CULTURAL TRAVEL

SENEGAL & THE GAMBIA

December 21, 2019 – January 2, 2020


Experience West Africa (Senegal & The Gambia) by touring the Motherland with Da'African Village, a 501(c)(3) organization, Africa Love and Thiossane West African Dance Institute! In this 12-day spectacular tour of Africa, we will visit places such as Dakar, the capital and largest city in Senegal, Gorée Island, the once departure point for millions of African slaves bound for the Americas, the unusual Pink Lake, that has a salt content comparable to the Dead Sea, the Roots village of Kunta Kinte and so much more! 


This affordable, all-inclusive trip will be educational, eye-opening, awe-inspiring and offer complete immersion in West African culture. There will also be plenty of moments for personal exploration, leisure and R&R.


TRIP SUMMARY

BASE COST PER PERSON: $4,399.00
*DEPOSIT COST: $500 (this is a non-refundable/non-transferable deposit)
ADDITIONAL COST FOR A SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOM: $492.00/person
FINAL PAYMENT DUE: October 22, 2019
DEPARTURE DATE: December 21, 2019 
RETURN DATE: January 2, 2020

*Deposit is due now or before September 22, final payment is due Oct. 22
Seats are limited as the price is based on a maximum of 20 people. 
Standard hotel rooms are double occupancy (for 2 adults). 


PRICING INCLUDES

  • Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles, CA or Columbus, OH
  • All airport transfers & complimentary airport assistance
  • 11 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels
  • Meals as listed B, L, D (breakfast, lunch, dinner) 
  • All excursions and entrance fees to game parks/reserves
  • Extensive pre-tour information
  • Comprehensive documents and itinerary
  • Transportation in an A/C motor coach
  • Assistance of an English-speaking tour guide

TRAVEL ITINERARY

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
  • Day 8
  • Day 9
  • Day 10
  • Day 11
  • Day 12
  • Day 13

DAY 1

Saturday, December 21


TRAVEL TO DAKAR, SENEGAL

Travel from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Columbus,OH, or from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, CA toBlaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar.

DAY 2

Sunday, December 22


DAKAR CITY TOUR

7:15 AM arrival from U.S. Da’African Village representative meets andtransfers group to Novotel Dakar. Check-in, orientation and meet withtailors, designers and hair dressers. Enjoy lunch offered by Da’African Village,then start the city sightseeing tour. Watch basket weaving, glass tilepainting, or wood carving at Marché Kermel, a local market, housed inbeautiful open-air Victorian style buildings. Then proceed to IndependenceSquare (Place de l’Indépendance), the Presidential Palace, Our Lady ofVictories Cathedral, the African Renaissance Monument (Monumentde la Renaissance Africaine), a 49-meter tall bronze statue, and thehandcraft village of Marché Soumbédioune. Welcoming dinner.


Meals: [L/D

DAY 3

Monday, December 23


PILGRIMAGE TOUR TO GORÉE ISLAND

9:00 AM breakfast then travel by ferry to Gorée Island, the once departurepoint for millions of slaves. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at Le Saint-GermainRestaurant, then tour the ancient slave house to see where slaves were jaileduntil their departure to the Americas. Visit the IFAN Museum, an open-airmarket, a cathedral, and much more. Back to Darkar at 5.00 PM.


Meals: [B/L

DAY 4

Tuesday, December 24


PINK LAKE & DINNER WITH KOUNTA FAMILY AT KEUR MASSAR 

After breakfast, depart to the mysterious Pink Lake through the historictowns of Pikine, Thiaroye and the Garden ballet of Niayes. Discover, onjeep, the incredible rose colored body of water surrounded by sands dunesthen meet with the Kounta Family at Keur Massar for dinner. Back to Dakar.


Meals: B/L/D 

DAY 5

Wednesday, December 25


FREE DAY 

AM breakfast. Enjoy a free day and three (3) dance classes all day.


Meals:

DAY 6

Thursday, December 26 


TOUBAKOUTA (SALOUM ISLAND) TOUR

After breakfast, visit Sine-Saloum, a marsh area covered with mangroves andtraversed by the inextricable network of canals and lakes formed by thedelta of two small coastal rivers Sine and Saloum. In the evening, board amotorized boat (pirogue) to discover a reposer of birds. Overnight at KeurSaloum Hotel.


Meals: B/D

DAY 7

Friday, December 27


TOUBACOUTA / BANJUL/ JUFFUREH, THE GAMBIA 

After breakfast, embark on an air conditioned bus to Banjul, the capitalcity of The Gambia. Visit the ancestor village of Alex Haley in Albreda,then travel via pirogue to Kounta Kinteh Island (formerly known as JamesIsland). Return to Albreda for ferry journey back to Banjul. Check into LaicoAtlantic Beach Hotel (or similar) late afternoon. Enjoy delicious buffet dinner.


Meals: B/D

DAY 8

Saturday, December 28 


BANJUL 

After breakfast, begin a full-day tour of the city of Banjul including visits toMama Tie Dye Factory, Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool, and otherpoints of interest. Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.


Meals: B/D

DAY 9

Sunday, December 29


BANJUL/SALY RESORTS

Board the ferry to Barra Town and return to Senegal through a MandingoVillage. Travel to Saly Resorts. Check-in at Neptune Hotel. Evening danceclass, dinner and overnight.


Meals: B/D

DAY 10

Monday, December 30


SALY RESORTS/DANCE CLASS

After breakfast enjoy a dance class or a day of personal exploration. Relaxaround the pool, then dinner and overnight.


Meals: B/D

DAY 11

Tuesday, December 31 


SALY RESORTS/DANCE CLASS & NAMING CEREMONY

Optional: Tour the Bandia Game Reserve and the towns of Joal-Fadiouth.Enjoy breakfast then a dance class. New Year’s Eve Naming Ceremony withentertainment.


Meals: B

DAY 12

Wednesday, January 01


SALY RESORTS/DANCE CLASS

Happy New Year! Enjoy a dance class.Optional: Tour the Bandia Game Reserve and the towns of Joal-Fadiouth.10:30 PM transfer to Blaise Diagne International Airport for your returnflight to either Columbus, OH or Los Angeles, CA.


Meals: B

DAY 13

Thursday, January 02 


DEPARTURE

1:15 AM board your flight back home.

Itinerary is subject to change.