Senegal & The Gambia Adventure

We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in West Africa may differ from standards at home.

Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience. However, some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally, travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You’ll find dates and further information in the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

What you need to bring will vary according to the countries you are visiting, the time of year you are travelling, and your personal preferences. We recommend that you pack as lightly as possible (max 15-20 kg) and make sure that you are able to carry your luggage and walk with it for short distances.

Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, duffle bag or medium to small suitcases with wheels. We recommend bags with carry straps to make handling easier. You'll also need a day pack/bag for hikes and day trips.

The weather in Senegal and The Gambia is quite hot and humid all year round. We recommend lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and moisture-wicking/quick-dry synthetics designed for hot weather. Avoid materials that are heavy, non-breathable, and retain heat or moisture, such as nylon, polyester, and denim. You will have opportunities to do laundry during your trip.

Ex-military or military-style clothing and equipment are prohibited in West Africa.

ESSENTIALS:
- A smaller backpack to take with you on excursions
- Lightweight, long shirts and pants for protection against the sun and insects
- Long dress or skirt for visiting Touba
- Headscarf – opportunities provided to purchase locally
- Comfortable clothing for hot weather: shorts, t-shirts, activewear
- Closed-toed comfortable walking shoes to protect your feet in wilderness areas
- Sandals suitable for beach/water activities
- Light waterproof/windproof jacket for rain and wind
- Fleece or jumper/sweater for cooler mornings/evenings
- Sunscreen – biodegradable and waterproof if available
- Lip balm with SPF
- Sun protection – sunglasses and sunhat
- Swimsuit and cover-up
- Biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, soap, moisturizer, etc
- Torch, flashlight or headlight for potential power outages
- Toiletries- toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, nail clippers, etc
- Reusable water bottle
- Insect repellent

RECOMMENDED:
- Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit, but we recommend you carry items such as mild painkillers, electrolytes, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial gel, wet wipes, after-sun, bandaids/plasters, etc.
- Sarong – versatile for the beach or as modest cover in religious and traditional areas.
- Spare batteries or power bank
- Binoculars
- Dry bag
- Camera

OPTIONAL:
- Pegs to hang your swimsuit and wet clothes
- Book, journal, music, podcasts, etc.
- Ear plugs

PERSONAL MEDICATION
Please ensure you travel with all required medications that you may need while in West Africa. If you are prone to motion sickness, you might want to pack some preventative medication. You are travelling to quite a remote destination, and even though there are pharmacies, they may not stock your required medication.

CONSERVATIVE DRESS FOR WOMEN:
Touba is a sacred city for Senegalese Muslims. Out of respect for local customs, women are required to wear long dresses and headscarves while visiting the city. There will be opportunities to purchase a headscarf in the country before your visit to Touba.

In many parts of West Africa, women travellers should dress modestly as there is a wide range of cultural differences. Wear skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee and tops that cover shoulders at a minimum. If visiting coastal areas, wear a cover-up when you step off the beaches.

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

BATTERIES/POWER:
This trip has access to power throughout to recharge phones, cameras, laptops, etc. However, due to occasional power outages, we recommend that you carry extra batteries or a power bank just in case. We recommend that you bring a universal adapter that covers Types C, E, D, and G for this trip. Additionally, make sure your devices are compatible with the 220-240V range, or use a voltage converter if necessary., WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.

Hotel Virage, Route de ngor, Dakar, Dakar 10000, Dakar, 10000, SENEGAL

Located just 1 km from Plage du Virage, Hotel Le Virage Dakar features an indoor swimming pool. Each room comes with a private balcony, mini-bar, WiFi, and satellite TV, offering sea views for a relaxing stay. Blaise Diagne International Airport is a 53-minute drive from the property.

Alternate Joining Point

Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 10 days prior to your departure.

If you have confirmed an arrival transfer, you’ll be met as you exit customs hall and head to the airport exit gate, you will see a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. If you cannot find your transfer representative, or if your flight is delayed, please call our local operations team on + 27 82 612 4259. Neither the driver nor any representative should ask you for additional payment.

If you are making your own way to the joining point hotel, taxis are available outside the airport entrance. Exit the Customs Hall and walk through the airport exit gates. Taxi drivers don’t have uniform. Taxis charge around USD 50.00 from the airport to Dakar.

Alternatively, you can use any transfer / car service that has an office in the airport hall.

Royam Hotel, Saly Portudal BP 843 Mbour, Saly, Saly, SENEGAL

Located in Saly Portudal, Hotel Royam features a tropical garden, outdoor pool, and private beach. Its shaded terrace has sun beds and a cocktail bar. Free WiFi is available in public areas. The air-conditioned bungalows, decorated in traditional African style, include private terraces with either garden, pool, or sea views. The restaurant serves local cuisine with sea and garden views, and there's also a snack bar.

Alternate Finish Point

A departure transfer from our hotel to the airport is available if arranged at the time of booking. Please advise your flight departure details at least 10 days prior to your trip start date. If you plan to stay longer, this departure transfer can only be offered in conjunction with post-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid. If you have booked a post trip airport transfer, please ask your leader to confirm with our local operator the time of departure and meeting place. If you have any problems, please call our hotline at

If you are making your own way to the airport, a taxi from the hotel to the airport will cost approx. US$ 50 to 70 (taxi outside being cheaper than the hotel private service) and take approx 1 hour (depending on traffic).

Check-out time from the hotel is 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.

Breakfasts included: 11

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 

Your group leader or local representative will endeavour to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances. There are, however some meals and activities that are fixed in advance and therefore cannot be modified to suit dietary requirements.

Please notify your booking consultant of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader or local representative will endeavour to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.

NUT ALLERGIES:
Please be aware that nuts are commonly used in many dishes across West Africa. If you have a nut allergy, exercise caution, as food regulations may be more relaxed than you might be used to, cross-contamination can occur, and not all ingredients may be disclosed. It is essential to communicate your allergy clearly to your booking agent, tour leader, food vendors and restaurants to minimize risk.

Travelling with a food allergy? We have some advice for you here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/travelling-food-allergies-south-east-asia/

RESTAURANT WAIT TIMES
In West Africa, you can expect warm and friendly service, but it's important to note that standards can vary, and wait times may be longer than what you're accustomed to.

Senegal and The Gambia have a tropical climate, characterized by two main seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Temperatures typically range from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), with higher humidity along the coast. The wet season lasts from June to October, bringing heavy rainfall and hot, humid conditions, while the dry season runs from November to May, offering cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Travelers visiting during the wet season should be prepared for sporadic, heavy downpours and more humid conditions.

RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress 1 March to 30 March 2025 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Phumi Nhlumayo: +27 82 612 4259

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

ACCOMMODATION:
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, staying in local guesthouses and homestays. Some areas of West Africa experience daily load shedding. This is where the power may be turned off at certain times of the day. Hot water and air conditioning can be unreliable and Wi-Fi access is not widely available.

ROOM ISSUES:
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your tour leader right away rather than your travel agent so that the problem can be addressed without delay.

If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night.

TRANSPORT IN WEST AFRICA:
Main roads in West Africa are usually very busy with an assortment of vehicles from the biggest trucks (who always have right of way) down to bikes (and animals!). Overtaking on blind corners at speed is common as is the total use of the horn as a form of communication. Our leaders have complete authority to remove groups from local transport if the driver is not driving safely. Our driver guides are experienced and well trained. If you are ever uncomfortable, please always let your tour leader know immediately. Please ensure you wear your seat belt at all times.

TRAVEL TIMES:
Distances in West Africa do not reflect the driving time and to cover 100km may take much longer than you would expect at home, even if much of the route is on a highway.