Unforgettable Goree Island

OVERVIEW

Visit the unforgettable and notorious Goree Island off the coast of Dakar, where countless captured Africans were held before being shipped to the New World as slaves. Board a chartered ferry near the ship and venture to nearby Goree Island, where the slave trade flourished for more than 350 years, beginning in the 15th century. Upon arrival, you will first visit the "House of Slave", where, as an introduction to this ignominious period, the curator will give a lecture detailing the cruelty of life during that time. The upstairs of this infamous house was formerly occupied by slave traders and the downstairs reserved for slaves living in abominable conditions. You will also visit sights such as Saint Charles Borromeo's Church and a fortress with a towering monument, memorializing the Africans who were brutalized and dehumanized during the slave trade. Following your guided tour, you will have some time to wander about the stark island, where you can see the buildings and cells once used to house the men, women and children who were shackled around the neck and arms and at the Gate of No Return, you will also see where the Africans saw their last glimpse of the homeland before boarding ships to carry them to the New World. Relax and enjoy a soft drink at a local restaurant before re-boardiing the ferry for the return to the ship. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goree Island is an exceptionally moving experience and one you will not soon forget.