Senegal small group tour

Planet

This tour focuses largely on the wonderful national parks of Senegal such as the Djoudj National Bird Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which are home to many species found nowhere else on earth. By visiting these parks we contribute to crucial conservation and research projects designed to ensure the long term wellbeing of the wildlife that lives here.
As a responsible tour operator, we recognizes the importance of protecting the environment whilst developing tourism for the benefit of local communities. Over the years we have invested considerable time and resources to developing an environmental strategy for our tours. This policy aims to influence development by raising awareness, mapping best practice in terms of environmental care, encouraging natural resource conservation, conserving all indigenous species and being aware of issues that can impact negatively on the environment.
We also work with local guides in the parks who know the areas well – these are from the communities that surround the parks and this therefore ensures that these vital areas are seen not just as the preserve of wealthy western tourists but as a valuable source of employment and income for the indigenes.

People

On this trip we spend time with a variety of different ethnic groups. Through careful and sensitive research, our local team has established solid relationships with certain communities and our presence here is very much welcomed – we feel that it is best to be seen as guests here rather than outsiders coming in to merely look. We are able to spend time with the communities learning about their traditions and customs.

We are careful not to disrupt the traditional way of life of the groups that we visit, most of whom retain strong customs and have not embraced the modern world. As a way to say thank you for allowing us to visit, we bring traditional gifts, such as sugar, tea and so on – we do not bring modern accoutrements that may change their way of life as we feel that it is important for all tribal groups that any move towards a more ‘modern’ lifestyle is made on their own terms and not imposed upon them.
We also visit Thies in Saint Louis, which is known for beautiful crafts, tapestries and baskets hand woven by local artisans. Here our travelers have the opportunity to purchase baskets, hats and other items and this help to improve the living standards of the indigenes.