Discover Senegal & Mali

Day 1: Dakar, Senegal

Upon arrival at the Blaise Diagne International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Relax and unwind for the rest of the day. Activities for today will depend on your flight arrival time.

Hotel: Novotel Dakar

Day 2: Dakar – Goree – Dakar

After breakfast, get a ferry and go on a tour of Goree Island, a UNESCO World heritage Site. Highlights will include a lecture by the curator of the Slaves House on the history of the Island, and visit to the ethnographic Museum. Return to Dakar for a city tour of the Metropolitan capital. Visit the Museum of Black Civilization then continue to the colorful market of Tilen, famous for a variety of medical herbs and traditional healers, the monument of Renaissance symbolizing the rebirth of Africa. Return to the hotel after visit.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Novotel Dakar

Day 3: Dakar – Pink Lake – Saint Louis

After breakfast, depart to Saint Louis located in the north of Senegal. En route, tour of Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon caused by a unique combination of microorganism and high concentration of salt which gives the lake its pink color. Interact with the women harvesting salts.

Get to Saint Louis in the afternoon. Go on the city tour of Saint Louis including a visit to the fishing village of Guet Ndar.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Residence

Day 4: St Louis – Djoudj – Saly

After breakfast, visit the Djoudj National Bird Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. Situated on a major palearctic migratory route, this park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Some of the world’s greatest concentrations of white pelicans and flamingos can be seen here: up to 10,000 species. Enjoy a pirogue ride to better view the many species of cormorants, pelicans, ducks, flamingos, various songbirds and more. You may also see crocodiles, boas, boars and other wildlife.

Afternoon drive toward Dakar. Get to the beach resort / hotel of Saly or Somone.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Royam Hotel

Day 5: Saly – Bamako

Depending on the flight time, visit a village or site around your hotel in Saly before transfer time to Bamako.

Meet on arrival at Bamako – Senou International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Time permitting start city tour of Bamako.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 6: Bamako – Segou

After breakfast depart to Ségou, the former Bambara Kingdom stopping at points of interest. In Segou admire the beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, visit the port, the pottery market, traditional weavers and other artisans. At the Bogolan Workshop, see and experience how the mud clothes are made. Drive to visit Sekoro, the former capital of the Bambara Kingdom. Interact with the village chief. Return to Ségou and overnight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Esplanade

Day 7: Segou – Sikasso

After breakfast, drive to Sikasso in the Kenedougou. Visit some villages on the way Learn the history of the city while visiting places like the house of Keletigui, the general of Tieba founder of the kingdom; the Mamelon Hill an artificial hill where the king met people; the rest of the Tata, ancient palisade that encircled and protected the city against invasions; the Senoufo cultural center where you will see reminders of the past life of the dominant group of the region.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Cinquantenaire

Day 8: Sikasso – Zelaba – Sikasso

This morning complete the city tour of Sikasso then drive to Missirikoro, a grotto where animists and Muslims worship side by side a symbol of religious tolerance. In the afternoon, drive to visit an authentic Senoufo village that still have their ancestral believe and custom. Visit some fetish house wandering in the village to learn their life and daily activities.

Assist a special Xylophone dance. Don’t be shy, join the dance floor to distract yourself.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Cinquantenaire

Day 9: Sikasso – Bamako

After breakfast, return to Bamako. Go on the afternoon city tour of Bamako. The city has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewellers and metal workers exhibit your wares and skills. Another highlight of your tour is the Grand Marche, or ‘Great Market’, where you can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls. From carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering.

One area of the market is devoted entirely to traditional African medicines. Here you’ll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 10: Bamako – Manden

After breakfast, drive to discover “Manden”, rural villages full of history and discover the daily life and culture of these brave people.

Visit the Siby and its different sites then continue to Nana Kenieba. After village tour, we shall assist a especial Dogon Mask Dance. Dogon people are returning to Manden said to be their first settlement. Return to Bamako and overnight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Azalai Grand Hotel

Day 11: Bamako – Depart

Together with your guide decide on your excursions and activities. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast