Study Abroad In Dakar, Senegal

An immersive cultural and educational experience connecting Black students to Senegalease history, culture, and community

Overview
Itinerary
Trip Prep
FAQs

January 5-14, 2027

TRIP PRICE | BOOKING DEADLINE

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What Makes This Trip Special

  • Expert-Led Experience

    Led by an award-winning travel journalist and Black historian who studied abroad student twice

    Partnership with Morgan State University's Study Abroad Program

    We’ve been designing and hosting group trips for Black travelers since 2019

  • Educational Programming

    Pre-trip media and marketing workshops on writing and storytelling, photography, and documenting your journey

    Authentic cultural exchanges with local Senegalese community

    Trip reflection sessions to process and examine your experiences

  • Student-Centered Itinerary

    Flexible payment plans

    Shared accommodations to keep costs accessible and encourage community

    Itinerary designed with first-time international travelers in mind

About your trip

Dakar is a beautiful West African paradise.

Join a curious community of Black travelers in Dakar, Senegal, and immerse yourself in Senegalese history and culture through nibbles, nature, and nightlife.

What’s included

  • All tours and experiences listed on the itinerary

  • Expert, English-speaking tour guides and a Buoyant host with you throughout the trip

  • Round-trip group airport transfers on the trip start and end dates

  • Double occupancy hotel room

  • All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

  • Pre-trip virtual town hall

  • Pre-trip workshops

  • Buoyant Dakar Google Map

  • WhatsApp group chat

Not included

  • Airfare in and out of the country

  • Mandatory travel insurance

  • Passport or visa fees (if applicable - US passport holders don’t require a visa to enter Senegal)

  • Pre/post-trip accommodation or airport transfers

  • Incidental expenses

  • Meals not listed on the itinerary

  • Alcohol

  • Tips

Itinerary

Flight

Please ensure your flight lands in Dakar (DSS) by 3 PM.

Day 1

Arrival in Dakar | Welcome Dinner

Day 2

Exploration | Dakar City Tour

Day 3

Ancestral History | Gorée Island Tour

Day 4

Relax | Free Day

Day 5

Surfs Up | Surf lessons

Day 6

Community | Community Connection

Day 7

Cultural | Cultural Connection

Day 8

Nature Escape | Animal Reserve Visit

Day 9

Reflection Session | Farewell Dinner

Day 10

Departure Day

Pre-Departure Prep & Workshops

Before arriving in Senegal, you'll have the opportunity to participate in virtual trip preparation sessions and educational workshops.

Senegalese History

Travel Journalism

Visual Storytelling

Finding Flights

ITINERARY

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ITINERARY *

  • Welcome to Dakar, the beautiful West African city by the sea, and your new home for the next week!

    Today, we’ll pick you up from the airport (plan to arrive at DSS airport by 4 PM) and whisk you to our cozy boutique hotel in the heart of Dakar, where a welcome drink awaits you.

  • Now that you’re settled in, it’s time to connect with Dakar. Our journey will begin with a city tour, with stops at some of the city’s most important landmarks, like the African Renaissance Monument, to learn about its history and get a feel for the culture.

    Meals: Breakfast & lunch

  • No visit to Senegal is complete without honoring the ancestral history that connects our people. We’ll visit the tiny island to honor the ancestral history tied to enslavement and pay homage to those who came before us.

    Meals: Breakfast & lunch

  • Dakar has a stunning coastline and is one of the best places in the world for surfing. We’ll head to a local, Black-owned surf school and restaurant for lessons with expert surfers and lunch featuring local Senegalese bites.

    Meals: Breakfast & lunch

  • Spend today. However, you’d like to be on the beach, by the pool, or explore more of this vibrant city. You’ll get a Buoyant travel guide with the best things to do, see, eat, and experience during your free time in Dakar.

    Meals: Breakfast

  • It’s time for more thrills! Today, we’ll experience a quad bike ride amongst beautiful baobab trees.

    Opt-in activity: After some free time, we’ll spend the evening sipping local wines at an intimate wine tasting.

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch 

  • No Buoyant trip is complete without a beach day! We’ll spend the afternoon relaxing on nearby Ngor Island

    Meals: Breakfast

  • Item description
  • We’re so glad you joined us in Senegal. Thank you for being here!

ACCOMMODATIONS

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ACCOMMODATIONS *

Hotel | Centrally located | Restaurant and pool

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Plan to arrive in Dakar (airport code: DSS) by 4 PM on May 23, 2025.

    We usually have our welcome dinner around 7 PM, so landing earlier allows time to settle into the hotel before dinner.

    If your flight arrives after the welcome dinner, causing you to miss the experience, please plan to eat at the hotel’s restaurant (or elsewhere) at your own expense.

  • US citizens don’t need a visa to visit Senegal.

  • Of course! Payment plans are available from the time of booking through April 1, 2025. If you book after this date, full payment is due at the time of booking.

    Pay-in-4: If you’d like to use Affirm, Klarna or Afterpay, please email us and we’ll send you a special link.

  • All travelers will get a private single-occupancy room at a boutique hotel.

  • Yes! All trip attendees must share proof of a round-trip flight, travel insurance, and emergency contact information by April 1, 2025.

  • We design our trips to include a mix of experiences that aren't 100% luxury or budget; we exist for Black travelers, our kinfolk, who enjoy both types of travel. Buoyant kinfolk are like bougie aunties and uncles who still love a good deal.

    You probably enjoy splurging on a unique dining experience but love street food. You adore well-designed spaces, like charming boutique hotels, and are excited to have authentic, local experiences that help connect you with Black history and culture.


    Most of all, you understand that the places we're visiting are layered and nuanced. We travel knowing we are guests in someone's home, and we respect the land and people as such.

    Our kinfolk are adventurous, open-minded travelers who deeply value Black history and culture and are independent.

    While we always provide quality customer service, we also always allow free time to explore on your own or relax and rejuvenate because we believe rest is our birthright.

  • Check out reviews from our previous clients here: https://bit.ly/48Tdwwv

    • For all trips booked before March 1, 2025, you may receive a full refund up to 48 hours after booking. Trips booked after this date aren’t eligible for 48-hour refunds. 

    • After 48 hours, all deposits and future payments are non-refundable. 

    • Life happens! If you must cancel after 48 hours, we can transfer your trip place and payments to someone else.

    • If you cancel after 48 hours, we may issue you future trip credits at our discretion.

    • We recommend purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your spot on this trip in case of cancellation.

      To cancel, email hello@buoyanttravel.com

QUESTIONS?

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QUESTIONS? *

Schedule A Call

We’re here to help.

WHAT OUR KINFOLK SAY

Group of smiling women posing cheerfully outdoors in front of a historic building with green doors and wrought iron gates, some making peace signs and raising arms.

Saidah B.

Wonderful experience with a wonderful group ! Briona was such a warm and welcoming host. This was my first travel group, and I was quite nervous, but I am so glad I took the risk. The activities were well thought out, from food tour to Afro Punk to the historical tour of beautiful Salvador, I truly enjoyed myself.

Jalena T.

This was my first time doing a group tour, and I'm glad I did it with Buoyant Travel. The group wasn't so big that I didn't get personalized attention, and it wasn't so small that I felt smothered. As someone who likes to have time to do my own thing, the trip was very flexible with how I spent my time and the activities I wanted to participate in. I really enjoyed the pace and diversity of activities that Buoyant and the guides curated. I wouldn't hesitate to book a trip again.

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