Community Engagement in Senegal (French Intensive)

Lac Rose gets its name from the distinct rose-tinted hue created by Dunaliella salina bacteria, which thrive in the lake’s high salt content. In some areas, salt levels reach up to 40 percent, second only to the Dead Sea. Along the shoreline, pink samphire bushes grow among the sandbanks and terracotta-colored dunes.

Assist local salt collectors by bagging salt or transporting it from the lake to shore by boat. Learn how seasonal conditions affect the lake’s vivid color, which is most striking during the dry season when sunlight reflects directly off the water.

Known locally as Ndar, Saint-Louis served as the capital of the French Colony of Senegal from 1673 to 1902 and also functioned as the capital of neighboring Mauritania.

Take part in a community-led sustainability project alongside local students. Work together on tree planting and care, join hands-on ecological workshops, and participate in cooking classes that highlight local traditions and environmental stewardship.

Senegal is home to around 160 bird species, making it a prime destination for bird study. Visit either Langue de Barbarie National Park or Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, depending on the season. A guided boat tour offers close observation of migratory and native birds, including pelicans, flamingos, herons, terns, cormorants, and ibis.

Visit a women-led eco initiative that transforms discarded plastic into practical items like furniture and building materials. Learn how recycled waste supports environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, help collect plastic, and observe how community-driven innovation turns everyday trash into opportunity.

Explore the Saloum Delta, a vast network of islands, mangrove forests, and coastal ecosystems shaped by centuries of human settlement. Discover shellfish mounds and burial sites that offer insight into West Africa’s cultural history. In the afternoon, take part in a mangrove replanting project, helping restore vital habitats that support fisheries, birdlife, eco-tourism, and local livelihoods.

Explore Dakar on a guided city walk through the historic Médina quarter, home to the iconic Grande Mosquée de Dakar. Visit the Musée Théodore Monod to examine cultural artifacts such as clothing, instruments, carvings, and tools, and gain insight into Senegal’s history, traditions, and vibrant urban culture.

Visit Gorée Island to study its powerful history as a center of the transatlantic slave trade. Explore preserved forts and former slave houses, including a visit to La Maison des Esclaves, where cells and the Door of No Return offer critical historical context. The experience also includes hands-on lessons in djembe drumming and local dance, connecting history with living culture.

Explore Dakar with Tour Director–led sightseeing focused on the city’s history, culture, and modern identity. Visit the African Renaissance Monument to discuss its symbolism, scale, and the debates surrounding its construction. Walk through Marché Kermel to experience local street markets filled with traditional textiles, baskets, and jewelry, and view the Deux Mamelles, the twin hills overlooking the city that frame Dakar’s coastal landscape.

Participate in sand painting, an artistic practice that uses colored sand and natural pigments to create intricate designs. Learn about the global cultural traditions of sand painting, including its role in ceremonial, religious, and healing practices, and why many works are intentionally temporary.