Iles de la Madeleine

The Magdalen Islands are an archipelago located off the coast of Dakar (Senegal). It consists of two islands, of which is the largest island in Sarpan (Senegal), and the smallest, the island only.

The Park of the Madeleine, cormorants and straw in tail

Blank frame,  Sarpan island seems to have never been visited by humans; It opens its doors on the Hubert Cove where the dugouts are entering. Located on the southeast coast of Dakar, the island takes its name from an ex-military of the French colonial army sent on punishment. He would have been the first European to visit this island.

Why the Snake Island? When the Lebou, ethnic group living on the coast, came on the island, they found a man who introduced himself as Mr. Sarpan. But they don’t understand, they say to themselves saying we found a snake man on the island. And with the Word of their mouths, the island became a snake Island...

With a surface-area of 50 ha, the island offers a rich environment that varied with more than 101 species of trees, including tamarind, Euphork Balsam, the Bosua... The Trees grow as lianas to escape the strong wind coming from the sea, and that is why there are dwarf baobabs.

The fauna of the island is full of rats, phaetons (straw-in-tail), cormorant ranked by the territories (see the map at the entrance of the Park) as well as a sandy beach where turtles come to lay during the rainy season. On the black rocks, symbol of volcanic are presence there for thousands of years, spreading of seaweed promote the development of the seafood. We meet sea urchins directly in the rocks.

Pictures from the coast, the Sarpan island is a plateau. It allows a paradisiacal vision as well in Dakar as on the high seas

At times it can be Temperamental, rebel by others, the sea sometimes is decorated in pure blue and enchanting, charming, covered with foam, she puts her wedding dress to throw on the rocks; tormented, it becomes green with rage...

During the rainy season, the island becomes beautiful: its vegetation becomes lush and green. On the island, there is no source of water known to date...

crossing to the island is secured by the coast guard and lifejackets are mandatory for all. The visitor can stay more than 4 hours to preserve peace on the island.

its twin, the lougne island, has less hospitable for humans is an ideal refuge for the phoetons and cormorants. The structure are separated by parts, lamelliforme by others is covered with birds defecations which give its white color .

Practical information

The departure of the canoe is at the national park of the Madeleine islands (PNIM), located on the West coast road just after the Court of appeal, in the Bay of Soumbédioune.

Provide for the walking shoes (sea urchins on the rocks and a few snake Psammophis elegans) and shelter from the Sun.

price list

• The park entrance: 1 000 F / pers

• The guide: 5000 F / group of people

• Canoe: 4 000 F / pers.

• Umbrella (optional): 2 000 F

The guards provide life jackets. You can't stay than 4 hours on the island.

The Park is open from 9: 00 to 17: 00.

Phone Number of the Madeleine Park : 33 821 81 82

source http://www.au-senegal.com/parc-de-la-madeleine,013.html