Senegal
is full of vibrant colour
is perched on the Atlantic
Welcome to Senegal
Though it’s one of West Africa's most stable countries, Senegal is far from dull. Perched on the tip of a peninsula, Dakar, the capital, is a dizzying, street-hustler-rich introduction to the country: elegance meets chaos, snarling traffic, vibrant markets and glittering nightlife, while nearby Île de Gorée and the beaches of Yoff and N'Gor tap to slow, lazy beats.
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EXCURSION D'UNE JOURNÉE A ESSAOUIRA
Essaouira, se situe face à l’océan atlantique et compte 77 966 habitants en 2014. Dès l’Antiquité, Essaouira est habitée par les indigènes berbères, les Phéniciens puis les Romains, ce n’est qu’à partir du XVème siècle que le site est véritablement occupé par les Portugais, qui édifient en 1506 une forteresse et des remparts rapidement abandonnés devant la résistance acharnée de la population locale.Son ancienne médina s’étend sur une trentaine d’hectares, construite sur une presqu’île rocheuse dans l’océan en une suite d’îlots éparpillés sur le littoral. C’est le sultan Mohammed ben Abdellah qui ordonne sa construction à partir de 1760. Plusieurs architectes de renom y participent, tel Théodore Cornut, qui trace le plan de la ville. Essaouira et ses alentours disposent d’une faune et d’une flore exceptionnelles.Classée réserve biologique depuis 1980, l’îlot de Mogador est un site naturel et ornithologique très prisé. Il compte plusieurs espèces d’oiseaux telles que mouettes, goélands, grands cormorans, martinets pâles et grands corbeaux, mais il est surtout un lieu d’accueil pour les très rares 700 couples de faucons d’Éléonore qui viennent s’y reproduire entre avril et octobre avant de repartir pour la lointaine Madagascar. Essaouira accueille chaque année le festival de la musique gnaoua, originaire de l’empire du Soudan Occidental (Mali, Guinée, Sénégal, Ghana, Niger). Des esclaves furent ramenés de ces pays et enrôlés dans l’armée du sultan Ahmed El Mansour. Après sa mort, ces troupes furent dispersées et une partie se retrouva à Essaouira. Elles participèrent aux travaux des murailles de la ville. Son artisanat spécifique est également prisé, tel le travail du bois de thuya et ses bijoux en argent. Le marché aux poissons et des épices l’est tout autant. La région d’Essaouira a comme particularité de posséder énormément de champs d’arganiers et reste la seule région dans le monde à produire ce type d’huile. L’huile d’argan est toujours appréciée dans le monde entier pour ses qualités de soins de la peau et son goût particulier dans la cuisine. L’excursion est l’occasion idéale pour explorer pleinement le patrimoine mondial de cette ville classée par l’UNESCO depuis 2001, profiter de sa plage dorée, de ses ruelles mystérieuses et de ses belles créations artisanales.
PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM MARRAKECH TO ESSAOUIRA
Essaouira, is situated in the face of the Atlantic Ocean and the account 77 966 inhabitants in 2014. From the Antiquity, Essaouira is inhabited by the Berber natives, the Phoenician then Romain, it is that from XV ème century that the site is really occupied by the Portuguese, who build in 1506 a fortress and ramparts quickly abandoned in front of the relentless resistance of the local population.Its former medina extends over around thirty hectares, built on a rocky peninsula in the ocean in a continuation of islands scattered on the coast. It is sultan Mohammed ben Abdellah who orders his construction from 1760. Several renowned architects participate in it, such Théodore Cornut, who draws the plan of the city. Essaouira and its surroundings have a fauna and a flora exceptional.Classified biological reserve since 1980, the island of Mogador is a very appreciated natural and ornithological site. He counts several species of birds such as gulls, gulls, big cormorants, pale straps and big ravens, but it is especially a place of welcome for the very rare 700 couples of Eleanor's hawks which come to reproduce there between April and October before leaving for distant Madagascar. Thanks to all these natural, historic and cultural aspects, the island of Mogador, his port, dating VII ème century and the beaches, allowing the practice of water sports.Essaouira welcomes every year the festival of the music gnaoua, native of the empire of the Western Sudan (Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Ghana, Niger) .Des slaves were returned by these countries and enlisted in the army of sultan Ahmed El Mansour. After his death, these troops were scattered and a party found itself to Essaouira. They participated in the works of the bulwarks of the city. It is also renamed for the practice of the windsurfing and the kitesurf, thanks to the powerful winds which blow almost constantly in the bay, as well as the annual organization of a stage of the world cup of kitesurf. Its specific small business sector is also appreciated, such the work of the wood of thuja. The fish market and spices is it just as much. The region of Essaouira has for peculiarity to possess a great deal of fields of argan trees and stays the only region in the world to produce this type of oil. The argan oil is always estimated for its qualities of skincare and its particular taste in the cooking. The excursion is the ideal opportunity to explore completely the world heritage of this city classified by the UNESCO since 2001, to take advantage of its golden beach, its mysterious alleys and its beautiful home-made creations.
West Africa Cruise - Accra to Marrakech
From the M/S Expedition, you’ll get the chance to explore one of Africa’s most vibrant (and curiously underexplored) regions from a hotel that goes wherever you do. The second leg of the 32-day West Africa Cruise, this 17-day trip focuses prominently on the roots of the West African slave trade with numerous chances for cultural and natural interaction in port cities and nature preserves along the coast. On-board activities range from open-air painting lessons on the deck to sommelier-led wine-tastings featuring top South African vintages.