La Somone holidays

Holidays to La Somone line up some of Senegal’s best bits – sandy shores, photo-worthy landscapes and exotic animals.

Shores made for sunbathing

La Somone sits along Senegal’s west coast, around an hour-and-a-half’s drive from the capital, Dakar. Its soft-sand beach stretches out for around 3km, from the lagoon down to the neighbouring town of Ngaparou. If you stroll along the shore, you’ll find the seafront’s dotted with eateries that have locally caught fish and oysters featuring heavily on their menus, too.

A birdwatcher’s paradise

Many different species of bird have made their home around La Somone’s lagoon and nature reserve – pelicans, herons and great egrets to name a few. You can hop on a boat trip across the water to get up close and personal with the wildlife, who make their nests in the shelter of the mangroves.

Must-see mammals

Around 20 minutes’ drive from La Somone you’ll find Bandia Animal Reserve, a popular stomping ground for African wildlife like giraffes, rhinos, crocodiles and monkeys. Here, you can jump on an off-road safari before stopping for lunch in the reserve’s restaurant, which overlooks a watering hole where buffalos wallow – don’t forget your camera to snap a few keepsake shots along the way.