The nature hike in Somone follows the lagoon, a protected nature reserve, then winds through the mangrove, with a local environmental guide. From 2 to 5 hours of walking depending on the option, guide and snacks included, preferably in the morning or late in the day.

Lagoon, mangrove and local life

The route starts at the edge of the lagoon, where many migratory birds live: pelicans, herons, flamingos and terns. The path then winds through the mangrove, where the guide explains the role of mangrove trees in protecting the coastline and in fish breeding. Regular pauses let you take in the wildlife and local life: fishermen in pirogues, oyster farmers, children crossing the sandbanks at low tide.

The guide adapts the route to the tide to make passage easier. The route is flat and open to all regular walkers. At the end, a swim is possible on the lagoon beach. In the full-day version, the walk continues to Ngaparou beach or into the bush, with an optional picnic lunch.

Included are the nature guide and the snacks. Bring light shoes, a hat, binoculars and sun cream. Morning or late in the day are the best times, both for the birds and for the heat.

If you live on the Petite Côte, it is the easy hike that mixes walking and observation, with no sporting effort. If you are visiting, it is one of the gentlest ways to approach a fragile ecosystem, with someone who explains its rules.

The Somone and its lagoon

Somone is a village on the Petite Côte, about ten kilometres from Saly, built at the edge of an estuary where the sea and the river meet. Calmer and more intimate than its seaside neighbours, it favours guesthouses on stilts and restaurants set right at the water’s edge. The Somone lagoon page tells the story of the mangrove and the birds of the site.

To extend the outing

After the walk, you can have lunch in a restaurant on stilts, drop by the craft market in Ngaparou or stroll on the beach at Saly. To stay in nature, the pirogue ride and bird watching show the lagoon from the water.