Hotels in Cap Skirring: where to stay in Casamance, from La Paillote to Les Hibiscus

"Hotel Cap Skirring", "Cap Skirring all inclusive", "La Paillote", "Hibiscus": these searches come up as soon as you start planning a holiday in Casamance, in the south of Senegal. Cap Skirring is further from Dakar than Saly, but its long palm-fringed beaches, its villages and its mangroves draw travellers from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and beyond every winter. Here is how to choose your area, your hotel and the right season.

Cap Skirring, the beach of Casamance

Cap Skirring lies in the far south-west of Senegal, on the Atlantic Ocean, in the Ziguinchor region. It is the seaside resort of Casamance, and most of the region's hotels are found here. The main beach is long and lined with coconut palms.

Hotels fall into three areas:

• the Cap itself, the heart of the resort and its services;
• to the south, towards Kabrousse and Cap Randoulène, a quieter stretch of coast;
• to the north, towards Boucotte Bay and Diembéring, more secluded places.

The most searched-for hotels in Cap Skirring

La Paillote is one of the names that comes up most often. It has around thirty bungalows in a tropical garden overlooking the Cap's beach, and one of its restaurants sits right on the sand.

Les Hibiscus (Hibiscus Hotel) is further south, on Kabrousse Bay: a large seafront garden with a swimming pool, valued for its nature and quiet.

Hotel Maya stands north of the Cap, on Boucotte Bay, on the beach, with a swimming pool, and is valued for its tranquillity.

Other names also stand out in searches: La Marsu, at Cap Randoulène near Kabrousse, and small lodges and guesthouses such as Paco Touty Lodge. When comparing, look at:

• beach access: right on the sand, or a few minutes' walk away;
• the pool, very handy with children;
• the board option (see below).

Cap Skirring all inclusive: what to check

"Cap Skirring all inclusive" is one of the most frequent searches. Before you reserve, read each hotel's board option: breakfast only, half board, full board or all inclusive, and what it really covers (drinks, meal times, à la carte restaurant). With young children, full board or all inclusive makes the trip simpler; if you plan plenty of excursions, a lighter option gives you more freedom.

Saly or Cap Skirring?

It is one of the questions people ask most. Saly, on the Petite-Côte, lies about 80 km south of Dakar and offers a very wide choice of hotels and board options. Cap Skirring, at the other end of the country, takes longer to reach but has a more natural feel: palm-lined beaches, Diola villages, mangroves and bolongs to explore by pirogue. For the Petite-Côte, read our guide to hotels in Saly.

Getting to Cap Skirring

• By air: Cap Skirring has its own airport, and so does Ziguinchor.
• By boat: a ferry links Dakar and Ziguinchor, with a crossing of about fifteen hours. Check current sailings; the road then takes you on to the Cap.
• By road: from Dakar, the route crosses The Gambia. Check border formalities in advance.

What to do around Cap Skirring

• Diembéring, a village north of the Cap, known for its giant kapok trees that grow right down to the sand.
• Oussouye, the seat of a traditional kingdom, where Diola culture is still very much alive.
• Carabane Island, about thirty minutes by pirogue from the village of Elinkine.
• The bolongs, brackish channels that wind deep into the mangroves, best explored by pirogue.

Where else to stay in Casamance

In Ziguinchor, the capital of Casamance, several hotels stand on the banks of the Casamance River, such as Hotel Kadiandoumagne, or in the town centre, such as Hotel Le Flamboyant: handy for a first or last night in the region. Around Oussouye and in the villages, Diola-style campements welcome travellers in a simple setting.

When to go to Cap Skirring

The dry season, roughly November to May, is the high season for the beach. Casamance is much wetter than Dakar: the rainy season lasts longer there, usually from June to October. December to February brings the mildest days. For a month-by-month guide, read when to go to Senegal. Outside the high season, check that your hotel is open on your dates.

Before you go

• Travel advice: before any stay in Casamance, read the latest travel advice from your own foreign ministry (France Diplomatie, Belgium's FPS Foreign Affairs, Switzerland's FDFA, travel.gc.ca in Canada, the FCDO in the UK, the US State Department) and follow its recommendations.
• Entry requirements: the conditions for entering Senegal depend on your nationality. Check them with the Senegalese authorities or your foreign ministry before you travel. Nreservi does not handle visa applications.
• Health: for yellow fever and malaria prevention, ask your doctor or a travel clinic for advice, and check the latest official recommendations.

Reserving your hotel in Cap Skirring

Pick Cap Skirring and your dates on our hotels in Senegal page: available hotels are shown with their board options. Planning your trip from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada or elsewhere abroad? You can pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

A question about a hotel or a board option? Write to NIA, our assistant, or contact us.

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.