Senegal Tour: Cruise on Le Bou El Mogdad

Type: JourneysExperience: NatureExperience: CultureExperience: CruiseTarget audience: FamiliesTarget audience: CouplesContinent: AfricaCountry: SenegalTransportation: With private driver

June 2

Written by Jan Bikkembergs

⁍ Journeys ◦ Africa ◦ Senegal ◦ Nature ◦ Culture ◦ Cruise ◦ Family ◦ Couples ◦ Private Driver

Highlights

Senegal aboard the iconic Le Bou El Mogdad.

✓ Discover Senegal in a unique and charming way, cruising down the Senegal River aboard the legendary ship Le Bou El Mogdad.

✓ A blend of Saint-Louis’s refined heritage with bird-rich deltas, traditional villages, and tranquil landscapes along the riverbanks.

✓ Along the way, you’ll experience Senegal not only from the water, but also through calèche tours, pirogue trips, market visits, and encounters with local communities

✓ This trip combines culture, nature, and history into an itinerary that feels both authentic and surprising.

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Customized Tour of Senegal

A ship, a river, and a route that show Senegal in a whole new light.

Aboard Le Bou El Mogdad, you’ll discover the northern part of the country in a way few travelers ever do: via the Senegal River, which has connected cities, villages, and stories for centuries. This isn’t a typical tour hopping from hotel to hotel, but a journey where every stop reveals a new setting.

You’ll start in Saint-Louis, a city with its own unique rhythm and striking charm. Ochre-yellow facades, ornate balconies, lively markets, and colorful street scenes give this former colonial capital a character you won’t find anywhere else. From there, the river takes you further inland, past wetlands teeming with birds, palm groves, mud-brick villages, and old trading posts where life still revolves around the water.

Along the way, you’ll visit the impressive Djoudj Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest bird reserves in the world. You’ll sail past Rosso, where Senegal and Mauritania meet in a vibrant border spectacle, explore Podor with its ancient fort, and dine on the riverbanks under a star-filled sky.

This tour is ideal for travelers who enjoy destinations with character, cultural depth, and unique itineraries that go beyond the typical tourist experience.

Itinerary

After arriving at Diass Airport, you’ll head to Saint-Louis, one of Senegal’s most charming cities. Along the way, the hustle and bustle of Dakar gives way to a completely different setting. In Saint-Louis, you’ll stroll past colonial facades, lively squares, and warm colors that give the city its unique charm. A first evening that immediately sets the tone for what’s to come.

The next day, you’ll board Le Bou El Mogdad, a ship that’s almost as legendary as the river itself. In the afternoon, you’ll explore Saint-Louis by horse-drawn carriage, the best way to truly get to know the city. You’ll ride past colorful houses, stately buildings, and the famous Faidherbe Bridge, as the city slowly reveals its stories. In the evening, you’ll dine on board and the adventure on the water begins.
Today, the landscape changes completely. You’ll head toward the Diama Dam and on to the Parc des Oiseaux du Djoudj, one of the world’s most important bird sanctuaries. You’ll venture into the park by pirogue, where pelicans take flight, flamingos color the banks, and movement fills the space between the water and the reeds. Here, nature feels both vast and intimate at the same time.
Today, the Senegal River forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. Along the way, you’ll pass through Rosso, where boats, animals, vehicles, and people come together in a lively spectacle full of color and energy. By evening, you’ll reach Richard Toll, a place with a surprising story involving sugarcane and agriculture. Here, you’ll discover a side of Senegal that few travelers expect.
Today you’ll visit the striking Folie du Baron Roger, where French influences and local architecture come together. Afterward, you’ll sail on to a palm grove along the river, where a traditional lunch awaits under mango trees and palm trees. In Dagana, you’ll discover an old trading post, a lively market, and remnants of a past that is still visibly present here. As the sun sets, the river takes on an almost cinematic setting.
You’ll disembark for a walk through the Goumel area and visit a traditional Peulh village. Then you’ll continue on to the Toucouleur region, where villages made of earth and clay seem to float above the riverbanks. Children play by the water, colorful laundry hangs out to dry, and herds seek relief from the heat by the river. Here you get a glimpse of daily life along the Senegal River, unfiltered and unadorned.
Podor slowly comes into view on the horizon, as if the city were revealing itself at the very last moment. This former trading post is steeped in history, with old warehouses, stone quays, and houses featuring deep courtyards. You’ll visit the Faidherbe Fort and later wander through quiet streets where the evening sun bathes everything in gold. Podor has a quiet yet impressive quality, as if the past has never completely faded away here.
After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to the ship and head back toward Saint-Louis and Dakar for your return flight. Along the way, you’ll take one last look at the landscape that makes this route so special: the river, the villages, and the open plains of northern Senegal. A journey that has shown you Senegal in a surprisingly different way.

Practical Information

Duration 8 days, 7 nights

Estimated price: €2,150 per person

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ⓘ 
This price is subject to change. The estimated price includes transfers and accommodations but excludes flights.
With Pegase Tailored, we bring your travel dreams to life, fully tailored to your wishes. No standard package—just a unique journey so you can discover the world on your own terms.

Best time to visit

Our highlight of the trip

“For me, the magic of this trip lies in Podor. When the city slowly comes into view after days on the river, you immediately sense that this is a special and historic place. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in Senegal.”

Maïté Quijo, Luxury Travel Advisor

Featured stay

Hotel La Résidence, Saint-Louis

Your journey begins in style at La Résidence, a charming spot right in the heart of Saint-Louis. Here, you’ll immediately feel the city’s atmosphere: full of character, warm, and steeped in history. It’s the perfect place to take in those first impressions of Senegal.

Le Bou El Mogdad

Le Bou El Mogdad is much more than just a ship: it is an icon of the Senegal River and an integral part of the experience. On board, you travel at a leisurely pace, with the landscape slowly gliding by and constantly revealing new scenes. Its charm lies in the combination of character, nostalgia, and the privilege of experiencing Senegal from the water.

In the suites, you’ll enjoy plenty of space without losing any of the ship’s authentic atmosphere. It’s a great choice for travelers who want to experience this unique itinerary with just a touch of extra comfort.

Featured experiences

By pirogue through the Djoudj Bird Park

Suddenly, hundreds of pelicans take flight all at once. Flamingos turn the shores pink, and nature is alive all around you. The pirogue trip through Djoudj National Park isn’t just an ordinary excursion—it’s an experience that fully immerses you in the magic of this place.

Saint-Louis by horse-drawn carriage

The best way to discover Saint-Louis is to experience it just as the city itself feels: stylish and full of character. During a horse-drawn carriage ride, you’ll pass arcades, squares, colorful facades, and historic buildings that tell the city’s story. It doesn’t get any more charming than this.

Local Color in Senegal

This cruise offers an authentic introduction to and a deep connection with daily life along the Senegal River. You’ll visit traditional Wolof, Peulh, and Toucouleur villages, explore lively markets and colonial trading posts, and experience the colorful scenes of fishermen, pirogues, herds of cattle, and local residents along the way.