Lac Rose
Senegal · Dakar · 4 m
Description
Lac Rose, properly Lake Retba, is a shallow salt lake behind the dunes north east of Dakar, separated from the Atlantic by a narrow strip of sand. A salt-loving alga tints the water anything from pale lilac to deep strawberry, strongest in the dry season when the sun is high and the wind is down. Its salinity rivals the Dead Sea, so swimmers float without effort. Collectors work the lake from pirogues, breaking salt from the bed with poles and heaping it in white cones on the shore. The lake was for decades the finish line of the Dakar Rally.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – March
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Pink waters of Lake Retba
- Salt collectors & salt cones
- Floating in the brine
- Pirogue trip on the lake
- Dune belt & Atlantic beach
- Quad & four wheel drive dune tours
- Lakeside craft stalls
- Lac Rose sunset
- Peul & Wolof lakeside villages
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- DSS