Quad biking at the Pink Lake (Lake Retba) is a ride over dunes and sand tracks around the lake, about 45 minutes from Dakar. A guide rides ahead after a safety briefing, helmet, protective gear and water are provided, and no experience is needed: from age 11 (or 140 cm), you simply climb on and go.

The quad ride, option by option

The route alternates between sand tracks along the salt lake, dunes and rides through the surrounding villages, with several photo stops. The options range from a 30-minute introduction to the 1 h 45 grand tour of the lake, which includes a meal stop. In between, rides of 45 minutes, 1 hour, 1 h 20, 1 h 30 or 2 h 15 let you fit the outing to the time you have.

A maximum of two people can share a quad. On most options the rate is per person; the 30-minute options and the “Duo” options are priced per quad, which is made clear when you choose. The Solo and Duo options add, after 45 minutes on the quad, either 30 minutes on horseback or 15 minutes by dromedary with a pirogue (traditional wooden boat) ride: a combination that shows you the lake at several different paces.

Provided: a professional guide, a full safety briefing, helmet and protective gear, and bottled water. Bring clothes that can handle dust, protective glasses, and extra water in very hot weather. The minimum age is 11 years or 140 cm, and there is no child rate.

If you live in Dakar, it is a half-day change of scenery that you can improvise on a weekend without catching a flight; if you are visiting, it is a classic to add to your discovery of the lake itself.

Getting to the Pink Lake from Dakar

Lake Retba, the Pink Lake, lies about thirty kilometres north-east of Dakar, roughly 45 minutes by road. The ride starts on site, at the water’s edge. Its waters take on pink, orange or violet tones depending on the time of day and the season: this is the backdrop for the whole ride, and the reason to come here rather than ride somewhere else.

To understand the site before you go, our page on the Pink Lake tells its history and uses, and the place page, Lake Retba, gathers all the activities available on site.

Things to do around the Pink Lake

Quad biking combines easily with the other ways of discovering the lake. You can follow it with a horse or dromedary ride, glide over the water on a pirogue ride or head further into the dunes by 4×4. The Solo and Duo options already bring several of these together in a single outing.