Senegal & South Africa

Tour starts Monday, Thursday or Saturday. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Early afternoon begin the city tour of Dakar and vicinity. Start from Independence Place, the heart of the city and pass by the presidential palace, the main cathedral and the mosque de la revelation. The tour will show you the contrasts between some upscale residential areas and other more popular but less afuent neighborhoods. You will also visit must-see sites like Kermel, famous for its large variety of products from food to crafts, as well as for its location in a beautiful landmark Architectural building. You may include the Ifan Museum and other highlights. You will visit the Monument de la Renaissance/Africa Renaissance Monument; a 164 Feet high monument unveiled in 2010, overlooking Dakar and is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The once controversial bronze statue is a popular attraction among locals as well as visitors. It features a man, woman and child pointing, a symbol of renewed African hope. The woman is now decently clothed, as conservative groups forced the government to lengthen her formerly short skirt, at a cost of more than US$ 10 million, to more modest length. Included in the city tour is a visit to Dakar City Hall, an impressive structure featuring French-colonial architecture. Combined with its clock tower, this is one of Dakar’s most distinctive pieces of  architecture. Although this is the city’s administrative building and city hall, it is open to the public almost like a museum. Those sites not seen today will be visited tomorrow afternoon. Meal(s) Included: Dinner Overnight at Novotel Dakar

Depart on the 20 minutes ferry ride to visit the charming yet infamous Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the usually quiet streets lined with mostly pastel colored colonial era buildings. Among the most famous building here is the House of Slaves which records the painful history of Goree’s past. Observe the “Door of No Return” through which millions passed involuntarily. The tour includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture by the curator on the history of Goree Island. The pace here is tranquil, almost relaxing, compared to its exuberant neighbor only a 20 minutes ferry ride away. Return to Dakar and complete the city tour started yesterday. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight at Novotel Dakar

Early morning depart to Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon caused by a unique combination of microorganism and high concentration of salts which gives the lake its pink color. Although this is a tourist attraction, it is also the means of livelihood for the Salt Harvesters. Interact with the women harvesting salt. You may visit the Fulani village where you will be welcome by the Chief and his wives. You can get a better view of the surrounding area by taking a ride in a quad bike. After Pink Lake travel to Cayar, a shing community along the Atlantic coastline where donkey-drawn buggies are still a popular form of transportation. Arrive in time for the spectacular return of the shermen. They bring tons of sh, and other seafood in their brightly painted dugout pirogues. The scene is alive with buyers, families, and children. Return to Dakar early evening. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner Overnight at Novotel Dakar