomena caused by a unique combination of microorganism and high concentration of salts which gives the lake its pink color. Interact with the "Salt Harvesters." Visit the Fulani village where you may be welcomed by the Chief and his wives. Continue to St. Louis, Senegal's former French Colonial Capital. Visit Saint Louis in a horse drawn buggy. Explore the narrow streets flanked by houses with carved wooden balconies and verandas. Visit   the vibrant fishing village of Guet Ndar and see the nominated haggling among fishermen, buyers and distributors.

Meal(s) IncludedBreakfast

Day 5

SAINT LOUIS – TOUBA – KAOLACK

Breakfast. Complete city tour of Saint Louis if needed then drive through Touba, the holy city of Mouridism and the burial place of its founder, Shaikh Amadu Bàmba Mbàkke.

You can also visit Wolof & Fulani villages along the road. 

Arrive in Kaolack and visit the nearby traditional hospital of Malango where you will meet with healers from different ethnic groups. You may also visit the large open air market in Kaolack.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 6

KAOLACK – JUFFUREH & JAMES ISLAND - BANJUL

After breakfast travel to   Juffureh, said to be the home of Kunta Kinte roots saga that was captured by slave traders & the story of his subsequent enslavement in America round 200 years ago. Visit Albreda a historic small town & one of the five administrative divisions of Gambia, whose capital is Kerewan. It was founded in the period between early 16th to late 17th century by an Islamic teacher, Musa Gaye, a member of the "Wolof" ethnic group that occupies regions of Mauritania, Senegal & Gambia. Continue to visit James Island an island in the Gambia River and learn about slavery in the Gambia. After visits drive to overnight in Banjul.

Meals includedBreakfast

Day 7

BANJUL CITY TOUR

We start at the National Museum in Banjul showing the history of The Gambia tracing African Culture and European colonialism. We then take a short drive through Banjul to "see the sights," stopping to visit the general market with much hustle and bustle, where anything from live chicken and vegetables to herbs and false hair can be bought. (As with any crowded place, care must be taken with handbags, cameras, etc). We also stop by the main mosque. Time permitting; visit Serrekunda the most densely populated town in The Gambia, taking us to a display of "Tie & Dye" skills and the beautiful Batik cottons.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 8

BANJUL – TOUBACOUTA

After breakfast, drive to cross the border. In the Gambia, stop in Brikama craft market (the main craft centre in the country ) where we will find the usual items for sale such as Djembe drums, painted calabashes, chains and a dazzling variety of masks and other wood carvings from the local famous woodcarvers. From Banjul take a ferry to Barra and proceed to Toubacouta where you will stay overnight.

Meals includedBreakfast

Day 9

TOUBACOUTA – SALY & NIGHT CLUB

Breakfast in Toubacouta located in a beautiful wild nature between the oceans proceed to Missira. Visit of the village including the thousand year old kapok tree. You will go for a pirogue trip along a Bolong (River) to the Island of Sippo interact with locals. After visits drive to Saly, en route visit Joal which is the birthplace of Senegal’s first President Leopold Senghor. Visit the fish market and Senghor museum. Continue to the traditional Serère village of Fadiouth where you will visit the cathedral, the market place, the sacred Baobab tree and the famous cemetery where Muslims, Christians and animists are buried. Continue to overnight in Saly. Night clubs are available.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Day 10

LEISURE DAY
Meal(s) IncludedBreakfast

Day 11

SALY – BANDIA – SALY

Following breakfast, we depart our hotel and drive to animals’ reserve of Bandia for a safari with African fauna expert in the National Forest of Bandia. (500 hectares of baobabs and acacias). Observation of West African mammals and reptiles: monkeys, antelopes, warthogs, giraffes, rhinoceros’s crocodiles, turtles and iguanas.  After visits, return to stay at leisure in Saly at the beach. Night clubs are available

Meal(s) IncludedBreakfast

Day 12

SALY – DEPART TO THE USA

Stay at leisure at the beach before you are transferred to the International Airport Blaise Diagne of Senegal.

Check-out time is 12:00 pm

Gorée Island 

Gorée Island, “Door of No Return” – Atlantic Slave Trade Museum

Lake Retba (Pink Lake)

Bandia Safari  - National Forest of Bandia

HOTEL OPTIONS

Standard Hotel Package (All hotels listed below are included in this package)                                                 

Novotel Dakar or similar

Standard Hotel - Novotel Dakar

Premium Hotel Package (All hotels listed below are included in this package)

Radisson Blu , Hotel Mermoz or similar

Premium Hotel - Radisson Blu Hotel 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share first class accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. All payments are nonrefundable. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travelers and deluxe upgrade are available on request - please inquire.

Please click on link below to view full terms and conditions:

To proceed with booking this event, please complete the Event Registration Form.

*If you want this event to be customized for your private group please submit an inquiry to info@mstravelista.com.