A jet ski in Saly, on the Petite Côte about 80 km from Dakar, sets off from the main beach on fairly sheltered water. From the 15-minute first ride to the 2-hour tour to the Somone lagoon, an instructor supervises every outing; the equipment is provided and no licence is required, from age 16.

Jet ski options in Saly

Jet skiing suits complete beginners and experienced riders alike, in a safe setting. You choose between three types of outing:

• The first ride: 15 minutes to discover the machine with the instructor.
• The free ride: from 10 to 30 minutes, riding along the Saly coast with its hotels as a backdrop.
• The tour: Saly bay in 35 minutes, the fishing village of Mbour in 40 minutes or 1 hour, Popenguine in 1 h 30, or the Somone lagoon in 2 hours.

A jet ski carries one or two people: the rate is therefore per jet ski, not per person. You set off from the beach, where the instructor fits you out and goes over the riding and safety rules. The instructors are certified and supervision is compulsory, which is why no licence is needed.

What to bring: swimwear, a towel, glasses with a strap and sun cream. It is better to leave your phone and camera on shore, as they may get wet or lost; a secure area is provided at the water-sports base for your belongings.

Saly, an easy escape from Dakar

Saly is the country’s first beach resort, about 80 km south of Dakar. If you live in Dakar, it is a weekend outing you can do in a single journey: you arrive, glide over the water, have lunch on the beach, without getting back behind the wheel during the day. If you are visiting, it is an easy session to slot in between two beach days. In the morning, the sea is often at its most pleasant for beginners.

The Saly page describes a stay on site, and the Petite Côte gives the wider picture of the coastline.

One tour, three destinations

If you set off on a tour, you follow the coast towards places that are also worth visiting on land. The Somone lagoon, at the end of the route, is a natural mangrove site; Popenguine is reached from the sea in 1 h 30; Mbour and its fishing village can be explored in 40 minutes to 1 hour.

What to do around Saly after the session

After the jet ski, you can carry on without going far: lunch at a beach restaurant, a stroll through Saly’s craft market, or the Bandia Reserve, about 20 minutes by road. To stay on the water, towed water sports and paddleboarding offer calmer sensations.