Where are we ?

Travel

How to get to Begue Lodge?

Getting to this remote African island is part of the adventure!

From the airport

A stay at Begue Lodge includes all transportation (if you wish) to and from the Dakar airport, so you don’t have to worry about logistics, costs, language barriers, haggling or unpleasant surprises. You will be met at the airport by a Begue Lodge driver, who will drive you south along the coast to Djiffer (approximately 3 hours). From Djiffer, you will embark on a 30-minute crossing of the northern branch of the Saloum Delta by traditional pirogue to the island of Dionewar. Upon arrival, Poulo will meet you and drive you to Begue Lodge with a horse-drawn cart, where you will be greeted by Malick and Astou with traditional Senegalese hospitality and refreshments.
Depending on the time of arrival at Dakar airport, it may be necessary to spend a night at Palmarin near Djiffer while waiting for the pirogues to depart the next morning. Begue Lodge will organize your stay in a partner
a partner ecolodge nearby.

If you are already in Senegal, the easiest way to reach Djiffer is to let us know in advance so that we can organize your crossing by pirogue at a negotiated rate with the pirogue owners we work with.
We can also provide you with a driver from Dakar, Mbour, Thiès, Fatick… For this, call Malick, who will take care of everything.

Water management

Water is very rare and therefore precious. We invite you to change your consumption habits by saving it. The distribution of water in the lodge is conditioned by the level of reserve of the well.

Take a shower in the basin, so you can recover your washing water and use it in the toilets. Simple, economical and effective. This practice is found all over the world where water is precious. What better way to educate our children 🙂

Shower: If there is running water, do not let the water run, our supply is not unlimited.
Wet yourself quickly, soap yourself reasonably and rinse yourself just as reasonably.
If there is no running water, water will be provided in a can, with a bucket, a cup and a basin.

Toilets: use the water from your shower, do not throw paper in the toilet, a bucket will be emptied every day and the paper incinerated (there is no one to empty the tanks when they are blocked).

Hygiene and health

We strongly recommend the use of natural hygiene products, as the water table is very sensitive. We provide natural soaps made in the delta by a women’s cooperative. If you end up using plastic bottles, please consider taking them home, as we have little or no waste management on the island. The best solution is not to bring them back.

In case of emergency, we have established a health route that goes from the village dispensary to the hospitals in the region.
A first-aid kit for minor injuries is always available at the Begue, and another
reserved for health professionals staying at the Begium may be made available on condition that they provide proof of their status as caregivers.

The Géoguide du Sénégal guide gives the following advice:
“Without being alarmist, we invite you to observe a minimum of sanitary precautions.
A few rules of hygiene, an up-to-date vaccination booklet and an anti-malaria treatment will avoid many inconveniences. Upon your return, if you experience any unusual symptoms, consult a physician without delay.
Among the most useful tips during your stay, use a good sunscreen, stay hydrated by drinking only bottled water, wash your hands, peel fruits and vegetables, cover up, use mosquito repellent after dark and sleep under a mosquito net.

Electricity

The plugs are European standard. The Bégué Lodge provides its electricity thanks to phovoltaic panels. This production being limited, we invite you to recharge your appliances during the day, in order to keep enough energy at night. Each room is limited to 2 Amps, or 440 Watts. If you consume more, the circuit breaker will let you know (no hair dryer or air conditioning…)

Communications

For those who have trouble cutting the cord with the internet, the 4G network in Senegal is quite well deployed, you can buy a SIM card with 10, 20, 30 GB, ask Malick. The Orange network is well present. They will take care of setting up your card and activating it. If you want to keep your national number, then think of bringing a second smartphone that will serve as a hub and allow you to connect yourself to the net in Senegal. For that, think of asking to put between 2 and 5000 cfa for the national telephone communications.

The currency

The currency used is the CFA franc, common to several West African countries, the rate is on average 1 Euro = 655 cfa. Banks and ATMs in Senegalese cities provide currency exchange, but be sure to withdraw the money you need for your stay before leaving town, as there are no exchange offices in the Saloum islands and credit cards are not widely used. It is also important to arrive on the island with small bills (1,000, 2,000 or even 5,000 CFA).
The easiest way is to arrive in Senegal with cash, which you can change at the baggage claim in the airport. Do not change your money in the street, as this is often a way to launder money for illegal transactions.

The climate

THE DRY SEASON: HOT, DRY AND SUNNY

The dry season begins towards the end of October and lasts until the end of June and beginning of July.
It is marked by clear skies, lots of sunshine, the trade wind, a gentle wind from the sea, and temperatures ranging between 22 and 35 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is rare, sometimes fine and short showers early in the morning during the coldest months (17 – 18 degrees at night).

WINTERING: VERY HOT AND HUMID

(period of the year called like this in Senegal which corresponds to the summer in Europe)

The wintering period goes from the end of June to the end of October. The climate is then hotter and wetter and marked by short episodes of rain and thunderstorms that leave large quantities of water in a short period of time. This rainfall is more abundant in August and September. In this season, the vegetation is lush,
but there are also more mosquitoes. It is therefore necessary to bring long clothes and anti-mosquito creams. During this period, malaria is more present.

Salutations

Take the time to greet your Senegalese interlocutors. The daily greetings, which are part of the country’s culture, express the “teranga” (the sense of hospitality) and the concern for others, which are characteristic of the Senegalese people.

It would be a bit difficult to give you a lexicon of introductions, as they can be long and different depending on the region, the village, the time of day and the dialect. The easiest way is to start with Wolof, which is understood by all Senegalese people: Nangadef which can be translated as “how are you?” to which you will be answered: “Mangui fii rek” (literally “I’m right here” so “it’s going well”) You will have to discover the local habits and customs to integrate 🙂

Contacts