What to do there
The visit is made on foot, accompanied by one of the reserve’s eco-guides, on sandy trails that wind between acacias and baobabs. The short loop leads to the tortoise enclosures and the areas where gazelles and oryx graze; the long one goes as far as the banks of the lagoon for the birds. There is no climbing, but little shade: it is the sun, not the distance, that tires you. On the lagoon side, binoculars make all the difference.
When to go
The dry season, from November to May, is the most comfortable, and the heart of the European winter, from December to March, is the best time for migrants on the lagoon. In any season, aim for opening time or late afternoon: at midday, the gazelles retreat into the shade and the light flattens everything.
Getting there
From Saint-Louis, take the road south towards Gandiol: the reserve entrance is around ten kilometres from the city, on the landward side of the road. A taxi from town will do. From Dakar, Guembeul cannot be done as a day trip: stay overnight in Saint-Louis.
Practical tips
Bring water, a hat and good closed shoes for the sand, as well as cash in small notes for the entry and the guide, both paid on site. Do not feed the animals and stay on the trail: the enclosures house breeding programmes that are sensitive to disturbance. For details of the site itself, read our Guembeul Reserve page.
Nearby
Guembeul pairs naturally with Langue de Barbarie National Park, further south, which you reach by pirogue from the Gandiol shore (see our Langue de Barbarie page). North of Saint-Louis, the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary rounds off a birdwatching trip, and the Saint-Louis Region page brings together all the outings in the north.
Book an activity at the Guembeul Reserve with QFS
Outings linked to Guembeul are listed under wildlife reserves & parks and birdwatching; to combine it with time on the water, see pirogue trips. You pay 20% to secure your booking (the booking fee), and the balance is paid on site, on the day, to the professional who accompanies you. Reserve entry and the eco-guide remain payable on site and are not included in the price. If you live in Senegal, you get the resident rate: up to 30% off.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Guembeul Reserve?
Around ten kilometres south of Saint-Louis, on the Gandiol road, in the Saint-Louis department. Allow about twenty minutes from the city.
What animals can you see at Guembeul?
Dama and dorcas gazelles, scimitar-horned oryx and African spurred tortoises, bred for reintroduction, as well as patas monkeys, warthogs and monitor lizards. The lagoon is home to flamingos, spoonbills and avocets.
How long does the visit take?
Forty-five minutes to an hour and a half on foot depending on the trail, always with one of the reserve’s eco-guides. Add the journey from Saint-Louis.
Is entry included in the price of the activity?
No. Reserve entry and the eco-guide are paid on site and are not included in the price of the activity booked through QFS.
Can you combine Guembeul with the Langue de Barbarie?
Yes, it is the best way to do it: Guembeul in the morning, then the pirogue to the park from Gandiol. Both sites are south of Saint-Louis, on the same road.
