Lodge des Collines de Niassam

It feels like paradise at the end of the world, and the staff are just lovely, kind people. Make sure you bring food with you. The portions are VERY small, and there aren’t any restaurants or supermarkets for miles.

From the panoramic lodge, the lagoon views were wonderful, and the breeze with a fan kept things naturally cool. We spent three nights there. The food was extremely tasty, with a set dinner of fish and vegetables plus dessert each evening, some of the best I had in Senegal. The lodge arranged a half-day boat trip with an English-speaking guide and an evening outing to look for hyenas in a covered horse-drawn cart. Both were excellent, and I learned a lot. The welcome felt underwhelming, with little information. I also would have liked to hear about the lodge’s eco credentials, its support for the local community, and which birds you can spot from the lodge, since there were masses of them.

The people working here are really friendly, and there’s even a library where you can borrow books. The owner has written one too, so don’t miss it. The bedrooms are comfortable and stay fairly cool even in the hot season because of how they’re built. Drinks aren’t expensive. A fantastic place to stay.

The site is beautiful, the meals are delicious, and the staff are very friendly, but our room on the little isle needs a complete renovation before its price makes sense. The toilet was broken, and the worn-out linen on the small bed needs replacing. There was no hot water, AC, WiFi anywhere on the property, kettle, or coffee maker. With an uncovered gap between the walls and roof, mosquitoes got into the room. It felt like a one-star hut priced like a five-star hotel room.