Nature & Diola Culture in Lower Casamance
Program
Day 1: Airport – Somone
Arrival from your flight. Transfer to your hotel in La Somone. Dinner not included and night at the Africa Queen Hotel or similar.
Day 2: Somone – Diass Airport – Ziguinchor Airport – Ziguinchor
Breakfast. Transfer to the Diass airport for your flight to Ziguinchor (schedule to be determined based on availability). Upon arrival at Ziguinchor airport, a transfer will take you to your hotel Kadiandoumagne or similar. Lunch not included. Free afternoon. Dinner at a restaurant in Ziguinchor and overnight stay.
Day 3: Ziguinchor – Djibelor – Enampore – Ziguinchor
Lunch. Tour of Ziguinchor, an old colonial town, a small capital founded in 1645 by the Portuguese and later taken over by the French. Visit the historic center with its Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Cathedral, the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés market, lunch in town.
In the afternoon, you’ll take a stroll through the exotic Djibelor garden known for its fruit tree plantations. Then, head to the village of Enampore to admire the architecture of the sunken hut buildings. Return to the hotel in Ziguinchor and free time to relax by the pool or on the pier overlooking the water for an aperitif (not included). Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Ziguinchor – Djilapao – Affiniam – Ziguinchor
Breakfast. Journey on the main arm of the Casamance River by motorized canoe to the Bird Island and discovery of numerous migratory bird species: sacred ibis, flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, cormorants, snake birds…
Continue the navigation to Djilapao Island, with its peculiar two-story hut, home to artists nestled amidst the mangroves. Arrival at Affiniam, one of the most beautiful villages in the region, renowned for palm wine harvesting and rice farming. Visit the sunken hut building and enjoy a local lunch. Return to Ziguinchor in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Ziguinchor – Oussouye – Edioungou – Seghalem – Mlomp – Pointe Saint-Georges – Elinkine
Breakfast. Visit the charming village of Oussouye, surrounded by majestic silk-cotton and mango trees. Built in Senegal’s densest forest, the village holds a rich history intertwined with the Diola kingdom. Explore the villages of this farming community known for their pride, independence, and strong work ethic. It might be possible to visit the king in his sacred forest. You may also visit the handicapped women’s basketry workshop (closed on Sundays)!
Proceed to Edioungou, where village women craft pottery fired over wood fires, mixing clay with crushed seashells. Continue to Seghalem to visit the open-air cashew nut processing unit. Then, a stop at Mlomp: explore the two-story clay or banco houses and an animist museum depicting Diola traditional culture. Head towards Pointe Saint Georges, a small village by the river. With luck, you may catch a glimpse of manatees (depending on the tide)!
Enjoy a local lunch. After lunch, head towards Elinkine via the Kaloufa platform (possibility to ascend the platform with a harness for a top view of the silk-cotton tree, depending on everyone’s courage). Arrive at Elinkine and settle into the village campsite. Watch the sunset over the bolongs. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Elinkine – Efran Island – Carabane Island – Kachouane
Breakfast. Boarding a canoe. Stop at Efran Island with treehouse accommodations. Continue to Carabane. The island of Carabane was a major trading center under French rule, and to this day, it retains many remnants of grand colonial houses and a Breton church near the colonial cemetery. Explore the island on foot – swimming possible. Lunch at a local island restaurant. Resume the canoe journey towards Kachouane (1 hour by canoe). Opportunity to taste oysters from February to May. Dinner and overnight stay at a campsite.
Day 7: Kachouane – Wendaye Island – Ehidji Island – Katakalousse – Cap Skirring
Breakfast. Boarding a canoe to Wendaye Island. Visit to the honey farm, discovering all the types of honey produced in Casamance: mangrove honey, mango honey, baobab honey, silk-cotton tree honey, mimosa honey, toufleur honey, and wild honey. Next, we’ll traverse the island on foot, a short walk during which you’ll pass through rice fields and observe women at work (only from October to January). We’ll then take the canoe to reach the island of the traditional healers, Ehidji: a sacred land. Continue to Katakalousse. Disembark and head towards Cap Skirring. Check-in at your accommodation. Lunch. Free afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Cap Skirring – Kabrousse – Boucotte – Bouyouye – Diembering – Cap Skirring
Breakfast. Throughout the day, visit Kabrousse: the village of Queen Alioune Sittoe Diatta, Boucotte with its open-air museum showcasing Diola cultures and fetishes, Bouyouye with houses built under silk-cotton trees. Lunch in Diembering (at a local’s home or in a restaurant around the silk-cotton tree). Stroll through the village. Return to Cap Skirring. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Cap Skirring – Ziguinchor Airport – Diass Airport
Breakfast. Transfer to Cap Skirring or Ziguinchor airport depending on flight availability. Morning flight to Diass. End of our services.
Rates
- Benefit from preferential rates negotiated with our partner (starting from – rates vary depending on the date).
For a personalized quote or any specific request, please fill out the contact form on the contact page.
- For 8-10 people: € 1 140 net per person
- For 6-7 people: € 1 170 net per person
- For 5 people: €1 215 net per person
- For 4 people: € 1 310 net per person
- For 3 people: € 1 360 net per person
- For 2 people: € 1 630 net per person
- Single supplement: € 280 net per person
50% discount for children aged 2 to 11 staying in their parents’ room. For instance: 2 adults + 1 child = 1630 € + 1630 € + 815 €
These prices include:
- Airport pickup and transfer
- Necessary transportation
- Accommodation as described in the program: Africa Queen or similar (1 night), Hotel Kadiandoumagne (3 nights), Campement Elinkine (1 night), Campement Grain de Paradis
- Round-trip flight Diass – Ziguinchor – Diass
- Visits and excursions mentioned in the program
- Transfer from Cap Skirring to Ziguinchor and the domestic flight between Ziguinchor and DIASS on day 8
- Note: If the dates correspond to flights from Cap Skirring to Dakar (only Fridays and Sundays), the flight will depart from Cap Skirring, and the transfer will be between the hotel and Cap Skirring airport.
- Meals as mentioned in the program (full board from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 9)
Those prices do not include:
- Tips and personal expenses
- Airline tickets
- Optional excursions
- Lunches not included or free time for lunches
- Beverages during meals
- Supplements for New Year’s Eve and New Year