Do you want to discover the hidden natural and cultural treasures of Dakar ? Then Ecotour offers you this opportunity by proposing you going to meet a rare bird, the Phaeton and people with sacred and mythical rites, the lebou. With these people you will travel in a mythical world through a sacred rite called commemorative tuuru of the genius Mame Ndiaré organized once a year.

The Phaeton, Phaeton aethereus mesonauta constitutes a big curiosity. It is a bird of an exceptional beauty measuring 90 to 105 centimeters long for a wingspan of 99 to 106 centimeters. It has the upper hand impacted and a black eye feature. It presents a white and black plumage in some places, a red beak and a tail made by long feathers confering it the name of "Straw in Tail". It shakes it elegantly during the courtship display.

The Phaeton is a pelagic species that is exclusively present in open sea. It is an excellent long-flight bird but is incapable to walk. Phaetons lives in the middle of the sea and were sometimes observed in several hundreds of kilometres of any lands. They find their rest by settling on water and are very rarely observable on ground apart from their period of reproduction. However, they reproduce only in three places in the world: the Islands of Asunción, the Islands of the Green Cap and our precious Islands of Madeleine with a spectacular architecture due to its prismatic colonnades.

The islands of Madeleine offer conditions, which are favorable to the survival of Phaetons. Indeed, there is a big biologic wealth there: abundance of very varied fishes, mollusks, shellfishes and microorganisms. Moreover, the park welcomes other nesting and migratory colonies of water birds such as certain terns, the cormorant, the madman of bassan, the labbe with long tail, the black milan, the sandpiper times, the ospry fisherman, the erget, the ash heron, etc.

The geology is significant for these birds insofar as the Islands present coasts with cliffs containing numerous cavities which serve them as nests. These cliffs have a singular beauty due to their colonnades in the form of prism. Moreover, these islands welcome us in the entry with a natural swimming pool cut in the cliff. The erection of islands in national park and their sacred character for the autochtonous population protect them from the anthropological impacts. This has favoured the establishment of birds on the islands.

You will find an exceptional flora there. You will be filled with wonder by the shape of the ligneous species characterized by their nanism and their crawling aspect which are in fact an adaptation to the conditions of the environment.

After the visit of islands we will make a bend for the beach of Soumbédioune and we will observe the landing of the craft fishermen and  its very colored fish market.

In a course rich in educations, you will also have the opportunity  to discover a fascinating culture, that of the ethnic group : the Lebou, an word which means people of the sea. These latter have the power to contact, to communicate with the genius. During this tour, you will assist the worship of the protector genius of a whole village, that of Yoff. This genius named Mame Ndiaré is dedicated a tuuru held every year. The date of this tuuru is fixed by her. She appears in a dream and exhorts the priestesses and particularly the big priestess of the tuuru to organize it. It is usually held between December and February.

The tuuru of Mame Ndiaré is the target of all the villagers of Yoff. This event interests the foreigners who do not hesitate every time to come and revive the event. This tuuru will bring you in an mythical world existing nowhere else.

This worship commemorates the independence of this village from a former realm of Senegal. The independence was acquired after a battle during which Mame Ndiaré helped the population of Yoff. This tuuru lasts 5 days. The first day involves five main stages related each to a site : Diew, Dieufougne, Keusoup, Kheutgue and Soussegue. During this day, the sacrifices in honour of the genius are made. The other days are especially reserved for the festivities.

You can also discover the sacred link which unites the people of Yoff with the Island of Teunguène. This one is situated to about 300 meters of Yoff. The island of Teunguène is a typical example of nature conservation. Owing to its interest, the population of Yoff set up the Island in June 1998 Area of the Community Patrimony recognized by both UNESCO and UICN. Since then they watch over it.

It can be considered as one of the protector sites of these villagers because it is the house of the genius Mame Woré Moll. Some sacrifices must be only put down on this island. It is essentially marked by its mythical and mystic character.

The island is a sacred site where the villagers, who have concerns for them or for the village cross the sea and come to make it prayers. It turns out every time their prayers are fulfillled. So they continue their routine while having a pious thought in the island and in its genius : Mame Woré Moll.

Teuguène is also an ornithological site. Birds are not rare there. They seem to feel wonderfully there. It is a real pleasure for the eye with an abundance of admirable birds in the flight attracting more than one.

Previously, you will climb the vestiges of a former volcano which is  presently switched off in the form of two bumps called the Mamelles. Throughout the escalation, you will notice the various botanical species constituting its flora. Once in the summit, you will be in front of the most ancient lighthouse of the region of Dakar. Because of their relief, the Mamelles offer a panoramic sight of the whole Peninsula of the Green Cap.

You will not leave without contemplating the city of the Senegalese capital where the téranga (hospitality) finds its true meaning. You will so have the occasion to discover Dakar in its almost global nature. This will allow you to have beautiful recollections anchored indelibly and magnificently in your memories.

However, the destination which we propose you cannot be understood. It is lived, inhaled, observed, listened and discovered.