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Island of Saint Louis, Senegal

The former capital of Senegal, looking very much like New Orleans, Saint Louis was built in 1659 on the continent, an island, and a peninsula. It is a city rich in history with narrow streets, wooden balconies and beautiful patios. The city also served as the colonial capital of neighbouring Mauritania from 1920 to 1957.

Like Goree Island, Saint-Louis was a major slave depot. The city can be visited on foot or in a traditional horse-drawn carriage. Its festivals, cultural life, and its joyous celebrations of holidays have gained a well-deserved reputation. The city has preserved much of its 19th Century arctitecture as well as old colonial buildings and was was given the title of UNESCO World Heritage city in 2000.

An hour north lies the extraordinary Djoudj National Park, an oasis of freshness and tranquility that is home to 3 million birds during winter. In the south is the Langue de Barbarie National Park, a refuge for birds and sea turtles, which gather here to breed.