The walking tour of Saint-Louis covers the UNESCO-listed historic centre in three to three and a half hours: the island, the Faidherbe Bridge, the houses with wooden galleries and the quarters shaped by the colonial era. A guide tells the story of the former capital, in a small-scale format.

A town to read on foot

Saint-Louis is made for walking: the historic centre sits on an island in the middle of the river, linked to the mainland by a metal bridge. The tour takes in the historic centre, the Faidherbe Bridge, the houses with wooden galleries and the colonial quarters. The local guide recounts the history of the former capital, its figures and its anecdotes, between heritage and everyday life. The island holds most of what matters: the bridge that leads to it, the buildings with wooden balconies, the narrow lanes, the old colonial houses and the squares that trace the town’s development since the 19th century. On foot you can stop in front of every facade and ask questions, which a tour by vehicle allows less easily.

The format is small-scale, with a price per person that goes down as the group grows: the more of you there are, the lower each person’s share, which suits families and groups of friends as well as solo travellers. The walk is at an unhurried pace. Bring comfortable shoes, a hat and water.

Ndar, between river and ocean

Saint-Louis, in the far north-west of Senegal, very close to the Mauritanian border, is organised around three parts: the island of Ndar in the middle of the river, the Langue de Barbarie on the ocean side and Sor on the riverbank. The tour takes place on the island, in a town where heritage, fishing, bird watching and a Sahelian atmosphere meet. If you live in Senegal, it is a tour you can do without a car, in one go; if you are visiting, it is the tour that gives you your bearings before the nature outings.

Take it further

The Saint-Louis Region then offers several outings: Djoudj, the Langue de Barbarie park, the Guembeul reserve or the Lompoul desert. The guided cultural tours bring together other routes in town.