Casamance — Cap Skirring, Ziguinchor and Diola culture

The lush South

Separated from the north of the country by The Gambia, Casamance is another Senegal: rice paddies, kapok forests, an immense river fringed with mangrove. Cap Skirring lines up beaches counted among West Africa's finest; Ziguinchor, the regional capital set on the river, distils a gentle pace of life all its own. This is also the birthplace of yassa, the lemon-and-onion marinade of Diola origin that became a national dish.

A region reopening

After more than forty years of low-intensity conflict, the region is enjoying a genuine lull: a peace agreement has been signed between the State and the MFDC, tens of thousands of displaced people have returned, and demining is advancing — more than 2.4 million m² cleared, with an official completion target of 2031. The authorities actively promote responsible tourism. Remain an informed traveller nonetheless: keep to tourist areas and main roads, avoid travelling at night outside towns, and check local conditions at the time of your trip.

Experiences

Sailing down the river to Carabane island, sleeping in an impluvium hut in Diola country, paddling the bolongs of Oussouye, joining village festivities — respectfully, and when invited: Casamance is earned, and savoured slowly. Flights and the ferry from Dakar make it a destination in its own right, for those who take the time.