Some 2½ hours south of Dakar, this rustic spot is also known as the Isle of Shells, as it's largely composed of them, and they lie in profusion hereabouts - even many of the houses in the adjoining fishing community (pop. 5,000) here are covered with them. A local landmark is the low, 400-metre (1,312-foot) wooden bridge that connects the island to the town, and points of interest include beaches; a variety of tamarinds, mangroves, and baobabs (including Senegal's largest, just outside town); a cemetery also made of shells (and especially notable for mixing graves of Christians and Muslims); and the house-museum of local son Léopold Senghor (1906-2001), the revered founding poet-president of Senegal. Apart from that, it's a wonderful spot to hang out and absorb the local vibe and culture (including not infrequent evening performances of traditional songs and dances).

Read more in our post Exploring Senegal: 3 Excellent Excursions from Dakar.

Carsten ten Brink