Senegal Family Beach Escape: Waves & Culture in 8 Days

Points of Interest : Somone, Mbour, Diass
Upon arrival at Blaise Diagne International Airport, you are welcomed by the local representative holding a sign with your name. You then travel in a private vehicle to your seaside hotel on the Petite Côte. The drive of around 30 km takes about 45 minutes.
Your stay is at Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone, a small, intimate property set in lush greenery away from the large resorts of nearby Saly. It enjoys a tranquil atmosphere and a beautiful private sandy beach. The attentive and professional staff offer a warm welcome in the spirit of Senegalese hospitality, known as teranga. Discreet entertainment is organised to keep families pleasantly occupied without disturbing the peaceful setting.
Accommodation is arranged in rooms adapted to your family: connecting rooms, side‑by‑side rooms or a room with an extra bed, depending on your needs.

• Meals included : Dinner (half board starts)
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Somone, Bandia Forest Reserve
After breakfast, you set off calmly from your hotel in a private vehicle towards Bandia Reserve, located about fifteen to twenty kilometres away. This private reserve is a striking example of ecological success, with restored vegetation and the reintroduction of large African mammals.
Aboard a safari vehicle, you explore 3,500 hectares of wild landscapes dotted with giant baobabs, acacias, twisted lianas and emblematic African wildlife. Many animals allow you to approach quite closely, making it ideal for photography and for introducing children to a safari experience.
You have the option to enjoy lunch freely by the crocodile pond, where cheeky monkeys sometimes try to steal bread from your plate.
In the afternoon, you can optionally visit the Accrobaobab adventure park for an extra dose of family fun and adrenaline. Built around baobab trees, this unique park offers rope courses and activities suited to all ages and levels of daring (allow around €15–25 per person depending on the chosen course).
You return to the hotel for dinner and the night. Scheduled times are a departure at 10:00 and return around 15:00, or 17:00 if you choose the Accrobaobab option. The distance between Somone and Bandia is about 15 km.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Somone
Today is a free day to enjoy both the pool and the beach. The hotel’s entertainment team organises light activities such as aquagym, pétanque, table tennis and other games suitable for all ages.
Just a five‑minute walk from the hotel, the Somone lagoon awaits you. You can rent a small boat for a family trip through the mangrove to observe numerous seabirds feeding in the shallows.
For lunch, you are free to eat where you like. A popular option is the restaurant Chez Rasta on the lagoon, where you can try typical Senegalese dishes before taking a swim in the lagoon or trying some surfing in the ocean nearby.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Ndangane, Mar Lodj, Joal-Fadiouth, Saloum Delta
After breakfast, you depart in a private vehicle for a full‑day excursion into the Sine Saloum region. Along the way, you can make stops according to your interests, for example to visit a Serer village and learn about local life and traditions.
After around 1.5 to 2 hours’ drive, you reach the village of Ndangane. From here you board a motorised pirogue to explore the mangrove channels, a maze of mangrove trees and calm waterways. Amateur birdwatchers will be delighted by the variety of birds foraging along the riverbanks.
You stop on Mar Lodj Island for a walk offering panoramic views over the Saloum River. The excursion continues with a barbecue on a lagoon and a swim in a natural pool in the heart of the mangrove. You taste grilled meats, prawns, fish, fresh fruit and local juices in a unique natural setting.
Along the way, you may witness striking scenes such as fishermen emerging from the water with salt‑streaked skin and eagles swooping down to snatch their prey.
At the end of this immersive day, you return to your hotel. On the way back, you can discuss with your driver or guide the possibility of stopping at the sacred baobab of Fadial or the shell island of Fadiouth as optional visits.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch (barbecue during the excursion)
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Mbour
After breakfast, you travel to Mbour either in a private vehicle or by public transport, depending on your chosen formula, for a cultural and culinary experience with a local family. Together with your host, you head to the market to buy all the ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Senegalese dish to share as a family.
You are fully immersed in the lively atmosphere among vendors and shoppers, passing stalls of vegetables, fish, meat and fragrant incense. You also witness the arrival of the fishermen at the port, with colourful pirogues unloading the day’s catch.
Optionally, children can take part in an art workshop and create personalised objects such as bracelets, paintings or sand pictures inspired by Senegalese art. They can also play with neighbourhood children and discover their daily life. Football enthusiasts are encouraged to bring a ball, which is a much‑appreciated and often rare toy, perfect for impromptu matches on the beach or in the street. Those who wish can also be introduced to the djembe drum or Senegalese dance.
Departure is at around 9:30 and return around 16:00. The distance between Somone and Mbour is about 15 km.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch (meal prepared and shared at the host’s home)
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Mbour
Enjoy another free day between the pool, beach and lagoon. You can join the light entertainment organised by the hotel team, such as aquagym sessions, pétanque tournaments and table tennis matches.
You are also free to walk to the lagoon, about five minutes from the hotel, and follow the ecological trail. This path allows you to observe a variety of plants and exotic birds in their natural environment. Do not miss the chance to taste Norbert’s oysters, grilled on the spot by the women of the village – a local speciality.
Lunch is at your discretion, either at the hotel, in the village or at the lagoon restaurant Chez Rasta.
As an option, you can head out to discover Lac Rose (Lake Retba), famous for its former pink hue. Due to heavy rainfall in recent years, the colour and salinity have changed, but the lake and its salt‑harvesting activities remain interesting to visit.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Gorée Island, Dakar
After breakfast, you take the motorway towards Dakar for a full day dedicated to discovering the Senegalese capital and the historic island of Gorée. Depending on traffic, your city tour may begin either at the railway station with its colonial building on Tirailleurs Square, or at the African Renaissance Monument, whose 198 steps lead up to a panoramic view over the Dakar peninsula.
You continue by exploring Soumbedioune Bay and its craft village, which showcases traditional Senegalese handicrafts. You also pass by key sites such as the Presidential Palace, Independence Square, the coastal corniche road and the lively Medina district with its Tilène market.
Late in the morning, you board the ferry for the 20‑minute crossing to Gorée Island, off Dakar. Lunch is at your leisure in a restaurant on the island.
In the afternoon, your local guide takes you on a walking tour of Gorée. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island is lined with 18th‑century colonial houses painted in ochre, pink and yellow. It is one of the most moving places in Senegal, both for its beauty and for its role as a symbol of the transatlantic slave trade and its painful history.
After the visit, you take the shuttle boat back to Dakar and then return by road to your hotel on the Petite Côte.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation : Hôtel Africa Queen in Somone

Points of Interest : Blaise Diagne International Airport
After breakfast, you have some free time to enjoy your last moments in Senegal, whether relaxing at the hotel or taking a final walk by the sea, depending on your flight schedule. At the agreed time, your driver meets you at the hotel reception for your private transfer to Blaise Diagne International Airport for your departure flight.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Last day : Private transfer from your hotel to Blaise Diagne International Airport