Excursion Goree island with dinner (privatized ferry service) tour at Dakar

Cruise line: Silversea
Difficulty:

Explore Goree Island, located just off the coast of Dakar. This small island Goree is notable in history as a major center in the slave trade and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Goree island was discovered off the coast of the Cape Verde Peninsula in 1444 under the Command of Denis Diaz of the Portuguese caravels. With the exception of few wild goats and the traces of some Neolithic activities, the island was unoccupied. From that period, many navigators and explorers from Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and France landed Goree and some even settled there.

For 300 years Goree became the main gathering point of West Africa of slaves before their deportation to the West Indies and the New World. The traces of slave trading have been kept alive in the island nowadays classified by UNESCO "Monument of the World Cultural Patrimony". In an afternoon tour, visit the slave houses and learn about the history of slavery in this island.

The primary focus of this tour is the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), built by the Dutch in 1776 as a holding point for slaves. Now a museum, tour the dungeons where slaves were held, and learn the difficult history of how the slaves were sold and shipped. Goree also houses the IFAN Historical Museum to learn more about the history of Senegal, the Musee de la Femme (The Women's Museum) that highlights the role of Senegalese women in traditional and modern West African culture, and the Maritime Museum to better understand Senegal's seafaring history.

A special highlight of the visit is a lantern-lit Senegalese dinner on Goree Island with traditional music as entertainment before returning to the mainland.

Please note: This tour requires a certain amount of physical effort, including walking on uneven ground and a number of steps, making this tour less suitable for individuals with walking difficulties. Goree Island is a sanctuary; therefore no shorts or miniskirts are allowed to the venue. Light cotton clothing is recommended, as well as a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Goree Island, IFAN Historical Museum, Musee de la Femme, Maritime Museum, traditional Senegalese dinner and entertainment

Note

This tour requires a certain amount of physical effort, including walking on uneven ground and a number of steps, making this tour less suitable for individuals with walking difficulties. Goree Island is a sanctuary; therefore no shorts or miniskirts are allowed to the venue. Light cotton clothing is recommended, as well as a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen.