NEW! Iberia & Africa's Atlantic Coast

Explore the colonial history of Dakar, Senegal’s capital and largest city. Board your motor coach and embark on a journey past some of the city’s most important sights and monuments. See the City Hall, a masterpiece of French colonial neoclassical architecture, and continue past the Presidential Palace, the residence of the Senegalese head of state and one of the country’s great architectural icons. Follow the Corniche, Dakar’s ocean road, cut into the cliff around Cape Manuel. Gaze upon the Monument of the African Renaissance, which was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate Senegal’s 50 years of independence from France. The bronze statue towers against the skyline at 164 feet high—taller than the Statue of Liberty. After, browse the items on display at a local craft village before returning to your ship.

Discover the relaxed atmosphere and distinctive terrain of Joal-Fadiouth. Take a panoramic drive through the streets of Dakar, past giant baobab trees—some deemed to be the biggest in Senegal—en route to the countryside. Upon arrival at the artisanal fishing port of Joal, cross the sturdy wooden bridge linking it with the small island of Fadiouth. Incredibly, this part of the city is composed entirely of clamshells. Stroll through the village, passing its ancient church. Observe the locals going about their daily lives before visiting the cemetery. The walls and gravestones are almost completely covered in shells in this harmonious resting place, where both Muslims and Christians are buried together. View the remnants of the granaries hoisted on stilts in the water, which are still in use today, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant.

Immerse yourself in the customs and traditions of the Senegalese with a visit to a local village. Travel by motor coach into the grasslands of the Senegalese countryside en route to the Bonaba Village. Upon arriving at the village, you will be warmly welcomed by your hosts with traditional dancing and songs. Interact with the residents and hear stories about daily life in their village. Enjoy a performance of traditional drumming on tam-tams and sabars, and applaud the strength and artistry of the village’s men as they take to the ring to demonstrate and compete in a Senegalese wrestling match. Sit back and relax as you watch the mystical Simb, or “false lion ceremony,” in which men dress up and imitate lions while dancing to the traditional rhythms of the drums. After a closing goodbye ceremony, board your coach and return to your ship.

Explore the history of Gorée Island and Dakar on this all-encompassing excursion. Board a ferry to the island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Maison des Esclaves, a former market for the purchasing of African slaves. Explore the house, which today is a museum featuring exhibits that chronicle this dark period of history. Continue to the Historical Museum to browse exhibits that cover the history of the island. After lunch, return to Dakar to view the city hall, featuring French colonial neoclassical architecture, and the train station with its elegant facade, built in 1885. Continue past the Presidential Palace before pausing to view the Monument of the African Renaissance, a 164-foot-tall bronze statue. Cap your day at a sand-painting gallery and Marché Kermel, a local craft market whose wares you may browse for the perfect memento.

Explore scenic Gorée Island and learn about its dark history in the slave trade. Board a ferry to the island, which was founded by the Portuguese in the mid-15th century. No cars or bicycles are allowed on the island, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Stroll along its narrow tree-lined streets past colonial-era houses with bougainvillea draped over their wrought-iron balconies. Visit the Maison des Esclaves (“Slave House”), a former market for the purchasing of African slaves before they were led through the infamous “Door of No Return” and shipped overseas. Approximately 12 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic between the 16th and mid-19th centuries, with an estimated several thousand passing through Gorée Island. Today, the house is a museum and memorial to the slave trade, with somber exhibits chronicling this dark period of human history. Stop for a refreshment before boarding your ferry and returning your ship.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Dakar to explore the dunes and villages around the unique Lake Retba. Drive by motor coach to this famed lake, set in the Niayes region of Senegal and nestled between white sand dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. It was once famous for its vivid pink color, caused by algae that produce a red pigment to aid in absorbing light. Due to its high salt content, a busy industry has built up around it, making it an important source of income for many locals. Take in the sight of the bright pink waters before boarding a 4x4 vehicle and setting out to explore the sand dunes, the former finishing line of the Dakar Rally. Visit the nearby Fulani village to observe the business of daily life, then head to a nearby venue to enjoy a lunch of local flavors. Cap your day by viewing locals in action as they harvest salt from the lake, then return to your ship.

Discover the diverse flora and fauna of the African savanna during a safari through the Bandia Reserve. Embark on a scenic drive into the heart of western Africa’s Sahelian zone, a semi-arid region that extends from Senegal to Sudan. Established in 1990, the reserve has succeeded in reintroducing many native animals to the area’s savanna through its breeding program. Meet your guide and board your 4x4 jeep for your safari into this 8,600-acre sanctuary. Drive past giant baobab and acacia trees—home to many of the more than 120 species of birds that flock here—and keep watch for herds of grazing antelope and gazelle. This region is also a haven for rhinos, zebras, jackals, buffalo and the giant African spurred tortoise. Enjoy a refreshing beverage next to a local watering hole, where buffalo come to drink and crocodiles lounge, followed by lunch before returning to your ship.