Sail the Senegal River aboard the Bou El Mogdad!

~ Cruise itinerary in the direction of : Saint-Louis to Podor ~

DAY 1 : Saint-Louis
The crew will meet you at 1 pm at the Hôtel La Résidence (or similar) for lunch. Around 4:30pm, you will set off on a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city of Saint-Louis. The former capital of the country, this city is also nicknamed "African Venice" because it is surrounded by water. You'll have the chance to see the town hall, the Palais de Justice, the famous Faidherbe Bridge, and the fishermen's quarter. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

➤For departures on October 25, November 8, and November 22, the order of the program for days 1 to 3 has been changed, with the original program resuming on the morning of day 4. For more information, please consult your Globesailor advisor.

DAY 2 : Saint-Louis - Djoudj - Richard Toll - Rosso - Richard Toll
After breakfast (7:30 am), a bus transfer will take you to the Diouling Reserve where you can see many species of birds. At the end of the visit, you will take the bus back to the ship at Richard-Toll. Once settled in your cabin, you will enjoy your first lunch aboard the Bou El Mogdad. The voyage will begin towards Rosso, a border town between Senegal and Mauritania, where pirogues and ferries provide a constant ballet of crossings. Back in Richard-Toll, you will visit the town and its Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise (CSS), a 10,000-hectare sugar cane plantation that is the economic pillar of the region. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 3 : Richard-Toll - Îles
Morning discovery tour by horse-drawn carriage with a visit to the "Folie du Baron Roger", an astonishing 19th-century neo-classical residence, followed by an immersion in the Richard-Toll market. Lunch on board. At around 4pm, there will be a lecture on local religions. From 7.30pm, it's time for the Captain's evening: you'll start with a locally inspired aperitif before enjoying a delicious dinner. Night on board.

DAY 4 : Richard-Toll - Dagana - Goumel - Dagana
Head for Dagana. After breakfast, take part in a Senegalese cooking workshop. You will then travel by dinghy to the Wolof village of Dagana, known as the "Capital of Walo". This former colonial trading post will reveal its dye works, market and prefecture. At midday, you will enjoy the traditional "tiep bou dien" (rice with fish) surrounded by palm and mango trees. In the afternoon, you will visit the Fulani village of Goumel, characterised by its traditional oblong huts, while observing the diverse flora of the riverbanks. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 5 : Dagana - Thiangaye
This morning, the ship sails into the heart of the African Sahel, in the ancient Toucouleur Kingdom. The landscape gradually transforms, revealing a wild and untamed beauty. After lunch, you will stop off at Toucouleur villages, built entirely of earth and among the oldest on the river. In the evening, you will experience a magical moment: a mechoui dinner organised on the banks of the river, lit by traditional hurricane lamps. Night on board.

~ Itinerary starting from Podor ~

DAY 1 : Saint-Louis - Podor
Your adventure begins in Saint-Louis. After a convivial lunch, you will set off at 2 p.m. by bus for Podor, where the Bou El Mogdad is moored. Settle into your cabins and explore the ship, your floating home for the next few days. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 2 : Podor - Ngaole
After breakfast, you will set off to explore Podor, a former trading post from the French colonial era. You will visit its fort, its lively market and the famous trading houses that line the quays. An aperitif will be served at "La Cour du Fleuve", where you can enjoy its timeless atmosphere. After lunch on board, the ship will set sail for Ngaole. In the late afternoon (around 5 p.m.), a visit to the village by dinghy will allow you to share a special moment with the locals over a cup of ataya (traditional tea). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 3 : Ngaole - Salde
The ship continues on its way to Saldé. During the morning, you can enjoy the cruise and observe life on the banks of the Senegal River. After lunch, you will set off in a dinghy to explore the river's tributaries and visit Toucouleur villages. Built of earth and perched on the steep banks, these villages date back to the 13th century and bear witness to a thousand years of history. You will also discover Saldé, a Moorish village located on the opposite bank. In the evening, you will enjoy a magical experience: a mechoui dinner organised on the banks, lit by the glow of hurricane lamps. Night on board.

DAY 4 : Salde - Dagana
As the ship sails towards Goumel, you will take part in a cooking workshop led by Chef Djiby. You will then travel by dinghy to Dagana, the "Capital of Walo". This wealthy colonial trading post will reveal the remains of its fort and its old trading posts. You will visit its colourful market and dyeing school. For lunch, you will enjoy the traditional Tiep bou dijen (rice with fish) in the shade of mango and palm trees. Before sunset, visit the Peulh village of Goumel and discover its traditional oblong huts. Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 5 : Dagana - Richard Toll - Rosso - Richard Toll
Sail to Rosso, a border town between Senegal and Mauritania. You will see the ballet of pirogues and the new bridge under construction. At around 11 a.m., a lecture on board will enrich your knowledge of the region. After lunch, the ship will sail to Richard-Toll. You will visit the impressive sugar cane factory (CSS) and the "Folie du Baron Roger", a 19th-century castle in the neoclassical style. The day will end with the Captain's evening, featuring an aperitif and dinner featuring local flavours. Night on board.

DAY 6 : Richard Toll - Djoudj - Saint-Louis
Early morning departure (7:30 am) by bus to Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world (listed by UNESCO). After this immersion in nature, you will head to Saint-Louis for lunch at La Résidence hotel (or similar). The afternoon will be spent on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of the island. You will admire architectural gems such as the Town Hall, the Palace of Justice, the 1827 Hospital and the famous Faidherbe Bridge. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 7 : Saint-Louis
After a final breakfast in the heart of Saint Louis, you will check out.





IMPORTANT !
Going up the Senegal River requires passing through two structures: the lock on the Diama dam, and the temporary bridge at Rosso (of which a movable section was designed for the Bou el Mogdad). If technical problems were to arise and block these structures, we would be obliged to modify the cruise programme as follows:
- At the Diama lock, the boat would stay upstream and the visit to Saint-Louis would be by vehicle. The boat would go to Donaye, a village located after Podor.
- At the temporary bridge at Rosso, the boat would stay upstream of Rosso, and Djoudj and Saint-Louis would be visited by vehicle. The boat would travel further than Podor to compensate for the loss of sailing time (this bridge should be dismantled by the end of 2026).