Casamance au Présent

Updated April 15, 2024

CASAMANCE AU PRÉSENT (Ziguinchor): Ce qu’il faut savoir pour votre …

## Casamance au Présent: Responsible Travel in Southern Senegal’s Casamance

Casamance au Présent is a responsible, solidarity-based tourism agency based in Ziguinchor, in Senegal’s southern Casamance region. It designs tailor-made trips and small-group circuits that focus on meaningful encounters with local communities and low-impact exploration of one of West Africa’s most biodiverse areas. au Présent

This guide walks through what the agency actually does, how it supports social projects on the ground, and what to know before you plan a trip.

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## Where Is Casamance au Présent?

– Location: Unnamed road on the outskirts of Ziguinchor, southern Senegal (coordinates around 12.5653, -16.2644).
– City context: Ziguinchor is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region and the main urban center of the wider Casamance area, lying along the Casamance River.

Ziguinchor functions as:

– A river port and transport hub, with a ferry connection to Dakar and an airport.
– A gateway into “Lower Casamance”, known for dense vegetation, mangroves, palms, and higher rainfall than northern Senegal. Today

For travelers, this means Casamance au Présent is well placed for onward trips to river islands, village campements, and coastal areas such as Cap Skirring.

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## What Makes Casamance au Présent Different?

### 1. A Solidarity & Responsible Tourism Model

The agency presents itself explicitly as:

– An “agence de tourisme responsable” (responsible tourism agency) based in Ziguinchor. au Présent
– A “tourisme solidaire” (solidarity tourism) operation created in 2015 by the Franco-Senegalese association Futur Au Présent.

According to their own and partner descriptions:

– All profits are donated to Futur Au Présent’s social programmes, which include:
– Accommodation for street-connected children
– Schooling for girls exposed to child labour
– Health support for isolated older people in the region au Présent
– The agency prioritises local economic impact by working with local guides, transport providers, village campements and host families.

This is a clear, verifiable link between tourism spending and on-the-ground social projects in Casamance.

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### 2. Style of Trips and Experiences

Across its official site, independent descriptions and reviews, Casamance au Présent is consistently described as focusing on off-the-beaten-path cultural and nature trips: au Présent

Common themes include:

– Mangrove and river experiences
– Pirogue (traditional boat) outings along the bolongs (mangrove channels) of the Casamance River and surrounding waterways. au Présent

– Stays in villages and forest environments
– Overnight stays in village campements or homestays with Senegalese families in suburbs and villages.
– Time in forest-edge villages in Lower Casamance.

– Culture, cooking and music
– Cooking classes, such as learning to prepare dishes like poulet yassa in a local home.
– Encounters with griots and craftspeople; one third-party description mentions kora-making sessions and visits to contrasting neighbourhoods of Ziguinchor.

– Small-group circuits
– TripAdvisor’s description notes day excursions and multi-day circuits from 2 to 15 days, designed to encourage genuine interaction with local communities rather than quick sightseeing stops.

The agency emphasises customised itineraries that adapt to visitors’ interests—nature, culture, village life, or mixed—rather than a single fixed route. au Présent

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### 3. Reputation and Guest Feedback

On TripAdvisor, Casamance Au Présent is currently listed as:

– A multi-day and cultural tour operator in Ziguinchor
– Rated around 4.8 / 5 based on a few dozen reviews (figure current at the time of writing; ratings and review counts can change frequently)

Recent reviews in 2025 highlight:

– Organisation that matches expectations, including itineraries aligned with travellers’ tastes and pace
– Proximity to local life, including shared meals with families and discussions about daily life, animist traditions, and social realities
– Guides described as attentive and informative, with specific praise for their explanations of Senegalese culture and customs

An older independent blog report (2019) describes Casamance au Présent arranging a ferry crossing between Dakar and Ziguinchor plus several days of cultural activities. At that time, the travellers paid in cash rather than by card; this is a dated, individual account, so payment methods should be re-checked directly with the agency before you travel. G Beach

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## Casamance Context: Why Base Yourself in Ziguinchor?

Understanding the wider region helps frame what Casamance au Présent can show you.

– Geography & climate: Casamance lies south of The Gambia and is known for its high rainfall and lush vegetation, including mangroves, oil palms and raffia palms. Today
– River landscape: The Casamance River and its creeks create a landscape of islands, bolongs, and rice fields, with villages connected by waterways and laterite tracks.
– Local cultures: The majority ethnic group in Casamance is the Diola (Jola), who have a strong attachment to land and village-based traditions.

Ziguinchor itself:

– Is the chief town of Casamance and the capital of the Ziguinchor Region.
– Serves as a ferry terminal for the ship Aline Sitoé Diatta, which connects Dakar and Ziguinchor and is an important lifeline for people and goods.
– Has a long history as a river-port town and colonial trading point, which is still reflected in parts of its architecture and layout.

For travellers interested in responsible cultural tourism, basing tours out of Ziguinchor allows for:

– Easy access to coastal destinations such as Cap Skirring and surrounding villages
– Short journeys into rural Diola areas, where traditions like impluvium houses and community-run campements still shape village life African Travel Experience

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## Practical Tips for Booking With Casamance au Présent

### 1. How to Contact the Agency

From its official channels, the agency provides:

– A dedicated website with sections for “Notre agence”, “Notre offre”, “Nos experts” and a contact form. au Présent
– A published telephone number starting with +221 76…, consistent with a Senegalese mobile contact.
– Active Facebook and Instagram pages under the name Casamance au Présent, where they share photos from tours and updates.

Because details like opening hours, contact numbers and booking processes can change, it’s worth verifying all practical information directly via their official website or social channels before committing to travel plans.

### 2. Booking Style and Lead Time

Third-party descriptions emphasise:

– Tailor-made circuits and day trips rather than mass join-in coaches. au Présent
– A focus on small groups and customisable itineraries that can be adapted to your pace, interests and available time. au Présent

Given that:

– Casamance’s main season and ferry schedules can condense demand,
– And some experiences depend on availability in villages or community-run campements,

it is prudent to contact the agency well in advance for peak periods and to confirm any specific requirements (mobility, dietary needs, language preferences, etc.).

### 3. Payments and Practicalities

The agency itself does not publish a universal rule for payment methods on the public pages consulted.

– One 2019 blog report mentions paying Casamance au Présent in cash after withdrawing money from ATMs, instead of using card or Western Union at that time. G Beach

Because this is both dated and based on a single traveller experience, it should not be treated as a current policy. For up-to-date information, confirm directly with the agency how payments, deposits, and cancellations are handled today.

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## Inclusivity, Safety and Current Context

### Regional Situation

Casamance has a history of low-intensity conflict between the Senegalese state and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). While a peace process has significantly reduced violence, some branches of the rebellion remain active and the region is undergoing a long-term reconstruction and development phase. Monde.fr

Recent reporting in 2025 describes:

– Ongoing efforts to consolidate peace
– Investments planned under a regional development plan
– Persistent challenges such as unemployment and infrastructure gaps Monde.fr

Travelers should therefore:

– Check up-to-date travel advisories from their own governments before visiting
– Discuss current conditions with the agency, which is based in Ziguinchor and follows local realities day-to-day

### Cultural Respect & Inclusion

Casamance is ethnically and religiously diverse, with Diola, Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and other groups represented, and a mix of Christianity, Islam and local spiritual practices.

When travelling with Casamance au Présent, simple steps support inclusive, respectful interaction:

– Dress in a way that’s comfortable and respectful of local norms, especially in villages and during ceremonies.
– Ask before taking photos of people, shrines or rituals.
– Use guides’ briefings about local customs as a chance to understand what is welcome and what is intrusive.

Because the agency consciously positions itself around community-focused tourism, it is reasonable to expect them to brief guests on appropriate behaviour; nonetheless, individual responsibility remains important. au Présent

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## When to Go

Ziguinchor and Casamance have a tropical savanna climate with:

– A dry, generally rain-free season roughly from November to around April
– A very wet, humid season with heavy rain in the middle of the year

In practice, this means:

– The dry months are often favoured for overland travel and hiking.
– The rainy season brings intense greenery and high river levels but can affect road conditions and scheduling.

Key Highlights

• Community-based, responsible tourism focus
• Pirogue excursions through mangroves and waterways
• Home-stay and village immersion experiences
• Cooking and traditional music workshops with locals
• Small-group, locally guided tours that support livelihoods

Location

Places to Stay Near Casamance au Présent

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