Ile de Goree Experience
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Port
Dakar, Senegal
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$140
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
5¼ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Island of Gorée
"The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation."
Less than two miles from Dakar lies the Island of Gorée, whose dark history comprises an integral part in the story of the slave trade.
It is a short ferry ride from the Senegalese capital over to the island. Upon arrival, you will set out on a walking tour to trace the history that wrested 40 million human beings from the shores of Africa and transported them into the nightmare of the slave trade that persisted for more than 600 years. Gorée became the first, and for a time, the most important slave depot in West Africa. Today, Ile de Gorée is listed as a National Historic Monument and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See the Slave House built in 1777 with its cells and shackles, and visit the Church of Saint Charles de Barromée, which was built in 1829. Stop at the fortress to see its underground passages, vast trenches, gun turrets and an incongruously peaceful panoramic view over land and sea.
Fully conscious of its solemn past, nowadays, Ile de Gorée is also a charming and lively town, brimming with cafés, art galleries and a beach.
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.