Playing the drums 

It's not, a focus in the tourist guides, yet, but huge chance you feel the vibes and your intuition leads you to experience the west African drums and rhythms. Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bisau, Gambia, Mali,,,,,, many enjoy to listen or dance, but you can also (learn to) play the djembe or dunun drums yourself. Whether you are absolute beginner or experienced drummer you can advance your level to the next. Often (group) courses are organised in advance from Europa, but you can also find a teacher nearby. Inform at the Djembe cafe in Saly. You also can listen to the daily end-afternoon open drum session at the Djembe cafe and absorb the rhythms, or even join. Or take your own music instrument and make new creations together. 

Dance

Like drum stages, also dance stages are often organised from Europe in advance, but you should be able to find a local dance teacher too, to organize for you and your friends some nice dance classes on the beach.

Music and dance performances

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The beach

The house is less then 350 meters from the beach. Arriving at the beach, if you look to the right you will see that several wave breakers  have been constructed (by the Dutch company Van Oord) to protect the beach from erosion. It also gives enthusiasts a relatively calm environment for swimming laps. If you walk a little to the left, you have mostly the more powerful waves. During the day, especially when it is hot, you won' t find a lot of people on the beach, except for some western tourists or pensioners. The beach becomes busy after 16.00 o' clock, when young football players, other sporters, romantic couples, motorbikers, horse owners and children come to visit. The sunsets are great. You can also enjoy them from one of the little restaurants alongside the beach.

Walking to Saly center

A walk towards the center of Saly (when entering the beach from the house go to the right) is cool. Depending on your pace, it's a 20-25 min. walk alongside the sea and the fastest route if you are going to walk to Saly center. Along the way, traditional fishing boats, places to eat and sunbath, and souvenir opportunities are interspersed with some luxury hotels, restaurants and yachts or water-scooters.  A good end point for the beach walk is Chez Sasha, or either Restaurant des Artistes. These are nice restaurants where you can have a good time, lunch or dinner. If you leave the beach between the two restaurants you will enter the lively part of Saly directly.

At sea

The Senegalese fishing boats are beautiful and a fishing trip is a real adventure. Go for a (start early morning) trip with your friends or family and enjoy. Protect yourself good against the sun when it is sunny. The caught fish will be prepared for you by the fishermen and women when you come back. The trip ends after the tasteful fish-meal is eaten on the beach.  Plus/mines six hour trip. You can get information at restaurant Mustapha, a very sympathetic and good restaurant with attention for the customers.

For the ones who prefer a short sea trip, have a full wallet and want the speed of the jet-skis, these are for rent nearby, at Hotel Royam and some other hotels. Also windsurf or paddle boats yo should be able to find.

Nature and animals near Saly

After +/- 45 min drive by car (N1) you find Reserve the Banda, a parc where you will be able to see most of the best-known African animals (rhinoceros, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, eland, monkeys, gazelle, jackals, crocodile, birds etc.), with the exceptions of the big carnivores and elephants. It's a nice trip (not cheap) especially with children. You also can just enjoy the restaurant and watch the crocodiles while keeping some fast and cheeky monkeys (vervets) away from your food.
Also to the north, alongside the beach in a +/- 45 drive, the Lagune the Somone, is worth a trip. Here the sea penetrates the land. The less salty water makes an unique environment to discover by boat trip or (guided) walk. You can find birds like flamingos, pelicans, herons and sea gulls and magic mangrove-trees. During the trip you can relax some at one of the cosy restaurants. After, the best thing to do is eat some shell-fish, oysters or others, prepared by the women who harvest them from the Lagune.  You find them here .(..?) Enjoy the sunset and views. 

 

Wolof

jeu de boule

Mbour market, Quay de Pêche

Of course you can go by car, collective car(s) or taxi, and even bus ( nr?) but also interesting is walking (or just one way) along the beach. On the beach (to the left), in about 1 hour and 15 min walk, you'll find Mbour's big market. It is called Fish Market, but in reality the fish market is just one part of a huge market where you can find many things and easely can get lost. The walk passes opportunities for a snack or drink, but as you approach the market, you pass first, the huge fishing fleet, and the trade and life around it. You see that environment (waste) and living conditions could and must be approved. Once at the extended fish market on the beach, you discover all the sea fish you can imagine. Leaving the beach you find the rest of the market with vegetables, fruits, spices, clothes, fabrics, grooming products, kitchen stuff, tourist goods and much much more. Because of the busy, chaotic environment, many people, eager to sell something (at too high prices) and to help you, (and themselves), it is wise to visit the market with a local or guide you know and trust.

Used to luxery?

Yes you can go to the golf the Saly, even one of the few public transport buses (bus one ? ) brings you there from a bus terminal near the house. Or you hire a quad in Saly during your stay, That way you have transport for everything nearby all the time. Many people experience a quad as a cool vehicle. In Saly it is easy to find one of the companies where you can hire one. 

Fiets

Tennis

Helicopter