Welcome to Dakar, Senegal!
Arrive at the Dakar International Airport, then proceed through immigration, collect your luggage, and proceed to the arrivals area, where you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Radisson Blu. Spend the evening as you please!
Meals are to your own account.
After breakfast, you will be met by your guide at 9:00 a.m. and transferred to the ferry, where you will take the 10:00 a.m. sailing to Goree Island. After lunch, you will return to the mainland to continue your city tour of Dakar, Independence Square, the harbour, and the Presidential Palace, then return to the Radisson around 4:00 p.m. You may wish to do some shopping in the Sea Plazza near the hotel.
The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation.
The Independence Square is an iconic site in Dakar, located in the heart of the city. Surrounded by government buildings and historic monuments, it is considered one of the nerve centers of political and social life in Senegal. The square has great symbolic importance for Senegalese people, as it is where the proclamation of independence was made in 1960.
Dinner is by your own arrangement.
After breakfast, depart with your guide at 10:00 a.m. to visit the Museum of Black Civilizations and the IFAN Historical Museum. Lunch will be enjoyed in the garden at the museum. Then, you will visit the Almadies district and the African Renaissance monument. There may also be time to stop in various galleries and shops.
The Museum of Black Civilizations: Inaugurated in December 2018, this museum is dedicated to Black civilizations and the dawn of humanity; a “pan-African” project. The displays of ancient skulls and bones of some of the earliest humans, from Ethiopia and elsewhere, as well as tools and ceramics on early craftsmanship, pay homage to the origins of humankind. The 18-meter tree, called “The Saga of the Baobab,” is by Haitian artist Duval-Carrie - an example of how the museum reflects the contributions of the diaspora. About 500 pieces from outside the continent include works from Haiti, Cuba and many others.
The museum holds up to 18,000 pieces, ranging from remains of the first hominids, which appeared in Africa several million years ago, to current artistic creations. Masks, sculptures, videos, photos, paintings, and even everyday objects from prehistory to the 21st century. A wall is dedicated to black female leaders globally. The tour becomes thematic in certain rooms: one presents scientific and technical discoveries in Africa.
The Monument of the African Renaissance is an imposing bronze statue located on the Mamelles hill, west of Dakar. Inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Senegal’s independence, this 49-meter-high work of art symbolizes the rebirth and unity of the African continent. Visitors can climb to the top of the monument to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area.
Later, return to your hotel. Dinner by own arrangement.
This morning after breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and meet your guide, who will take you to Pink Lake for a visit and lunch in a nice restaurant with a view of the lake. There is also a possibility to ride horses on the beach for 1-2 hours.
Later, you will be transferred to the Movenpick Lamantin Beach Resort in Saly.
Dinner is to your own account.
This morning, you are free to spend at leisure until it is time to be transferred to the airport for your onward international flights.
End of your Dakar adventure!
Thank you for traveling with Africa Dynamics!
