African Ancestry Family Reunion - Senegal 365
African Ancestry Family Reunion trips are curated cultural immersion journeys in Africa - centered on reclaiming identity, exploring cultural heritage, and celebrating the resilience of African people. This is no ordinary journey. while you may be visiting some of the same places as standard itinerary, your experience will be heightened and different.
Senegal is one of the most developed West African nations you can visit. With a in-country staff on ground ready to serve, we are pleased to offer Senegal 365 every day for our African Ancestry Family Members.
Our African Ancestry Trips to Senegal are available for departure every single day of the year.
- No minimum required number of attendees.
- Choose the dates that work for you and your friends and family for our standard 10 day trip.
- Add additional 4 day extension to Ghana
- If you want to add more days, contact us and we'll customize the package for you.
With this Senegal 365 Travel Portal, we have made it possible to go to Senegal any time you want and always receive the same high level service and incredible, curated experience.
Whether you are traveling by yourself, as a couple or with a large group of family members, we are here to welcome and serve you. Full of rich tradition, culture, delicious cuisine and the real home of Jollof rice. Home of Goree Island, the Renaissance Monument, visa free entry and most recently one of the youngest Presidents to be elected to office in Africa, Senegal is positioned well to be a leader of the African Diaspora's return to Africa in the near future.
If you'd like to schedule a call to speak about customizing your trip or creating a private group trip with your dates, please click here - SCHEDULE A CALL
This trip is exclusively for African Ancestry Family Members and their guests. Still don't know your African ethnic group? Take advantage of the opportunity to find your tribe while visiting Senegal. Add a test kit to your booking and have your ancestry revealed during the trip!
Please follow these steps when booking your trip:
1. Select your departure date. The system will automatically make your trip 10 days from your first start date based on your selection so you do not need to select an end date.
If you're traveling with a partner or a group, ensure everyone selects the same starting date.
2. Please note the first date of your booking is your arrival day. This means you will need to depart the day before if coming from the US.
For example if you choose September 8th as your departure date, you need to actually purchase your ticket to depart the US on September 7th.
3. After you select your departure date, choose your package.
Please note all packages are based on double occupancy lodging and priced per person. If you plan on traveling alone or with a group but lodging by yourself, you will need to add the single occupancy supplement. We do not pair roommates.
3. Research your plane ticket and find dates and ticket prices that work for you. You'll able to come back anytime and upload all your flight information in your account after you register and book your trip.
Please note you will fly into Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) When looking for your ticket, please try to arrive in Senegal by 2 pm and on your return day choose the latest departure time available for your return.
PLEASE DOWNLOAD OUR TRAVEL CHECK LIST HERE
We discuss:
Ensure Your Passport is Valid for Travel
Visa Processing & Requirements
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Malaria Pills, Imodium AD & Cipro
Creating A Plan For Your Prescription Medications
Baggage
Weather
Electric Current
Phone Service
Currency & Spending
Packing List
Travel Insurance
AAFR's are 100% non refundable however if cancelled before 60 days for any reason before departure, the full trip credit (dollar value), can be used for any additional AAFR within a year from the cancelled trip's start date.
If cancelled within 60 days for any reason before departure, there is a 30% penalty and only 70% of the trip credit (dollar value), can be used for any additional AAFR within a year from the cancelled trip's start date.
If cancelled within 30 days for any reason before departure, there is a 75% penalty and only 25% of the trip credit (dollar value), can be used for any additional AAFR within a year from the cancelled trip's start date.
Send all cancellations in writing though the we travel platform
Accommodations in our choice hotels throughout your journey
Round Trip Airport Transfers in Senegal. Pick up and drop off at airport in Senegal
Air-conditioned vehicle on ground in Senegal for entire journey
All trips include an authentic renaming ceremony
All entrance fees to various sites and attractions unless other stated on itinerary
Professional & knowledgable hosts, guides and drivers accompany you every step of the way
Breakfast is included daily and we include one other meal per day except free days where meals are on your own
We do not include plane tickets. Research your plane ticket and find dates and ticket prices that work for you.
Visas are required but we will provide all the necessary documentation.
Alcoholic beverages are not included unless specified for a specific event or day
This varies but air on the side of it's better to have it and not need it; than need it and not have it.
Tip from your heart. We suggest 10% at restaurants and when out. Tipping of our guides, hosts and drivers is allowed and encouraged.
On your arrival to Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS), after processing through immigration, baggage claim and customs, we'll be outside the arrival hall waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Dakar.
You'll meet your in country hosts, change money, get orientated and checked in. Rest and relax for the rest of the day until dinner.
Our welcome dinner is your first experience with Senegalese cuisine.
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, our first stop is to visit the West African Research Center (WARC). This center is highly specialized on researching and sharing between continental Africans and African Americans - their common ground and common heritage.
After a fulling visit at WARC, we'll pass by some of Dakar's other sites ( The President's Palace, The Parliament House, The Cathedral of Dakar, The Great Mosque) on our way to visit the Monument of African Renaissance .
We end the day with a visit to Cheikh Anta Diop University to meet students and Professors for an exchange on the educational system of Senegal.
Lunch is included
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. A sunhat and sunglasses are also helpful.
Tour Activity Level: Moderate
Expect a moderate amount of walking. There will be time to rest between attractions. To enjoy this tour, you should be prepared to walk slightly longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing.
NOTE: The stairs for the Monument of African Renaissance can be tedious and challenging for those with mobility issues.
We start the day at the infamous Sandaga Market in Dakar. We can spend all day in the market literally and still want more so this is just our first taste. After the Market, we'll visit The Museum of Black Civilisations, exploring world history through an African perspective. After the Museum, we'll take the ferry to spend the remainder of the afternoon on Goree Island.
Start your visit at La Maison D'Esclave (the Slave House) and its “Door of No Return”.
Visit Saint Charles Church ( one of the first roman catholic churches on the West African Coast)
Have a moment of meditation at the Auction Block
Visit the Fort with the Memorial to the Martyrs
Visit the historic Museum
Meet representatives of the Mayor of Goree at the city hall
On Goree, we will have our traditional renaming ceremony and African Ancestry Reveal for those participating who have not received their results prior.
After Goree, we'll return to Dakar via the Ferry and go back to the Hotel.
Lunch is included.
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. A sunhat and sunglasses are also helpful. Do not wear black or red on this day.
Tour Activity Level: Moderate
Expect a moderate amount of walking. There will be time to rest on the coach and between attractions. To enjoy this tour, you should be prepared to walk slightly longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing.
Appropriate for most travelers beginning with those who are moderately fit, lead semi-active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities and expect some physical exertion.
Today we visit Yoff, a Lebou village (Lebou is the ethnic group, fishermen by tradition, first inhabitants and founders of Dakar).
In Yoff the Lebou traditions and culture values are kept alive and ritual ceremonies are regularly performed to celebrate the ancestors and pay a tribute to their memory. In Yoff, you will attend a “Ndëp” ceremony. Ndëp is a purifying and curing ritual to keep away the bad spirits, the negative influences and set a purified environment around the person.
After Yoff we will depart for Lake Reba also know as Pink Lake where you will get to see snd experience how the salt miners remove salt from the lake.
After Lunch, get prepared for the 4x4 ATV ride on the sand dunes. Enjoy the drive on the sand dunes and arrive at the Fulani village south of the lake.
Fulanis are traditionally Sheppards and cattle breeders. They used to move throughout the regions, without considering the geographical borders and considered citizens of everywhere. You will be welcomed by the chief and people of the village in a traditional welcoming ceremony.
At Dinner, Traditional Fulani music and dances will accompany the dinner
Dinner is included.
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. A sunhat and sunglasses are also helpful.
Tour Activity Level: Active
To fully take advantage of all this tour has to offer, guests need to be able to walk longer distances, climb several flights of stairs and navigate steps and uneven terrain walking for extended periods of time over more difficult terrain.
Appropriate for travelers who are physically fit, expect a vigorous pace and enjoy participating in two to three hours of physical activity per day.
Pack up our bags and check out. We'll leave our bags in Dakar and take an overnight bag to Saint-Louis.
Today we travel North to Saint-Louis and start the morning with a tour on the Senegal river.
We will admire the beautiful panorama of the “Langue de Barbarie” stretch of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal river, admire the beauty of the panorama and the birds sanctuaries. Enjoy this moment of relaxation and nature. Take it all in!
In the afternoon discover the city of Saint–Louis, former capital of Senegal and all French West African colonies. Discover the streets full of history, the colonial houses with their wooden balconies or forged iron balconies. Visit the fishermen district of Guet Ndar. Visit homes and get up close and personal with the people of St. Louis.
After our day, we check in to our hotel.
Lunch is included.
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. A sunhat and sunglasses are also helpful.
Tour Activity Level: Moderate to Active
Expect a moderate amount of walking. There will be time to rest between attractions. To enjoy this tour, you should be prepared to walk slightly longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing.
Appropriate for most travelers beginning with those who are moderately fit, lead semi-active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities and expect some physical exertion.
On our way back to Dakar, we stop and visit Thies and Méckhé.
The town of Thies was made famous by its art tapestry manufacturing. The exhibition hall holds art tapestries that are displayed after months or years of work and reproduced paintings that have been selected after a nationwide competition between major artists of the country. We'll also visit the market rich of medicinal herbs, spices and local fabrics.
After lunch, we proceed to Méckhé. This village specializes in leather handicrafts and pure cotton clothing and linens. We will meet the women in the cooperative and have an opportunity to purchase their wares.
After our experience in Méckhé, we return to Dakar.
Lunch is included.
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen.
Tour Activity Level: Moderate to Active
Expect a moderate amount of walking. There will be time to rest between attractions. To enjoy this tour, you should be prepared to walk slightly longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing.
Appropriate for most travelers beginning with those who are moderately fit, lead semi-active lives, are comfortable participating in long days of activities and expect some physical exertion.
Today is a light day. You have the option to spend the day at the Beach in Saly or take some time to to spend the day learning the ins and outs at the local markets, mastering your negotiating techniques.
Meals are on your own today.
After breakfast, we check out and make our way to the Fathala Wildlife Reserve to walk with the lions. You heard it right, walk with the lions. That's all we have to say but we promise you'll make it out.
After walking with the lions, we head to the holy city of Kaolack, Medina Baye where we will check into our hotel for the evening.
After breakfast, today we learn how to prepare a traditional Senegalese dish. After learning and helping to prepare the food, we serve the community as part of the community serve project.
In the afternoon, we take the day to rest, reflect and rejuvenate on your final night.
Clothing suggestions
We suggest lightweight, breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. A sunhat and sunglasses are also helpful.
Tour Activity Level: Moderate
Expect a moderate amount of walking. There will be time to rest between attractions. To enjoy this tour, you should be prepared to walk slightly longer distances, climb stairs and tolerate periods of standing.
Farewell!
This is your final day in Senegal.
After a relaxed breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and have an opportunity to do some last-minute shopping before your farewell lunch and transit to the airport.
Let us know if you want to change your ticket and stay longer.
We get it!
Safe Travels and please do leave us a review.
For those that have chosen the additional 4 day extension, you will see a glimpse of the itinerary in the 4 day add on section.
