Na nga def, I’m Aisling, an Educational Travel Program Adviser at Forum by Prométour, where I help teachers create meaningful travel experiences for their students. This spring, I had the chance to experience one of these programs firsthand by traveling to Senegal with a student group from Illinois.
I knew the itinerary would be special but experiencing it with students brought it to life in a completely different way. From school visits and shared meals to traditional workshops, wildlife encounters, and moments of reflection, every day offered students a new way to connect with Senegal.
Here are some of the moments from the trip that stayed with me most.
Meeting Local Students in Senegal
The school visits were some of the sweetest moments of the trip.
At the start of the trip, our Tour Manager gave us all Senegalese names, which helped a lot when interacting with locals. My name was Penda, and everywhere I went, I started with that. It often led to someone saying, « Ah, ma sœur s’appelle Penda », or « Ma fille s’appelle Penda », or even « Moi aussi, je m’appelle Penda ! »
During one school visit, a teacher asked “Babacar” to stand up and answer a question, and both a Senegalese student and one of our students stood up at the same time. Everyone burst out laughing, and it instantly broke the ice.
We visited three schools in total, and the high school visit was definitely the highlight. The students spent around an hour just hanging out with their Senegalese peers. They talked about football, what they wanted to study in the future, where they had visited in Senegal, and other everyday things.
Discovering Senegal’s Wildlife
Of course, we also encountered plenty of animals along the way, and not only during the safaris. Even the drives between stops had their own surprises. On the side of the road, we spotted warthogs, monkeys, and dromedaries, which made the travel days feel memorable too.
The safari was one of the highlights we were all looking forward to, and it did not disappoint.
Our safari lasted a little more than two hours, and we saw so much more than I expected: giraffes, monkeys, nyalas, buffalo, rhinos, zebras, warthogs, ostriches, tortoises, impalas, and several kinds of antelope. I also saw giant elands for the first time, which was especially fun because it was an animal I had never even heard of before the trip.
There was also a boat safari through Djoudj National Park, which is home to hundreds of species of birds. It was a completely different kind of wildlife experience, quieter but still really impressive.
History That Stays With You
Some parts of the trip were more powerful and reflective.
Visiting Île de Gorée and the House of Slaves was not an easy experience, but it is one that truly stays with you. It gave students the chance to reflect on history in a way that felt very real. Standing before la Porte du Non-Retour was a powerful moment, bringing the human impact of this history into focus.
After such a meaningful visit, the rest of our time on Gorée Island offered space to keep reflecting, while also experiencing the island’s art, colors, and daily life. Students chatted with boutique owners on the ferry over and again while visiting their shops on the island. By the end of the day, they had become quite the experts at bargaining in French!
Sand Painting on Gorée Island
The sand painting workshop was another favorite.
The local artist showed us how he used different colors of sand from across Senegal to create detailed pieces. Students then had the chance to make their own, carefully adding the sand layer by layer to create their own designs.
The artist then signed each piece with our Senegalese names. That small detail made the activity feel even more personal. It connected back to the names we had been given at the beginning of the trip and gave everyone a very special keepsake to bring home.
Batik from Start to Finish
The creativity continued in the sustainable village of Guelakh, where one of the hands-on highlights of the trip was the batik workshop.
We did the whole process from start to finish. Students selected a design, stamped the fabric with wax, dyed it, and then removed the wax to reveal the final pattern.
It was exciting for the students to see how much work and technique went into each design and to be part of the process themselves and to get to bring home something they had made.
Fun Surprises Along the Way
Our Tour Manager loved to surprise us each day. One day, this meant stopping at a street market on the way to our first activity. The next, it was buying a baobab fruit for us to try. But my favorite was when he announced we would be taking the Senegalese TGV. The students burst into excited laughter when we saw the donkey cart waiting for us: the TGV Sénégalais!
Tapestry, Art, and Local Creativity
Our exploration of Senegalese art continued with the chance to learn about Senegal’s tapestry work, which was very interesting in a different way.
Senegal is well known for its tapestry, and a single piece can take up to two years to complete. We toured the factory, met the artisans, and learned about the different stages of the process. It was more of an educational visit than a high-energy activity, but I found it fascinating to see the patience, skill, and time behind each piece.
La Maison des Arts also provided a wonderful chance to connect with local artists in their ateliers. Even while in the middle of their creative work, they were incredibly welcoming and happy to speak with us. Stepping into their studios and seeing them surrounded by what they were creating gave students a very direct and personal look at Senegalese art and creativity.
Amadou Dieng, a writer, shared a poem with us, making the visit especially memorable.
Shared Meals and Everyday Connection
Some of the most memorable moments were also the simplest ones.
Sitting down together for shared meals gave us time to slow down, talk, laugh, and truly enjoy la teranga.
During the trip, we were also welcomed into a local home for lunch which was very special. It was not a formal visit or a major landmark, but it gave students a real sense of welcome and connection.
It is one thing to visit a place, but it is another thing to sit together, share food, and feel included in daily life, even just for a short time.
Djembe in the Desert
A true highlight of the trip was the Okai Desert. After a dromedary ride on the dunes, we participated in a djembe workshop led by two local musicians. Some students found they had quite the knack for it and got invited to perform with the band at the bonfire that night.
They were buzzing!
Why This Trip Stayed With Me
All in all, it was a genuinely special trip, and I am excited to help more teachers bring this experience to their students in the future.
What made Senegal so memorable was not just one place or one activity, but the way so many different experiences came together: history, creativity, music, wildlife, hospitality, reflection, and real cultural connection.
For teachers considering Senegal as a destination for their students, this itinerary offers a meaningful way to bring classroom learning to life and give students an experience they will remember long after they return home.
Jërëjëf !
If you’ve made it this far, thank you!
I hope you enjoyed reading a bit about my experience in Senegal.
If you’re curious to learn more, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Merci encore et à très vite,
Aisling O’Callaghan – aisling@forumbyprometour.com
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