Things to see and do Toubacouta

This private reserve covers 6,000 ha, in the heart of a preserved forest ecosystem on the Gambian border, near the banks of the delta. At the initiative of the South African owners, several species have been reintroduced, such as giraffes, buffaloes, Derby elands and zebras. It offers several activities open to non-residents of the lodge, the most popular of which are game drives to observe all sorts of wild animals in the forest and lion walks, for thrill seekers!

From Toubacouta, near the village of Bamboung, in the heart of the eponymous reserve, don't miss a trip to the island of Sipo, home to this picturesque little bush village of around a hundred inhabitants, once ruled by a queen like no other, Fatou Mané. Died in April 2022 at the age of almost 100, the Queen of Sipo was a bubbly, funny personality who received visitors from all walks of life with a smile. Legend has it that she was kidnapped by djinns at the age of 5, who transmitted mystical powers to her. Today, her eldest son Insa Touré has been crowned King of Sipo. He is now the guardian of the sacred wood and in charge of the Serer prayer sites on this island, which used to be a stopover for piroguers. Their family history is closely linked to the creation of the village in the early ^20th century, since it was founded by the late queen's grandfather, who was fleeing with others from the Islamization of Guinea. They were later joined by Malians, and later by another ethnic group from northern Senegal. They lived harmoniously by gathering oysters, the shells of which were then burned to produce lime. Today, the village lives from agriculture, fishing and tourism. Don't forget to bring your bathing suit! And don't forget to buy rice, tea or pens for the children to donate to the village and thank them for their welcome.

Offshore, on the mangrove side, an unusual curiosity: Diorom Boumak, certainly the largest of all these island clusters of empty shells that once served as a burial place. Diorom is a pile 400 m long and 300 m wide, and is said to have served as a tomb for 7,000 bodies between the 7th and 13th centuries. By the way, don't miss a detour to the nearby bird sanctuary at the shell island, where you can observe hundreds of birds (cormorants, egrets, kingfishers, pelicans...).