Welcome to Senegal, our 83rd country. We woke up to our first African sunrise in Dakar aboard the beautiful Regent Splendor, an experience we had all heard so much about but only seen in movies! Senegal ensured we didn't miss this breathtaking moment.
Dakar is the capital of Senegal, home to 1.3 million people. It was founded in 1857 when the French built a fort on the site of the modern Place de l’Indépendance to safeguard the interests of merchants who had been settling there for 20 years and of the residents of Gorée, a waterless island in the lee of the peninsula that once was an outpost for slave and other trading.
We disembarked for our tour and boarded the air-conditioned coach, leaving for Lake Retba for an exciting 4x4 dune adventure. As we drove through the busy city of Dakar, we were given our first taste of an African country on the west coast, heavily populated and polluted in this case. The authentic living conditions and lack of infrastructure and machinery followed, showing us that today would be a learning experience we all needed and reminding us that this corner of the world is still a ways behind.
The first stop on our tour, Lake Retba & Village Festival, was a traditional village, Noflayee, about one hour from Dakar. We were treated to a local dance performance and welcomed by the village chief. The performers were outstanding, especially during the midday heat, and danced their little hearts out; we felt welcome.
Next was a trip to the famous stage from the Paris-Dakar rally and Lake Retba. The lake used to be pink due to marine microorganisms in its waters. However, due to the impact of climate change, it has lost its colour.
We carefully selected our jeep, reminding ourselves to avoid the direct sun. Fortunately, we spotted a jeep with just that, a roof and bonus actual seats; all other jeeps were bench seats. A little warmup trip by the lake and salt mounds, crossing the finish line of the Paris-Dakar rally, and our first experience of the intensity of the local street vendors.
Followed by a bumpy and fun ride as we hit the dunes of Senegal down the final stage of the famous "Paris-Dakar" rally on the wild beach with a stop by the Atlantic offering endless views of the Ocean.
Unfortunately, our dream on an endless beach was spoiled by the extreme plastic pollution, the sight of a mature turtle that had recently died from swallowing one of the thousands of plastic bags that littered the shore.
Meanwhile, locals poured over the sand dunes to try to sell cheap trinkets, which soured our experience.
After the 4x4 ride, we returned to the local resort and enjoyed a delicious local lunch of African delights.
Once our bellies were satisfied, we were back on the road with a quick stop at the local market for those wanting some souvenirs of their time in Senegal and to support the community; we were feeling a little overwhelmed by the intensity and being asked for handouts at every given moment, so chose to remain on the bus before we embarked on the trip back to the ship.
Here are a few fun facts about Senegal:
One of the youngest presidents, 44
Offshore oil and gas, one of the richest in the world, soon due to discovering oil recently
Official French language
95% Muslim & 5% catholic
It is home to several palm trees, including banana, coconut, and palm oil trees. The Maringa palm tree is known to heal diabetes.
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