Excursions Silversea West Africa

Discover Lake Retba, also called Lac Rose (Pink Lake), a shallow saltwater lake surrounded dunes, offering one of the most spectacular panoramas of Senegal north of Dakar. The Lake Retba's salinity content compares to that of the Dead Sea, and during the dry season it exceeds it. Its distinct pink color is caused by the Dunaliella salina bacteria, which is attracted by the lake's salt content. At Lac Retba meet the locals and learn of their daily activities, including the harvesting...

This tour is available to in-transit guests continuing on to the following cruise. Discover Lake Retba, also called Lac Rose (Pink Lake), a shallow saltwater lake surrounded dunes, offering one of the most spectacular panoramas of Senegal north of Dakar. The Lake Retba's salinity content compares to that of the Dead Sea, and during the dry season it exceeds it. Its distinct pink color is caused by the Dunaliella salina bacteria, which is attracted by the lake's salt content. At Lac Retba...

Explore Dakar at your leisure during a full-day (8 Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle type varies depending on...

Explore Dakar at your leisure during a half-day (4 Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle type varies depending...

Explore Dakar at your leisure during a full-day (8 Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle type varies depending on...

Explore Dakar at your leisure during a half-day (4 Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle type varies depending...

Guests with international flights departing after 4 p.m. can discover Goree Island and Dakar during this full-day city and island excursion with lunch and airport transfer. Dakar, Ferry Terminal, Goree Island, House of Slaves, Downtown Dakar, Casino du Port Restaurant Depart the pier for the short drive to the Goree Island Ferry Terminal. Upon arrival, embark your privately-chartered ferry for the scenic, approximately 20-minute ride to Goree Island, an UNESCO World Heritage...

Guests with international flights departing after 4 p.m. can explore African art, culture, and history during this immersive, half-day sightseeing excursion and airport transfer. Dakar, Downtown Dakar, Museum of Black Civilisations Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive to downtown Dakar. Upon arrival, head for a visit to the Museum of Black Civilisations, a repository for African art, culture, and history. Opened in 2018, it is world's largest museum...

Cooking Class and Lunch This cooking tour is operated in partnership and involves some of the most well-known Culinary schools in all of Dakar. Guests will be guided by experienced Senegalese "Chefs' and will have the opportunity to prepare one of the Senegalese National Dishes. This tour departs the cruise pier mid-morning and heads to the cooking school. On arrival, meet the Head of the Culinary school who will brief you on the Senegalese cooking session. Guests will be advised...

Depart the cruise pier for the short drive past the President's Palace and continue past the National Assembly, Cathedral, Independence Square and Grand Mosque and a photo stop at the University of Dakar. Drive along the scenic coastline line to the Millenium Door, the new 'Monument of the African Renaissance' and tallest statue in Africa. At 49 meters, the bronze structure on the second Mamelles hill inaugurated in 2010. The African Renaissance Monument is taller than the Statue of...

A short bus transfer from the cruise pier to the Goree Island Island Ferry Terminal. A 20 minute ferry ride from Dakar takes us to Goree Island, a small tiny island with a violent past. It also served as a base for slaves between the 15th through the 18th century. Goree Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was the last place African Slaves saw before being deported to American destinations never to return. Now it's a sanctuary of calm, with a population of around 1,500 living in pastel-coloured...

Depart the Dakar cruise pier for a scenic, 40-minute drive to Wolof Village. After a brief stop here, continue approximately 20 more miles north of Dakar and across the Niaye Greenbelt en route to Pyou, home of the Pink Lake Retba. This world-renowned lake features remarkable, pinkish-colored water due to a microorganism and its high density of salt. Sometimes it is possible due to the intensity of sun rays to even see purple. Once at Pink Lake Retba known as Lac Rose, is Senegal's...

Depart the Dakar cruise terminal on a tour of the Senegalese Capital City, Dakar. Journey into the country's history, current life of the Senegalese and the hopes for the future. Visit the oldest Museum in Dakar - the IFAN Museum near the Parliament House. View art pieces in the Museum from various West Africa ethnic groups and Kingdoms and empires, including ancient Egypt, Ghana, Songai and Mandigo Empire. The tour continues to the Ousmane Sow home-museum which houses a giant...

Get a taste of Dakar's cityscapes, architecture, culture, history and of course also local village life on this splendidly varied tour. Begin with a city tour of Dakar, passing by the old colonial and quaint central train station of Dakar. Drive through Independence Square, making a stop at Kermel Market, a picturesque market rich with Senegalese handicrafts. Pass by the President's Palace and admire its red Spahi Guards, and stop at both the Cathedral of Dakar and the Great Mosque of Dakar....

Enjoy a half day exploring the wilds of Senegal, including the incredible Bandia National Game Park for a safari. Drive 90 minutes to Bandia Park through the wonderful landscapes of the Baobab forest of Sindia and typical traditional native villages to arrive at Bandia National Game Park just over 50 miles south of Dakar. Bandia Park has succeeded in reintroducing much of the native flora and of some of Africa's best loved animals, many of which had gradually disappeared, some...

Visit a traditional healing hospital and discover the Pink Lake in Senegal, offering one of the most spectacular panoramas of Senegal north of Dakar. Departing the pier, visit the traditional healing hospital, which provides an immersion into the traditional medicine of Senegal and Africa in general: this medicine is present in all stages of life in Africa. Meet the Medicine Men, visit the hospital," and learn about the cure process, including the plants and roots that are used in this...

See man-made islands where shells have been used as both decoration and construction material. Joal and Fadiouth are linked by a bridge; the latter island is made up almost entirely of clam shells. Witness traditional fishing techniques in this artisanal fishing port, the largest of its kind in West Africa, as Joal was once an important trading post in Senegal and today is Senegal's most important fishing port. Board your air-conditioned coach for a two-hour drive to Joal Fadiouth....

Explore Goree Island, located just off the coast of Dakar. This small island Goree is notable in history as a major center in the slave trade and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Goree island was discovered off the coast of the Cape Verde Peninsula in 1444 under the Command of Denis Diaz of the Portuguese caravels. With the exception of few wild goats and the traces of some Neolithic activities, the island was unoccupied. From that period, many navigators and explorers...

Visit a traditional healing hospital and discover the Pink Lake in Senegal, offering one of the most spectacular panoramas of Senegal north of Dakar. Departing the pier, first journey out in search of some bird watching opportunities before visiting the traditional healing hospital, which provides an immersion into the traditional medicine of Senegal and Africa in general: this medicine is present in all stages of life in Africa. Meet the Medicine Men, visit the hospital," and learn about...

Just off Dakar's western shore is the small group Îles de la Madeleine. Not only is this group a National Park, it has also been placed on the Tentative List as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Conditions permitting, from Dakar take a 20-minute motor canoe ride to the islands to cruise around and spot dolphins, sea turtles, and the only colony of Red-Billed Tropicbirds known in Africa. Depending on permission it may be possible to land for some truly unique hiking. The Madeleine...

Explore Banju at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle...

Explore Banju at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual vehicle...

Explore Banju at your leisure during your full-day (8-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual...

Gambian home cooking experience, will give you the opportunity to spend the day in true Gambian style and learn how to cook a typical Gambian meal. From the port, drive to Brusubi town which is about 45 minutes from the port to the location of our Cooking experience. On arrival, dress in local Gambian clothing in preparation for our visit to the local Tanji Fishing Market to buy ingredients for the meal. Together with the Chef, browse the market and buy a variety of fresh vegetables...

Explore Banju at your leisure during your half-day (4-hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights. Depart the pier with your English-speaking guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier. Please note: This tour is non-refundable if cancelled within 48 hours prior to arrival in the port. Actual...

Abuko Nature Reserve From the port of Banjul, travel by coach to Denton Bridge and then on to the Abuko Nature Reserve. Abuko National Park is a nature reserve in the Gambia lying south of the town of Abuko and was the country's first designated wildlife reserve. The Abuko Nature Reserve, can trace its protected status back to a time before The Gambia became an independent nation in 1965-a small stream here was first fenced off in 1916. Abuko is modest in size at 105 hectares...

Makasutu Cultural Forest and Lunch Depart the pier and drive to the Makasutu Cultural Forest which is about an hour from Banjul. Makasutu is a palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the Gambia River (Madina Bolong), encompassing many different eco systems including dense forests, savanna and mangrove regions. The environment encompassing this forest is home to dozens of different bird species, three species of monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy...

Banjul National Museum Depart the pier by motorcoach and drive to and visit the Banjul National Museum. The Museum and contributions made by Gambians to the arts, religion, politics, sports and technology shown in photos, and archaeological finds describing the African people and their colonial period. It houses three floors of exhibits. The ground floor displays the political and cultural history of the nation's capital Banjul. On the basement level you can learn about the musical...

Travel by coach for one hour from the cruise pier in Banjul to the Tanje River. Tanji, a small fishing town in Gambia has a population of approx. 15,000 residents. The town has been growing dramatically due to rural and urban migration. There will be a safety briefing prior to boarding the kayaks and/or canoes. After the briefing, board a kayak or a canoe and start paddling through the mangroves along the Tanje creeks. This very scenic route will enable you to take in some great bird...

Take a half day to explore the creeks of Tanje by kayak, with the possibility to spot many species of birds and monkeys in the mangroves. Both an adventure and relaxing, this tour offers some wonderful views of the region. Drive one hour from the port to Tanje Bridge and receive a safety briefing. Go cruising in the mangroves, and while drifting amidst the waters observe the wildlife surrounding you. Spot some of the hundreds of varieties of birds or several species of monkey....

Experience the brilliance of West Africa on this full day (8 hours) excursion where African tradition and colonial history meet. Embark from the pier and board your coach for the short drive to the Banjul Ferry Terminal. Enjoy a 35-minute ferry crossing that takes you to the north bank of the River Gambia at Barra. Meet the minibus that whisks you to Fort Bullen. Visit this historically significant site established by the British in 1823 for the abolition of the Slave...

Venture off the beaten track on this full day (8 hours) 4x4 monster truck safari and explore a different side of Southern Gambia. Embark from the pier where your driver awaits. Board your 4x4 truck and head to Sukuta Village. Make a photo stop at the local fish and vegetable market and capture the authentic flavor of Africa. Continue to Yuna Village to visit Uncle John's palm wine tappers. Observe a demonstration as locals tap the wine palms that are the source of the unique and...

Experience a full day (7 hours) of Gambian culture through the ultimate social connector of food. Spend the day in true Gambian style and learn how to make a typical home-cooked meal. Here "slow food" isn't a movement; it is a traditional way of life. Embark from the pier and board your coach for the 45-minute drive to the town of Brusubi. Arrive at Yabouy Home Cooking (Yabouy means "mother") to begin your cultural immersion. Meet founder Ida Cham and be outfitted...

Enjoy a full day exploring the wilds of Senegal, including the incredible Bandia National Game Park for a safari. Drive 90 minutes to Bandia Park through the wonderful landscapes of the Baobab Forest of Sindia and typical traditional native villages to arrive at Bandia National Game Park just over 50 miles south of Dakar. Bandia Park has succeeded in reintroducing much of the native flora and of some of Africa's best loved animals, many of which had gradually disappeared, some of them centuries...

Goree island is notable in history as a major center in the slave trade and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage SiteGoree island was discovered off the coast of the Cape Verde Peninsula in 1444 under the Command of Denis Diaz of the Portuguese caravels. With the exception of few wild goats and the traces of some Neolithic activities, the island was unoccupied. From that period, many navigators and explorers from Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and France landed Goree and some even settled...

Discover The Gambia at its most authentic as you explore a nature reserve and take a cruise on a traditional dugout canoe, during this half-day (4.5 hours) adventure. Embark from the pier and board your coach for the 30-minute drive to Abuko Nature Reserve. Visit the traditional educational center to discover more about this rare natural setting and the creatures that inhabit it. More than 500 birds live in the reserve, along with crocodiles and a variety of monkeys. Wander amidst...

Adventure through the protected forests of The Gambia on this full-day (7.5 hours) walking excursion and discover an abundance of wildlife that make these diverse environments home. Embark from the pier and board your coach for the drive Makasutu Cultural Forest (one hour), an ecotourism woodland that encompasses 1,000 acres. Upon arrival at Makasutu, your guide provides an introduction and refreshments are served. Then follow your guide for a walk through the palm forest situated...

Get ready for your adventure in this coastal corner of The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa. On this half-day (four hours) tour, visit an open-air farmers' and crafts market, a national museum, a monument, a sanctified crocodile pool, and a batik fabric factory. factory. Embark from the pier and board your coach for the short drive to Banjul where your first stop is the Banjul National Museum. Explore the museum exhibits that focus on the contributions made by Gambians...

Explore a different side of southern Gambia off the beaten track during this full-day, off-road Monster Truck excursion. Banjul, Sukuta Village, Local Market, Palm Wine Centre, Wine-Tapping Demonstration and Tasting Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 75-minute drive to Sukuta Village. Upon arrival, experience a real taste of Africa during a photo stop at a local fish and vegetable market. From here, re-board your coach and continue on to Yuna Village for a...

Grand Bassam Depart the port and drive for one hour from Abidjan with a Police Escort to Grand Bassam, a lovely coastal resort town within easy reach of Abidjan. Enjoy an orientation drive of Grand Bassam, which was the first French colonial capital of Cote d'Ivoire, now a resort town. It was the French colonial capital city from 1893 to 1896, when the administration was transferred to Bingerville after a bout of yellow fever. The town remained a key seaport until the growth of Abidjan...

Azito Village Drive from Abidjan to Azito Village which takes one hour to see a community living in the traditional lifestyle, less than an hour from Cote d'Ivoire. On arrival at the small village, there will be an official Welcome Ceremony with Royal Dignitaries from Azito Village. After the official Welcome, a guided walking tour through Azito village located on the edge of the lagoon with a lovely view. See the local women at work smoking fish that the men have caught and also...

See the nature, culture and history of the regions surrounding Grand-Bassam, and enjoy a drive through downtown Grand-Bassam. Begin with a 30-minute transfer to Banco National Park, a wooded area that covers more than 3,000 hectares. The forest is a green oasis that gives those who visit a chance to discover the complexity of the ecosystem. Transfer to Azito Village, on your way seeing an unforgettable spectacle of many Fanicos, washer men (no women) working in the nearby river....

Banco National Park Drive for 45 minutes from Abidjan cruise pier to Banco National Park. On arrival at Banco National Park, start a long/strenuous hike, lasting up to 3 hours in the park on sandy uneven trails/pathways on this hike through the park. Banco National Park, (Parc National du Banco), lies north of Abidjan, declared a national park in 1953. Banco conserves both flora and fauna in approx. 300 sq km. Tropical hardwood trees occupy most of the park, an arboretum...

Take a morning to explore key sites in historic Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first capital of the country. Grand-Bassam was chosen by UNESCO as an example of a late 19th- and early 20th-century colonial town planned for Europeans and Africans. Make a visit to the historic Royal Court, the French colonial district, and the Ivory Coast National Museum of Costume. There is also time to see the craft center with artist work on display, and the Binger Palace,...

Photo stop at St Paul's Cathedral Drive from Abidjan cruise port to the Plateau (city centre) and capital of Cote d'Ivoire, making a photo stop at the St Paul's Cathedral. (A Roman Catholic Cathedral.) The cathedral, which was designed by architect Aldo Spirito, serves as the mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan. The first stone of the cathedral was consecrated on May 11, 1980 by Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visit to Cote d'Ivoire. It is one...

Enjoy a half-day discovering the cityscapes of the Plateau, with interesting sights in between. Begin your morning with a visit to the Plateau area, known as the small Manhattan of the Ivory Coast. Visit Cathedral Saint Paul, which as it is situated on one of the higher vantage points in the area, offers a great panoramic view of the city. From the Plateau region, make your way to the Bingerville Gardens. At Bingerville Botanical Garden, discover plants, insects,...

Explore key sites in Abidjan and Bingerville, two gems on the Ivory Coast. Abidjan is one of the most populous French-speaking cities in Africa and the Ivory Coast's economic capital. Bingerville is formerly a market town that became the second capital of the French colony between 1900 and 1933 before being replaced by Abidjan until 1983. Bingerville is named after Louis Gustave Binger, first Governor of the Côte d'Ivoire colony. Depart the city center Plateau of Abidjan via...

Take a morning to explore key sites in the city of Abidjan and the historic Grand-Bassam. Despite the fact that Yamoussoukro is Ivory Coast's capital, the city of Abidjan with its port still is the commercial center of the country. See some of Abidjan's highlights, including the modernistic St. Paul's Cathedral (one of Africa's largest cathedrals). Drive to the historic town of Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first capital of the country. Grand-Bassam was chosen...

Get a taste of Dakar's cityscapes, architecture, culture, history, and of course also local village life on this splendidly varied tour. Begin with a scenic city tour of Dakar proceeding to the Museum of the Black Civilizations, considered as the second most important Museum in Africa after a museum in Cairo. Be welcomed by museum curator and enjoy a Visit of the Museum. Leave for the house of the artist Ousmane Sow. To create his sculptures, Ousmane Sow would spend long hours locked up...

Take a tour of Grand-Bassam, the fascinating colonial capital city of the Ivory Coast. This town was a key port until the 1930s, when neighboring Abidjan replaced this role. Though nearly 85,000 people live here, Grand-Bassam has the feel of a ghost town, with many of its beautiful colonial buildings remaining in a romantic disrepair. The city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. Make a visit to the historic Royal Court, the French colonial district, and the Ivory Coast...

Enjoy an evening at Playa del Sol, on the pristine beach of Kotu, one of the best beaches in Gambia. Board your coach and drive to Serrekunda. Up on arrival be welcomed at the restaurant and enjoy the beach and sunset followed by an African buffet dinner and a cultural performance with local dancing and music.   Note Please note: A minimal amount of walking, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach.  Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended.

Meaning "Good Good" in Portuguese, the charming islet of Ilhéu Bom Bom (Bom Bom Island) is located near the north coast of the island of Príncipe, one of the main islandsof São Tomé and Príncipe. Bom Bom Island is virtually fully covered by forest vegetation and is home to approximately 15 permanent residents, mostly those involved in running the nearby resort. Go ashore on this tiny, lovely island to either enjoy the beaches and the facilities...

Points of interestsPoints of interest seen on this excursion include: Bom Bom Island Resort, Beach Party, Barbecue, Beaches, Verdant Hills