Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Senegal in early July 2026 for a week with my teenage daughter. We’ll be staying in a bungalow at Club Les Filaos. I’d love to hear your advice, especially about visits and excursions. The hotel offers them directly, but I’m wondering if it’s better to go with their organized tours or hire local guides you’d recommend. What do you think are the pros and cons of each option? I’d also appreciate tips on currency exchange—where’s the best place to do it to avoid any nasty surprises? Finally, if anyone’s stayed at this hotel recently, I’d love to hear your thoughts! I’ve read both glowing and terrible reviews, so I’d really value your firsthand experiences.

Thanks in advance for your tips and feedback! !

Hello!



I invite you to share our wonderful discovery of Saint-Louis and its surroundings: Djoudj Park and the Langue de Barbarie... Daily life, heritage, landscapes, and wildlife (birds)...

We stayed in Senegal for 10 days in April/May 2018, specifically in Saint-Louis, Senegal, since we were there for the Jazz Festival held every year. But we took the opportunity to explore this country we didn’t know!

In this travel journal, you’ll find: - A short stop in Gorée, which we visited before heading to Saint-Louis - The different faces of Saint-Louis, especially the vibrant fishermen’s district - Djoudj Park, with its many birds - The Langue de Barbarie ... and much more!

Before going to Senegal, I did some research on this forum and others. So many strong opinions about Senegal—you either love it or hate it! If it hadn’t been for the festival, we might not have gone... What a shame that would’ve been, because we loved it!

Of course, I saw poverty, idleness, and litter, especially plastic bags—a global scourge. A bit of harassment from street vendors, especially at first when you don’t know how to deflect it and accidentally encourage it. The privileges of a social class and inequalities, though that’s something you encounter in many poor countries, not just in Africa.

But when I close my eyes and remember our trip, what stays with me is the youth, the beauty of so many boys and girls, the elegance of the women, and the sparkle in their eyes and smiles. The light and colors, the smell of grilled fish, the taste of freshly roasted peanuts and baobab fruit. The honking horns, the call of the muezzins, the music, the bursts of laughter.







To be continued...

Hey fellow travelers!

So, a new year has begun. It’s time to reconnect with the VF buddies and wish you all my best for 2026—a year I hope is obviously full of travel, since, as I just made up: "If travel’s good, everything’s good" 😄.

To celebrate, I’m inviting you into my new "travel journal," the one from our latest trip in November 2025, a little two-week adventure.

This time, we headed to The Gambia, a tiny country tucked right in the middle of Senegal, before making our way to Casamance.

The Gambia is English-speaking, Senegal is French-speaking, but the locals? They couldn’t care less—because in this part of the world, they mostly speak Wolof, Fula, Jola, or Mandinka. Hence the title: Senegambia 😉.

As usual, I’m sharing the live updates I sent to friends and family—super casual, of course.

I know this isn’t the kind of destination that draws crowds, but if you love adventure, laughter, and emotion, it might just be your thing 😊.

Hugs 😘

Hi there,

Last February, I made a trip using "public transport" from France to southern Senegal via Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania.

It’s a journey of about 5,000 km, where I took trains (as far as Marrakech), ferries (to cross Gibraltar and then to reach Casamance from Dakar), and mostly buses on the long desert straightaways. I hadn’t planned any stops in advance or booked any hotels, except for the very first train to Spain, which left plenty of room for the unexpected. Why travel by land and sea? In recent years, flight-free travel has been gaining popularity. On social media, posts explaining how to cross Europe by train as quickly as possible go viral. Traveling without flying—and making sure people know about it—has become a great way to earn a badge of eco-responsibility: an essential totem for anyone wanting to prove both their dedication to the ecological cause and the wisdom of slow travel. I haven’t flown in years, and this journey to West Africa could easily be filed under "responsible travel." But it wouldn’t be honest to say that: in reality, it wasn’t really my aversion to flying that motivated this long trek. I see overland travel primarily as a way to experience the world’s geography at a grounded, earthly pace—the pace of the locals. Besides, I’ll be flying back, which disqualifies any claim to being a model of sustainability. So no eco-badge, and no adventurer’s badge either: you won’t find any heroic tales of camel rides in lost lands or mineral train wagons in this account (popular with influencers, the Mauritania iron ore train now attracts tourists from all over the world, turning "the experience" into something you "have to do at least once in your life"). This five-part story, written on the road, has no other ambition than to recount a journey through places and people, and to share the thoughts they inspire in me. As simply and, I hope, as humbly as possible.

I’m posting the episodes here, which you can also find on my blog (with more photos) at the following links:

Episode 1: Spain, from Avignon to Algeciras

Episode 2: Morocco, from Tangier to Tarfaya

Episode 3: Western Sahara, from Tarfaya to Guerguerat

Episode 4: Mauritania, from Guerguerat to Nouakchott

Episode 5: Senegal, from Rosso to Saloulou

To help those who might want to make the same trip, I’ve also put together a summary of the route with recommendations—you can read it at the end of the story and on the blog: From France to Senegal Without Flying: Route and Itinerary Recommendations

Happy reading, and safe travels!

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a little feedback on our first trip to Senegal, hoping it might help others who are on the fence about taking the plunge. We went in mid-February with my wife and our two daughters (6 and 9 years old), for 15 days in Saly, on the Petite Côte. It was our first time in West Africa, and honestly, we fell in love with the place. We landed at Blaise Diagne Airport, and right away, the change of scenery hit us. The weather was pleasantly warm, the people were super welcoming, and it felt like we’d arrived somewhere where time moves differently. The ride to Saly was by taxi, and I’ll admit, the first encounter with Senegalese traffic was a bit of an adventure! 😅 But you get used to it fast—it’s lively, colorful, and there’s a lot of honking, but there’s a kind of logic in the chaos. We rented a small apartment in Saly Niakh Niakhal, a 10-minute walk from the beach. It was perfect for the kids: huge beach, golden sand, warm water, and not too crowded. We went every morning—the girls built sandcastles, we chatted with the street vendors (who were really friendly, not pushy at all), and my wife quickly became addicted to iced bissap juice. We did quite a few excursions: Bandia Reserve (the kids loved the giraffes and zebras roaming free), Gorée Island (a deeply moving experience, especially visiting the House of Slaves—it really puts things into perspective), and Lake Retba (which was a little less pink than we’d hoped, but the 4x4 tour was worth it!). Fun little story: one day, we went to the market in Mbour, and our 6-year-old daughter was given a mango by a vendor just because she said “Bonjour Monsieur” with a big smile. It might seem like nothing, but those little gestures of kindness are what stood out the most during our trip. Senegalese people have a natural warmth and friendliness you don’t find everywhere. That famous “Teranga”—you really understand what it means when you’re there. Food-wise, we ate grilled fish every other day, the girls discovered a love for chicken yassa, and I fell for thiéboudienne (with plenty of spice 😅). We also tried dishes at local spots—never got sick, and always felt welcome. The trip back to Dakar was relaxed; we’d planned one night there before our flight. On our last evening, we sat on the corniche, watching the ocean and the sun set slowly. The girls didn’t want to leave. And honestly... neither did we. So, if you’re hesitating about discovering Senegal with your family, go for it. Sure, it’s different. But that’s exactly what makes it so refreshing. Happy to answer any questions! – Nico.

Hi there!

I'm considering doing a round trip of Africa, starting in Morocco, then following the west coast down to the south, and finally heading back up along the east coast.

However, I have some big questions about the route:

From what I've gathered after a lot of research, the road seems quite doable without a 4x4 as far as Senegal, or even Benin?

It's between Benin and Namibia that it would get really tough, and I'd either need a 4x4 or to ship my vehicle if I'm in a converted H2L2 van (not 4x4)?

Could someone clarify this for me?

Otherwise, it seems like Southern, Northern, and Eastern Africa are accessible without a 4x4?

As for the vehicle, if a 4x4 is essential, I'm torn between: Kangoo 4x4 Lada Niva 4x4 standard C15 C15 4x4 Renault Trafic 4x4 (H2L2, so still quite large) or a Subaru Libero 4x4

Or would it even be possible with a simple Twingo? ^

But is that enough, or do I absolutely need a 4x4 like a Toyota, Land Rover, or something similar?

Those are my current questions! If anyone has some answers, that would be amazing!

Thanks so much!