The horse-cart ride in Saint-Louis crosses the UNESCO-listed island, then reaches the Langue de Barbarie, among colonial houses, fishing quarters and riverbanks, at the horse’s unhurried pace. Allow 1 h 30 to 2 h, as an individual option or a private duo.

A tour of the town, by horse cart

One long guided ride is offered: the town tour and the Langue de Barbarie, in 1 h 30 to 2 h. It is one of the most local ways to discover Saint-Louis. The start is from a hotel in Saint-Louis. Two options exist: individual, priced per person, or duo, with a private cart. The route crosses the island listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then reaches the Langue de Barbarie, passing the colonial houses, the fishing quarters and the banks of the river.

It is an outing open to everyone, best done late in the afternoon, when the light is soft on the river. Travelling by horse cart lets you see the town at street level and stop in front of whatever interests you.

If you live in Senegal, it is the outing to add to a weekend in Saint-Louis, to see the town with relatives passing through. If you are visiting, it is the best way to grasp the geography of the town in two hours: the island, the river, the spit of sand and the ocean.

Saint-Louis, between river and ocean

Saint-Louis du Senegal is a former colonial capital, at the mouth of the Senegal River, facing the Atlantic Ocean, listed by UNESCO for its historic island and its architecture. It lies in the far north-west of the country, near the Mauritanian border. The Saint-Louis Region is the north, a Senegal of water and light. The Langue de Barbarie and the Langue de Barbarie National Park border the ocean.

Things to do around Saint-Louis

To extend your time, the guided cultural tours go deeper into the island, the pirogue ride shows the river, and the Guembeul reserve and Djoudj National Park are the region’s nature outings.