Toubacouta is a beautiful and calm town located on the Saloum Delta in the central Senegal region, near The Gambia's border. It is considered Senegal's hidden gem and offers a more tranquil atmosphere for those who would like to relax along the water or watch the birds while still being immersed in Senegalese culture.

After checking in at the accommodation place, we take a walk around the town to visit the cultural centre, spend some time at the shops with beautiful handmade products, and we might even meet the town's mayor.

After delicious lunch, we board a boat to the Ile de Sipo or Sipo Island. Meet the new chief, the son of the queen of Sippo who passed no long ago. We take a 30 minutes bush walk among beautiful sub-savanna flora to the other side of the island to learn about fish conservation, which is said to bring 33 species of fish back to the area.

Our next stop is shell island or Ile de coquilles. We will visit the ancient baobab tree and get a magnificent view of the mangroves and Toubacouta from the top of the island. The island is a man-made formation entirely built from shells, which served as a burial ground for the settlers of the area in the past.

Just as the sun begins to set, we slowly paddle around Bird Island to see various species of birds nest for the night. Birds found a naturally formed safe space on the small island of mangroves, where they seek shelter.

We return as the sun sets on the water

After breakfast, we board a boat for a 2-hour drive amongst beautiful mangroves to the Island of Dionewar. The island without a car. Most commuting is done by horse cart. Life on the island is unspoiled, and the beach is sandy, paradise-looking, private and never crowded. It can give a feeling of spending time on a lonely island.

After lunch in a beautiful eco-lodge where we will spend the night, we have time to relax or enjoy the beautiful unspoiled beach.

When the sun loses its power, we take a horsecart ride to join the ladies from the village at their work in the community gardens. We will meet the village alkalo (chief) and learn about the formation of the settlement. We continue our way while admiring the shell mounds' beautiful scenery and return just in time to witness the incredible sunset on the sea.

After dinner, we emerge ourselves in the cultural exploration of the Serer ethnic group, which predominately lives here. Wrestling tradition is strong among Serers, and although it used to be a brutal and violent form of preparation for the war amongst the warrior class in the kingdom of Sine, the practices are still kept today solely for entertainment. Accompanied by sabar drums and traditional dance, you will feel the ancestral energy's presence.

After the traditional Serer breakfast, we take a horsecart ride to the neighbour village – Niodor. We visit the oyster processing site and be able to buy organic and natural products made by the association of ladies working in the centre.

Before we leave with many memories in mind, we will create our own souvenir with the traditional technique of tie&dye using a natural indigo dye, which is famous amongst Jolas. With wonderful rich blue and white patterned souvenirs, we return to board a boat to Toubacouta.

We reach there just in time for lunch at the beautiful La Paletuviers before we head back to The Gambia.