Quad biking in Somone is done with a local guide, on the sand tracks that skirt the lagoon and the nature reserve, then along the coast. Two options, 1 hour or 2 hours, priced per quad, from age 18, with full equipment included.

A guided ride around the lagoon

After a technical start-up and a reminder of the safety rules, the guide takes the lead through the bush and along the paths beside the Somone nature reserve. The ride alternates sand tracks, fast stretches and light crossings, before reaching the coast and following it towards Ngaparou and then Saly. You also pass through farming areas and Fulani villages, with photo stops facing the lagoon.

Two options are offered: 1 hour and 2 hours, both priced per quad. Full equipment is included. The activity is open from age 18, with a driving licence or prior experience recommended. The level is intermediate: it suits drivers who have already tried it once. Bring glasses, a scarf, covering clothing and sun cream.

The quad is a good means of linking what you would not see on foot: the village, the bush and the coast in a single outing. The outing depends on the weather and the group’s pace.

If you live in Dakar or on the Petite Côte, it is an active weekend about an hour from the capital. If you are staying in Saly or Somone, it is the sportiest option for seeing the lagoon other than from the water.

The Somone, between lagoon and estuary

Somone lies on the Petite Côte, about ten kilometres from Saly. The village is built at the edge of an estuary where the sea and the river meet, calmer and more intimate than its seaside neighbours. To understand the site before you go, the Somone lagoon page tells the story of the mangrove and its birds. The route then heads down towards Ngaparou and Saly.

Things to do around Somone

To extend your stay, a pirogue ride shows the lagoon from the water, and bird watching is one of the area’s strengths. Other quad and buggy outings are available on the Petite Côte, so you can compare.