Rhythms and Dances: a Different Perspective of Senegal - 9 days tour

Discover the soul of Senegal through its music, dance, and traditions, from the sacred rhythms of Casamance to the vibrant energy of Toubab Dialaw.

Day 1: Arrival in Dakar
Arrival in Dakar in the evening. Welcome assistance at the airport and completion of entry formalities. Transfer to the hotel in central Dakar. Overnight stay.

Day 2: Dakar – Saloum
After breakfast at the hotel, departure for a short orientation tour of Dakar, a city of contrasts blending modern and traditional influences. Visit the Medina, a lively and colorful showcase of Senegalese culture with African-inspired architecture. Continue to the Saloum Delta, a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve, located 150 km south of Dakar. Cross the old city of Rufisque, the Baobab Forest of Sindia, and the traditional Serer villages of the Petite Côte. Lunch along the Saloum River in Ndagane. In the afternoon, cross the Samba Dia forest to reach Djilor, a Peulh village on the riverbanks of the Saloum. Enjoy a Yela dance performance, a traditional ritual of the local communities. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Saloum
After breakfast, departure for a boat excursion through the Saloum Delta, reaching Niominka Island, home to local fishermen. Immerse yourself in the rhythms of music and dance, witnessing the return of the fishing boats after a long day at sea. Visit traditional villages, where you will meet griots, storytellers and guardians of Senegalese oral traditions. Enjoy Serer musical performances, with live singing and dancing demonstrations. Lunch will be a barbecue feast on a small island. In the afternoon, return to Djilor for an encounter with local women who will introduce you to a traditional ceremony. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Saloum – Gambia (Banjul)
After breakfast, departure for Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. Cross the Upper Saloum region, visiting traditional villages where you will experience local music and dances. Stop at Toubacouta, where the performances of N’gayene and N’daga introduce you to sensual dances and cultural traditions. In the afternoon, cross the Gambia River to enter Banjul. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Banjul – Ziguinchor
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a city tour of Banjul. This region is home to the Mandinka people, renowned for their rich musical heritage. Visit local artisans and meet the masters of the kora, a traditional Mandinka string instrument. In the afternoon, continue to Ziguinchor, the capital of Casamance. Pass through Diouloulou, Baila, and Badiana, meeting the Diola ethnic group, known for their animist traditions. Enjoy an evening performance of ancestral dances, celebrating key moments in life such as birth, marriage, and death. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Ziguinchor – Basse Casamance – Ziguinchor
After breakfast, the day is dedicated to visiting animist villages in Basse Casamance. These communities still deeply respect nature, and their dances are often ritualistic ceremonies. Enjoy a dance initiation experience in the sacred forest of the Diola people, where music and movement blend with the spiritual energy of the place. Lunch at the Oussouye cultural center, followed by more dance initiations. Return to Ziguinchor in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Ziguinchor – Kaolack – Saly
After breakfast, departure to Kaolack, stopping at Bignona and Mandinka villages with unique architectural styles. Visit animist healers and witness traditional healing rituals involving dance and music. Lunch in Kaolack before continuing to Saly, Senegal’s top seaside resort. Free evening to relax. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Saly – Toubab Dialaw – Saly
After breakfast, transfer to Toubab Dialaw, home to the African Contemporary Dance Center, founded by Germaine Acogny, one of Africa’s most celebrated dancers. Experience an initiation to African rhythms and dances through workshops led by local artists. Lunch at the center before returning to Saly for free time. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Saly – Dakar
After breakfast, return to Toubab Dialaw for a final dance and rhythm session. Return to Saly for lunch and free time before transferring to Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) for departure.  [/read]