Lake Retba, 30 km (18 mi.) north of capital Dakar is astonishing because its waters of the lake dubbed “Lac Rose” (Pink Lake) are in fact varying shades of reddish, depending on the strength of the sun (probably not worth visiting on a cloudy day). It’s due to a particular strain of algae, and the waters are also highly salinated – so you’re likely to see locals harvesting salt (you can also take a dip, said to be highly salubrious for body and soul). A nearby bonus is an area of dunes, where the landscape suddenly becomes a desert, with sand stretching as far as the eye can see. In fact, it can be so disconcerting and disorienting that a guided tour is probably the best way to go; that will allow you to better navigate this sandy expanse, from which you can contemplate the singular Lake Retba on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Read more in our post The Fascinatin´ Rhythims of Dakar, Senegal.

Jeff Attaway