Full-day Bandia / Somone Lagoon: The safari experience

Ousmane Gaye contacted us about a week before the excursion and said the PINK LAKE was not pink anymore due to heavy rains and flooding and suggested changes... and described them in detail. Then, the day before he contacted us to confirm time and place for pickup. Perfect! He had a driver and had our permission to alter the original places to visit due to much rain - and his choices were fabulous. First drove to Bandia Animal Park - and on the 45 minute drive he showed us all the important buildings in town and told us all about Senegal - the country, the people, life, commerce, and we felt we really learned a lot about the people/place. At the park he had arranged for a private tour with another guide joining us so our jeep only had the two of us and our 2 guides (other jeeps were packed 3 people wide and 3-4 rows. but we had fabulous views in all directions due to his arrangements). On the 2 hour drive we saw so many animals in the wild only a few feet away: rhino (male & female), zebra, alligators, giraffes (even a pregnant one), warthogs, Cape and Derby Elands, monkeys, newborn monkeys, Impalas (Lion McDonalds), tortises, and hundreds of BaoBab tress including one where they put the remains of many non farmers: Tomdeau de Griots. We then went to Lake Somone for a short boat ride to a local restaurant Cafe Rasta - and Ousmane treated us to a traditional national Senegal lunch (thieboudienne) of fried fish, rice, vegetables and as well as a glass of BaoBab juice! We then went on a 30 minute bat ride thru the mangrove to be mere feet away form birds birds birds esp close to pelicans, cranes, egrets. It was a fabulous day we will always remember and have such a great collection of photos to relieve it all.

We received email confirmation from the guide Ousmane Gaye the day before to confirm time and place for pickup. Perfect! He had a driver and had our permission to alter the original places to visit due to much rain - and his choices were fabulous. First drove to Bandia Animal Park - and on the 45 minute drive he told us all about Senegal - the country, the people, life, commerce, and we felt we really learned a lot about the people/place. At the park he had arranged for a private tour with another guide joining us so our jeep only had the two of us and our 2 guides (other jeeps were packed 3 people wide and 3-4 rows. but we had fabulous views in all directions due to his arrangements). On the 2 hour drive we saw so many animals in the wild only a few feet away: rhino (male & female), zebra, alligators, giraffes (even a pregnant one), warthogs, Cape and Derby Elands, monkeys, newborn monkeys, Impalas (Lion McDonalds), tortises, and hundreds of BaoBab tress including one where they put the remains of many non farmers: Tomdeau de Griots. We then went to Lake Somone for a short boat ride to a local restaurant Cafe Rasta - and Ousmane treated us to a traditional national Senegal lunch (thieboudienne) of fried fish, rice, vegetables and as well as a glass of BaoBab juice! We then went on a 30 minute bat ride thru the mangrove to be mere feet away form birds birds birds esp close to pelicans, cranes, egrets. It was a fabulous day we will always remember and have such a great collection of photos to relieve it all.

We came for a weekend away, as we do not live too far away. This trip had my cheeks hurting with so many smiles and laughs. Oumar is such a wonderful knowledgeable man and made the day. We were skeptical of the cost for a family of five for a day out but this is well worth every penny.

Our tour experience was excellent. The guide, Oumar, was extremely knowledgeable about so many things, and filled the drive time between locations with educational information on Senegal’s culture, people, and history. He was fun and engaging and so pleasant to work with! This tour was a full day, and jam-packed with activities that left our group exhausted yet very satisfied. It is well worth the money! And if Oumar is tour guide, you’ll be in for a guaranteed good time!

C’est une journée inoubliable et c’est un expérience dans ma vie. Le Guide Oumar KEBE une personne instruite, poli, aimable et tout simplement fantastique. J’en suis ravi. Bien cordialement Regina

Absolutely fantastic day out. From start to finish. Our guide was there for us on time for pick up and he kept us engaged on the whole drive to the safai. He was very knowledgeable and answered every question we threw at him 👌🏻. Have already recommended to other work mates to use these guys. I know I will be using them again!!!

The tour which included a safari at Bandia Reserve offered an incredible opportunity to see many giraffes and other animals in the wild. There are around 90 giraffes at Bandia. We also went to a lake referred to as Pink Lake and saw women mining salt out of the lake by hand. It was a terrific opportunity to get some seriously great photos. Lastly, we went on a fun and exhilarating ride in a Jeep on the sand dunes and lake then to a gorgeous beach where we were able to walk on the sand and soak it all in. We highly recommend this tour. Oumar is a wonderful and highly experienced guide. I look forward to doing another tour with him in the near future in Senegal.