Pink Lake and Toubab Dialaw: where to stay near Dakar

"Pink Lake Senegal", "Lac Rose hotel", "Toubab Dialaw hotel": two getaways near Dakar keep coming up in travellers' searches. North-east of the city lie Lake Retba, better known as the Pink Lake, and its dunes; to the south, Toubab Dialaw, a fishing village at the foot of the cliffs. Both work as day trips, but a night there makes all the difference. Here is what you need to know to choose, and where to stay.

The Pink Lake at a glance

Lake Retba, or Lac Rose, is about 35 km north-east of Dakar. It is a lagoon of roughly 3 km², bordered by dunes. Its colour comes from a micro-alga, Dunaliella salina, which lives in its very salty water. The shade shifts with the time of day and the light, from mauve to deep pink.

Salt has been harvested here by hand since the 1970s: you can watch the harvesters working in the water, then the salt drying in heaps on the shore. The lake was also the finish line of the Paris-Dakar rally, and since 2005 it has been on Senegal's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Is the lake pink again?

It is the question many travellers ask. In 2022, after heavy rain in Dakar, a large share of the floodwater was diverted into the lake. The diluted water lost its pink colour and salt harvesting stopped.

Since 2025 the lake has been pink again, and salt harvesting is picking up. The colour is still a natural phenomenon that varies with light and conditions: before you go, look at recent photos posted by travellers rather than old pictures.

Things to do around the lake

• A pirogue trip on the lake, to see the salt harvest up close;
• an outing in the dunes, by quad bike, 4x4 or camel;
• lunch by the water, at one of the hotel restaurants near the lake.

Agree on the length and price of each activity before setting off, and bring water and sun protection.

Staying at the Pink Lake

A night by the lake lets you see it at sunrise, away from the day-trip crowds. Most places to stay are grouped around the village of Niaga, near the shore. They are mainly hotels and bungalow camps, often simple in comfort, with gardens and pools.

The names that come up most often in searches:

• Le Trarza, in Niaga, very close to the lake;
• Chez Salim, a hotel and camp in Niaga;
• Le Calao du Lac Rose, a quiet spot in the lake area.

Before booking, check what matters to you: air conditioning or a fan, mosquito nets, meals included or not. In a camp, atmosphere often comes before comfort.

Toubab Dialaw: cliffs and beach

Some fifty kilometres south of Dakar, on the Petite-Côte, Toubab Dialaw is a fishing village backed by cliffs, with a sandy beach. Long focused on fishing, it has opened up to tourism and built a reputation as a cultural hub.

Two places helped. Sobo Badè, a hotel and arts venue with highly original architecture perched above the beach, was created by the Haitian writer Gérard Chenet. Higher up, the École des Sables, founded by the choreographer Germaine Acogny, is an international centre for traditional and contemporary African dance.

Toubab Dialaw suits travellers looking for peace, the sea and an artistic atmosphere rather than a big beach resort.

Where to stay in Toubab Dialaw

• Iris Hotel, facing the ocean, the village's most searched-for name;
• Sobo Badè, for the experience and the architecture more than for luxury;
• La Mimosa, with a pool and garden, a short walk from the beach.

Some hotels are a little hard to find: ask your hotel for directions before you arrive, especially after dark.

Day trip or stay: how to plan it

• The Pink Lake as a day trip: a day from Dakar is enough for the pirogue, the dunes and the salt harvest.
• The Pink Lake as a stay: one night for the morning light and the quiet evening.
• Toubab Dialaw: two or three nights to really enjoy the sea and the village.

The Pink Lake and Toubab Dialaw lie on opposite sides of Dakar: plan them as two separate stops and allow for traffic in the Dakar area.

Before you go

• Entry requirements: in principle, entry conditions for Senegal depend on your nationality and the length of your stay. Check the latest rules with the Senegalese authorities or your own 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.
• Safety: read the travel advice published by your own government.

Booking your hotel

Enter your dates on our hotels in Senegal page. Planning your trip from the UK, the US, Canada or elsewhere abroad? You can pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment.

For a first trip, our Dakar, Saly and Saint-Louis itinerary suggests a typical week. Looking for a specific hotel at the Pink Lake or in Toubab Dialaw? 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.