Lake Guiers

Lac de Guiers stretches south from the Senegal river near Richard Toll, a long shallow freshwater lake that is the country's largest and the source of a substantial share of Dakar's water, piped hundreds of kilometres southwest. Sugar cane and irrigated farming line its northern end, fishing villages work the shore, and the shallows carry a heavy bird list. The lake is a working resource rather than a scenic destination, and it looks like one.

History

The lake lay within the lands of Tekrur, Waalo and the Jolof Empire, and N'Der, the third and last capital of the Kingdom of Waalo, stood on its western shore, where the royal compound remains; it was once called Lac du Panier Foule, after the Fula people (Wikipedia, Lac de Guiers).

What's there

• The open water - a long shallow freshwater lake running south from the river.
• The irrigation - sugar cane and market gardens along the northern shore.
• The fishing villages - pirogue communities working the lake edge.
• The birds - pelicans, herons and waders on the shallows and margins.

When to go

November to March is the cool dry season and best for birds. The lake level and the surrounding farming change with the river's regime. Mornings are calmest.

Before you go

There is no visitor infrastructure at all: no boats laid on, no viewpoints, no facilities. Access is through farmland and villages. The water is used for everything and swimming is not a good idea.

Nearby

Richard Toll is at the northern end, and Saint-Louis is west along the river.

Key facts