Located near the Petite Côte and just a short drive from Dakar, Bandia Nature Reserve offers one of the best safari wildlife experiences in Senegal. This protected reserve is home to giraffes, white rhinos, zebras, antelopes, ostriches, monkeys, and a wide range of bird species, making it a popular day trip for visitors exploring this region. Unlike traditional national parks, Bandia provides guided 4×4 tours that bring you close to wildlife in a safe and controlled environment. No predators in this park. This Bandia Nature Reserve safari travel guide covers everything you need to plan your visit. From what animals you can see, how the tour works, to ticket prices, the best time to visit, and essential travel tips to help you plan your visit.
Why visit Bandia Nature Reserve
This reserve is located in the north of M’bour and is a good location to have your first safari from Dakar, Sally or M’Bour! Bandia Reserve is famous for its giraffes and white rhinos! The goal of this reserve is to reintroduce the animals that once lived in Senegal to one reserve. This also meant bringing in animals from other countries, as the animals had disappeared in Senegal, such as the giraffe.
Fun Fact: The reserve also has a 1000-year old baobab tree with a perimeter of 17 meters!
Animals you can see at Bandia Nature Reserve
1) Ostriche
When entering the reserve, you first encounter a barrier of protection: ostriches. They make a lot of sounds when intruders come to hunt the animals. After that, you enter Jurassic Park: the big gates are just like in the original movie!
2) Hyena
When entering the reserve, you will see a small terrain for 2 hyenas. It’s really a shame as they don’t have much space.
3) Zebra
As we went on, we saw a lot of zebras and buffalo. I loved the zebras the most as they were so cute!
4) Giraffes
Senegal used to be a country with the biggest giraffe population, but over time, the animals disappeared due to being hunted down. Now, Senegal is trying to repopulate the country with giraffes. We saw around 7 giraffes in the reserve. The darker one is the older one. The dark color is an indication of old age.
5) White Rhinos
After a while, we finally saw the male and female white rhinos that the reserve has! They were not far from each other as they were looking to mate with each other. They were very calm when we stopped beside them.
Big five animal: check!
6) Monkeys
During our tour, we saw a lot of monkeys playing with the giraffes. The last stop of your safari is a stop at the cafe, where you can watch some monkeys in the trees. Be sure not to give them food!
7) Crocodiles
Another amazing view from the cafe is the view of the water hole filled with crocodiles! The cafe is just above a water source where all the crocodiles wait for their prey to drink some water.
Safari Practical Tips
How the Safari Tour works
You can easily arrange a safari tour at your hotel, on the street, or via GetYourGuide. If you book on the street, make sure not to pay in advance, to make sure they’ll come to get you. You’ll get in a 4×4 jeep and enjoy the nature reserve in around 2 hours. The other hours are transfer times to your pick-up location.
Bandia Nature Reserve ticket prices & booking
You can easily arrange a safari tour at your hotel, on the street, or via Get Your Guide. If you book on the street, make sure not to pay in advance, to make sure they’ll come to get you. You’ll get in a 4×4 jeep and enjoy the nature reserve in around 2 hours. The other hours are transfer times to your pick-up location. I would advise checking for a tour in your hotel, if they don’t offer or it’s way too pricy, book your tour with GetYourGuide.
Price (via our hotel): €100
Best time to visit Bandia Nature Reserve
You have the best wildlife viewing during the dry season (November-May). We visited the reserve in July and still had amazing wildlife viewings! The best safaris are the ones in the morning, as it’s cool, but you can also do a safari in the afternoon if you like. That’s when the animals are most active (morning & afternoon). Around noon, all animals will take shelter to keep cool.
What to wear on a safari?
Light, breathable clothing is best due to the tropical climate, and do safaris in neutral colours (beige, brown, and green).
What to bring along on a safari?
Make sure to bring these top 5 items on your safari trip:
- A pair of binoculars: to see all wildilfe up close.
- Camera: to take amazing photos of your trip!
- Sunscreen: don’t get sunburned
- Bottle of water: stay hydrated
- Hat or cap: for sun protection
Use my ultimate packing list to have everything in your luggage for your trip.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Bandia Nature Reserve Senegal
🦏 What animals can you see at Bandia Nature Reserve?
Visitors can see giraffes, white rhinos, zebras, various antelope species, monkeys, and many birds.
🦒 Is Bandia Nature Reserve worth visiting?
Yes, it offers one of the best safari-style wildlife experiences in Senegal, especially for travelers based near Dakar, Saly, M’Bour, or the Petite Côte.
🚙 Do you need a guide at Bandia?
Yes, guided 4×4 tours are required and included in the visit experience.
🦓 How far is Bandia from Dakar?
Bandia Nature Reserve is about 65 km south of Dakar and takes around 1-1.5 hours by car, depending on traffic.