The hike at the Pink Lake is done on foot, with an environmental guide, from the shores of Lake Retba to the dunes and then to a Fulani village. Allow 2 to 5 hours of walking depending on the option, snacks included, with an early-morning start advised.

On foot around the lake

The route starts on the shores of the lake, where the salt harvesters still work, the emblematic silhouette of the site. The guide explains how the lake was formed, the variations in colour caused by micro-organisms and the economic role of salt in the region. The walk continues through the dunes, with panoramas over the lake and the nearby Atlantic Ocean, then through arid bush where you sometimes meet herds. A snack break is planned in a Fulani village, with a cultural exchange.

In the full-day version, the route can include a stretch towards Lompoul-sur-Mer beach or an extension to the filao forest. The level is moderate: sandy ground, a few climbs on the dunes. The salt harvesters’ craft work takes place every morning, which explains the early start.

Included are the nature guide and the snacks. Bring walking shoes, a hat, a scarf, sun cream and water.

If you live in Senegal, it is the calmest way to get to know the lake, away from the noise of engines, on a weekend morning. If you are visiting, it is the best chance to understand what you are looking at: why the water is pink, how the salt is harvested, how the village lives around the lake.

The Pink Lake in brief

The Pink Lake, or Lake Retba, lies about thirty kilometres north-east of Dakar, where the Sahel meets the Atlantic. Barely three square kilometres in size, it changes colour with the time of day and the season, from pink to orange and violet. The Pink Lake page tells its story and that of the Paris-Dakar rally that made it famous, and the Dakar Region gives the wider setting.

After the walk

To continue around the lake, quad and buggy offer a faster version, the pirogue ride shows the lake from the water, and other guided hikes are available in the country.