Tourist attractions in Casamance and its surrounding areas
Renowned for its beautiful beaches, palm orchards, forests, and mangroves, Casamance is a natural region which opens to the Atlantic Ocean. The originality of the region is felt not only in its cultural diversity but also in its extraordinary natural wealth. It is indeed a green Africa where ocean, river, mangroves, palm orchards, rice fields, deep forests, and savannah come together. The region quickly captivates you, accentuated by the majesty of the cheesemakers and baobabs that stand like the ramparts of an authentic civilization and a natural heritage that can be discovered by bike, canoe or kayak. For lovers of responsible travel, Casamance also allows you to discover the rural lifestyle of the local people as you directly or indirectly participate in the development of villages visited. With vegetation bordered by marigots, mangroves, salty clay areas, beaches lined with coconut palms displaying a breathtaking landscape, Casamance remains a must-see destination, mysterious and seductive for the tourist who comes to Senegal. You will live exceptional moments, at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. For Golf fans, Cap Skirting has an excellent 9-hole course, beginners and experienced players will find challenges to their measure.
The pottery of Edioungou
Located in Casamance, Edioungou is a village in which women welcome visitors to their outdoor workshops, show them the different collections and propose demonstrations to them. The pottery tradition has existed for a long time in Casamance and this know-how is transferred from generation to generation. In each home, you will find a small pottery workshop in a corner of the courtyard. Internships are offered to visitors to learn traditional techniques of pottery fabrication.
The Mlomp Village
Mlomp is a village with remarkable charm and authentic architecture. There are houses in banco (sundry mud bricks) of two storeys. This architectural concept was created by a Senegalese Second World War fighter who was inspired by modern French buildings of that time. Cheesemakers can be seen in the beautiful landscape scenario as far as the eyes can see. The historic houses in this village have since 2003 been classified as Historic Monuments.
Cap Skirring
It is located at the extreme south of the country, at some 70km west of Ziguinchor. Cap Skirring is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in West Africa. The sand is of a rare finesse, shaded with coconut and palm trees. It is dotted with large sandy bays separated by rocky points. This seaside resort is ideal for relaxing and sunbathing, fishing, horseback riding, and water sports. Visitors can make excursions by canoe to discover the surrounding coastal villages of the region. Beautiful bar-restaurant await you, the atmosphere is typically African, cocktails, music, fresh fish and other
specialties of the region are proposed to you. You will have the opportunity to shop to keep some memories of Senegal as a very large choice of handicrafts with beautiful African colors shall be proposed to you. Many hotel resorts have been built and offer services that you will appreciate.
Oussouye
Oussouye is a department of the Ziguinchor region. Generally, it is a quiet city and is populated by the Diola people who have the particularity of organizing unique traditional festivities and ceremonies that are very appreciated by both the visitors and local people alike. It is one of the localities of the Diola countries in which the traditions and the initiation ceremonies have been preserved. Oussouye is organized in tiny kingdoms whose dignitaries are the guarantors of the local culture. Being the cradle of lower Casamance culture, it is also the place where the feast of
palm wine harvest and the ceremonies of traditional wrestling are celebrated each year. You can also discover the Enampore and Séléki impluvium huts, which are transformed into camps to welcome visitors. With an extremely rich flora and fauna, we can discover cheese forests, mango trees, caïlcedrats trees, irokos, etc. The fauna consists of about fifty mammals such as panthers, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, gazelles, hinds, reptiles and more than 200 bird species such as yellow-billed hornbill, crowned eagle Tiger and Herons just to name a few.
The Kabrousse Village
Kabrousse is a Senegalese coastal village. It is located at the Lower Casamance, some kilometers away from the Cap Skirring. It is part of the Diembéring rural community, in the Ziguinchor region, near the Guinea border. It is lined with fine sand, coconut trees, rice fields and forest. The beautiful beaches of Kabrousse extend over twenty kilometers and offer a tropical paradise for a dream holiday for visitors. Thanks to its beaches and the typical Diola architectural huts, the population of Kabrousse lives mainly from tourism. The populations have been able to maintain a system of
community solidarity and they remain rooted in their ancient traditional values .
Kafountine
Kafountine is one of the major fishing ports in Senegal. It is located in Lower – Casamance and opens wide to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the chief town of the Kofoutine rural community. The population of the village lives mainly by fishing, rice cultivation, and tourism. Tourism has develops quite quickly thanks to the beaches along casuarinas and the many campings that have been built. Kafountine is a fishing village having more than 200 canoes installed on the beaches with about 3,000 to 4,000 people working there every day. You will also discover the techniques of drying and
smoking fish in Senegal. Excursions by boat to the Karone Islands through a thick mangrove forming an inextricable labyrinth will be proposed to you with the goal of discovering the African Amazon. The village is endowed with a wild beach in the heart of a lush bush that stretches out of sight and is composed of a palm forest surrounding a natural lake.
The Diembering Eco-park
Eco-park is a natural reserve located in Diembering some 80 km from Ziguinchor, which is the headquarters of the Ziguinchor Region. The Ecoparc covers an area of 400 ha and consists of a large strip of primary forest, a beautiful mangrove, palm groves and hills overlooking the rice paddies and the Atlantic Ocean at 250 m. Created in 2010, its mission is to protect the environment in partnership with the local populations, associations, training schools, high schools and especially the Agroforestry Department of the Ziguinchor University. On foot or by bike,
visitors can discover the local fauna. At the top of the hill, an Eco-lodge, inspired by the Diola traditional architecture welcomes you in a large impluvium hall with eight rooms having a view of both the ocean and the forest. This reserve will delight nature lovers as well as agroforestry researchers.
Ornithology (Bird watching) in Casamance
The mild climate, abundant rainfall and fertile land have allowed Casamance, “the Green Heart of the Country”, to offer a wide variety of landscapes, dense and lush forests, palm orchards, coconut orchards, mangrove, bush, savannah as well as immerse fine and sandy beaches. These ecosystems, so varied and rich, are home to hundreds of waterbird species and some rare species such as the yellow-headed hornbill, the long-horned hornbill, the green turaco, the blue-billed malimbe, the crane crowned. Casamance is a paradise for birdwatchers, more than 157 bird
species have been recorded.
The Sangawatt Museum of Diembering
It is located just near the village of Diembéring. The Sangawatt Open Air Museum permits visitors to discover the traditional and cultural aspects of the Diola people who live in this part of the country. A special ceremony is required for one to visit the museum. In the company of the museum custodian, they sing in chorus throughout the course and greet the elders in front of their huts while wishing them well. Visitors will discover the medicinal plants used by the local people to treat various diseases such as those that allow women to give birth without pain, those whose
barks make it possible to cure diabetes and regulate cholesterol levels in the blood, to cite but a few. You shall also discover talismans and other objects used by the high priestess to invoke their ancestors. You will also find pottery, ropes, skulls, fishing boats, baskets used to transport rice and mortars to pound the seeds in this museum.
The Karabane Island
Karabane is a village built on an island at the extreme south-west of Senegal, in the mouth of the Casamance River. Endowed with a pleasant climate, Karabane is a heavenly refuge covered with lush vegetation including palm trees, coconut trees, baobabs, cheese, mango, flamboyant and bougainvillea that make up a super beautiful garden. The island is at the center of a huge fishing area with countless species of tropical fish; a dream place to fish and swim with dolphins.
Woven loincloth (The weavers)
Walking and strolling in Casamance
Fishing in Casamance
Senegal is one of the most popular fishing destinations in the world. Senegal’s waters are renowned for their wealth and are among the most fish-rich in the world. The aquatic environment diversity is impressive and abounds with consistent fish species. The warm Casamance waters abound with a variety of species such as sharks, jacks, dolphin fish, red carp, marlin, swordfish, sea trout, tuna, bass, barracudas, groupers, captains and many other species.
Beaches and water sports
A wide coastline close to 90 km long makes the Casamance a first choice seaside spot, all through the year with activities such as swimming, jet-skiing, water skiing, sailing (windsurfing), and catamaran. The magnificent Cap Skirring sandy beaches, dotted with filaos and coconut palms trees, are among the most beautiful beaches in Africa. The seawater that engulfs into the landscape creates bolongs (river arms) that multiply the possibilities to profit from the ocean’s calmness.
