Discover Why Bandia Wildlife Reserve Gave Me a Better Safari Experience Than Some of Africa’s Largest National Parks – All in Two Hours! Senegal is unlikely to make your…
Discover Why Bandia Wildlife Reserve Gave Me a Better Safari Experience Than Some of Africa’s Largest National Parks – All in Two Hours!
Senegal is unlikely to make your list when considering a safari in Africa. Yet just an hour’s drive from the bustling capital of Dakar, you’ll discover Bandia Wildlife Reserve – home to reintroduced species such as giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and antelopes, offering visitors a chance to see African wildlife in a semi-natural environment. I was thrilled to find such a variety of wildlife in a country where I hadn’t expected to encounter such a setting until it appeared in my travel research. I was surprised in the best possible way!
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a photography buff, or someone searching for a unique day trip, Bandia Wildlife Reserve provides a memorable experience combining Senegalese landscapes, history, and conservation into a single accessible adventure.
Join me as I share my unforgettable safari through Bandia Wildlife Reserve.
About Bandia Wildlife Reserve
Located just 65 kilometres south of Dakar, Bandia Wildlife Reserve was established in 1990 as Senegal’s first private nature reserve. Covering 3,500 hectares of fenced savannah, it’s a conservation success story that reintroduced native species long lost from the region due to poaching and habitat loss.
You can expect to see a diverse range of wildlife, including:
- giraffes,
- white rhinoceroses,
- zebras,
- antelopes (such as elands and impalas),
- monkeys (patas and vervet),
- warthogs,
- crocodiles,
- ostriches, and
- over 120 bird species.
One of Bandia Wildlife Reserve’s unique aspects is its blend of wildlife and West African culture. Scattered throughout the reserve are reconstructed Serer burial mounds, traditional Peulh huts, and an ancient baobab tree once used as a tomb for griots (Senegal’s revered oral historians).
Bandia Wildlife Reserve’s landscape is straight out of an African nature documentary – think towering baobab trees, wide-open plains, and clusters of acacia trees that provide shade to wandering herds. Bandia’s founders have created a balanced ecosystem that’s both welcoming to wildlife and inviting for visitors.
Exploring Bandia Wildlife Reserve is typically done via guided 4WD safari tours, allowing close encounters with wildlife in their natural habitats. The reserve features a restaurant and bar overlooking a waterhole, where you can relax and observe animals like buffalo and crocodiles. There is also an excellent souvenir shop.
Are you a wildlife enthusiast, a photographer, or looking for a family-friendly adventure? Bandia Wildlife Reserve offers an unforgettable experience that feels worlds away yet is incredibly accessible.
The Safari Experience
You can tour Bandia Wildlife Reserve in your own car, by taxi, or hire an on-site open-sided safari truck (reservations aren’t necessary), seating 8-24 people. However, a 4WD is crucial during wet weather.
I was in Senegal on a private tour with a guide and driver in a 4WD vehicle. I travelled through the Bandia Wildlife Reserve in this vehicle. Whether you opt for your own vehicle, taxi, or the reserve’s safari truck, hiring one of Bandia’s specially trained guides is mandatory. These guides are skilled at spotting wildlife and knowledgeable about Bandia’s history, conservation efforts, and cultural heritage.
Driving around Bandia Wildlife Reserve, I was thrilled by how often I spotted animals and birds and the diversity of what I encountered.
I’ve been on safari in several of Africa’s larger, open-range national parks and loved the adventure they offer. However, the vastness of these landscapes can mean hours of driving without a single sighting. In contrast, my experience at Bandia Wildlife Reserve was uniquely different. Within two hours, I encountered an impressive range of wildlife – giraffes, zebras, rhinos, antelope, monkeys, ostriches, and more – with hardly a moment of stillness between sightings. While Bandia may not have the scale or remoteness of the big-name parks, there’s something to be said for a small, well-managed, enclosed reserve where animals roam freely but are easier to find. It didn’t feel staged; instead, it felt intimate and rewarding – ideal for travellers seeking a rich safari experience without the long waits or need for multiple game drives.
My wildlife safari photo gallery
A white rhino rests in the shade of a tree.
A lone giant eland (also known as the Derby eland or Lord Derby’s eland) stands proud in the African bush. It is the largest species of antelope in the world.
A warthog drinks from a waterhole. My Bandia Wildlife Reserve guide told me they are the only animals that can get in and out of the reserve because they burrow under the fencing.
A zebra wanders past boxthorn bushes.
The Abyssinian roller, also known as the Senegal roller, has vivid blue body feathers and impressively long outer tail feathers. It is, without a doubt, a stunning bird.
A spotted hyena. The hyenas in Bandia Wildlife Reserve are kept in an enclosure because they were killing the animals.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
The Bandia Wildlife Reserve showcases wildlife and honours Senegal’s rich cultural heritage.
During the drive, my safari guide showed me a one-thousand-year-old sacred baobab tree used historically as a tomb for griots, the traditional West African keepers of knowledge and oral tradition. Baobab trees were considered sacred by the Serer people and regarded as a fitting place for the remains of the griots, who were revered as wise men and sages.
Deceased griots were placed in the hollow trunks of baobab trees rather than being buried in the ground to ensure their knowledge remained accessible and didn’t get lost in the earth. This practice has been outlawed since 1962 due to public health concerns. Nevertheless, the baobab trees still hold sacred significance for the local population.
The one-thousand-year-old sacred baobab tree – an ancient tomb for griots inside Bandia Wildlife Reserve (a practice now banned). There were human skulls inside the hollow of the tree. However, I suspect they were placed there for the benefit of tourists.
Practical Information
Opening hours
Bandia Wildlife Reserve is open daily from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Ticket prices
- Adults: 12,000 FCFA (West African CFA Franc) (approximately €18,50)
- Children (under 12 years): 7,000 FCFA franc (approximately €10,50)
- Vehicle entry (personal car or taxi): 7,000 FCFA (approximately €15)
- Safari truck rental, 11-seater: 40,000 FCFA (approximately €61)
- Safari truck rental, 24-seater: 60,000 FCFA (approximately €91)
- Guide per vehicle (mandatory): 6,500 FCFA (approximately €10)
You can make payments in FCFA, Euros, or by credit card.
On-site facilities
Bandia Wildlife Reserve has a large on-site restaurant overlooking a waterhole teeming with Nile crocodiles. I didn’t eat there as I was having lunch at Lac Rose (Pink Lake), so I can’t comment on the quality of the food on the menu.
Two Nile crocodiles rest on the banks of the waterhole that Bandia Wildlife Reserve’s restaurant overlooks.
An excellent, upmarket, boutique-style souvenir shop is in the same building as the restaurant. I wanted to buy a book on Bandia Wildlife Reserve, but unfortunately, they were only in French.
Best time to visit
Senegal is situated at Africa’s westernmost point, along the Atlantic Ocean. It experiences a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: a dry season from November to June and a wet season from July to October. Temperatures remain warm to hot throughout the year, averaging about 36 degrees Celsius.
I always recommend visiting a wildlife park in Africa during the dry season because the animals are drawn to the waterholes.
For optimal wildlife viewing, visit during the cooler hours of the morning or late afternoon, as animals tend to be more active at these times than in the heat of the midday period.
How to Get to Bandia Wildlife Reserve
Bandia Wildlife Reserve is easily accessible by car from the capital, Dakar, and Saly’s resort area. Except for the last 800 metres, the roads are sealed, well-signposted, and in good condition.
From Dakar (approximately 65 kilometres):
-> Head south on the A1 motorway from Dakar.
-> After approximately 60 kilometres, take Exit 14 toward Sindia/Popeguine.
-> Continue for 2 kilometres, then turn right onto National Road N1 (Dakar-Mbour).
-> Drive 3.3 kilometres on N1, then turn left at the signpost indicating Bandia Wildlife Reserve.
-> Continue on the unsealed track for 800 metres to reach the reserve entrance.
From Saly (approximately 15 kilometres):
-> Head north from Saly on National Road N1 toward Sindia.
-> After approximately 15 kilometres, watch for the signpost to Bandia Wildlife Reserve and turn right.
-> Continue on the unsealed track for 800 metres to reach the reserve entrance.
If you’re not driving, you can organise a private transfer or book a guided tour, typically from Dakar or Saly, that includes transport, park entry, and a safari guide. You can book half-day and full-day tours to Bandia Wildlife Reserve with companies like Viator, GetYourGuide, and ToursByLocals (all of which I’ve used on other trips and found to be excellent). The full-day tours are usually combined with other attractions, such as Pink Lake.
My visit to Bandia Wildlife Reserve was, without a doubt, a highlight of my time in Senegal. It’s more than just a place to see animals; it’s a testament to conservation, a visual reminder of Senegal’s diverse natural beauty, and a chance to reconnect with the wild. It’s an easily manageable day trip that packs a punch, offering a genuine taste of safari life without having to venture deep into other parts of Africa.
Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or just seeking something different to do, Bandia Wildlife Reserve provides an accessible and remarkably rewarding experience. So, if you find yourself in Senegal, make time for this magical encounter – it left me with lasting memories, stunning photos, and a deeper appreciation for Senegal’s hidden natural treasures.
Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.
© Just Me Travel 2018-2025.
Have you ever visited a smaller wildlife reserve like Bandia? Did it surprise you compared to the big-name safari parks? I’d love to hear about your experiences – share them in the comments below!
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Author’s Note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and follow government advice.
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