Cap Skirring Excursion: Markets, Fishing Camp and an Evening in Casamance

The excursion at a glance

Format

A day in the village of Cap Skirring, carrying on into the evening

Markets

The crafts market and the village market in Cap Skirring

Lunch

Your choice, by the sea towards Kabrousse: Les Hibiscus or Calao Beach

Fishing camp

On the beach at Cap Skirring, next to Club Med: pirogues lined up, women processing the fish; the pirogues come back around 11 am, with spiny lobsters and sea crabs to order

Price

4x4 hire and fuel; a single round trip from Le Papayer Ecolodge if the driver-guide is invited to the evening; meals and drinks extra

Dinner

At the Case Bambou, at La Diaspora or, for a more intimate atmosphere, at Les Jardins secrets de Many

Night out

Two nightclubs: the Kassoumaye and the Case Bambou, with a Senegalese night on Thursdays

Reserved for our guests

For guests staying at Le Papayer Ecolodge

Like all our excursions in Casamance, this one is reserved for our guests, that is, for people staying at Le Papayer Ecolodge: we do not run excursions for outside visitors. To plan the day, request a call back or request your quote online.

The route: a day in Cap Skirring

The day is spent in Cap Skirring and its immediate surroundings: the village markets in the morning; the fishing camp on the beach around 11 am; lunch by the sea; and in the evening dinner, music and the nightclubs. Each stop is independent: you build the day to suit your mood and the season.

For a day further afield, see for example our excursion to Affiniam, which sets off by pirogue from Ziguinchor.

Indicative map: approximate landmarks, not an exact route.

What you discover during the day

A day of markets, beach and music, in the heart of Lower Casamance. Here are its highlights:

• The markets The crafts market for gifts and the village market for local produce.
• The fishing camp Pirogues lined up on the beach and women processing the fish.
• Lunch by the sea Les Hibiscus or Calao Beach, towards Kabrousse.
• Dinner The Case Bambou, La Diaspora or Les Jardins secrets de Many, often with music, dancing and kora.
• The night The Kassoumaye and the Case Bambou, with a Senegalese night on Thursdays.

The crafts market and the village market

The day begins with two very different visits. The crafts market, in the heart of the village, brings together sculptors, jewellers and tailors: you will find African fabrics, wooden masks, silver and gold jewellery, and leather shoes and bags. It is the ideal place to choose gifts to take home to family, in small alleys where the artisans work before your eyes.

The village market is more everyday: Jola women sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, Casamance chillies, papayas, mangoes, mangrove honey, roasted peanuts and cashew nuts. At both, bargaining is part of local culture: negotiate with a smile, and take your time.

The fishing camp, next to Club Med

You also visit the fishing camp, on the beach at Cap Skirring, right next to Club Med. You see the pirogues lined up on the sand and the women processing the fish, notably by smoking and drying. The pirogues generally come back around 11 am, depending on sea conditions: it is the right time to stop by, in late morning. It is a lively place, where you get a sense of what fishing means for the region.

To understand better what you see, read our feature on fishing in Casamance. It is also the chance to order spiny lobsters and sea crabs, to organise a picnic and barbecue on the beach. As elsewhere, ask permission before photographing people, especially women at work.

Lunch by the sea: Les Hibiscus or Calao Beach

For lunch, you choose between two seaside restaurants, on the Kabrousse side. Les Hibiscus, one of the best tables in the area, has its own beach and little seafront shops, with a large terrace facing the ocean; the menu makes the most of seafood and Casamance dishes, such as thiéboudienne, maffé or kaldou.

Calao Beach, also by the sea towards Kabrousse, was recently taken over: the place used to be called “Le Bar de la Mer”, and the food is excellent. Another option: a picnic and barbecue on the beach, with spiny lobsters or sea crabs ordered in the morning at the fishing camp. You eat close to the sand, before enjoying the afternoon: a swim, a walk on the beach or simply a rest in the shade.

Dinner: Case Bambou, La Diaspora or Les Jardins secrets de Many

In the evening, you dine at one of the places where you leave the table with your ears full of music: the Case Bambou, at the Cap Skirring roundabout, a bar, restaurant and nightclub all in one, or La Diaspora, near the fishing village and the beach, which holds themed nights with a live band, in season. There are often shows of traditional music and dance, with the kora, a West African harp-lute.

For a more intimate atmosphere, there is also Les Jardins secrets de Many, a bar-restaurant with a very good atmosphere and very good food, in the village near the centre, before Kabrousse.

Programmes vary by day and by season: ask us what is planned during your stay.

The night: the Kassoumaye and the Case Bambou

For night owls, Cap Skirring has two nightclubs: the Kassoumaye and the Case Bambou. The Case Bambou holds a Senegalese night on Thursdays, with local music and atmosphere, before turning into a dance floor. People go out late: remember to arrange your return with us.

A typical day in Cap Skirring

Times are indicative: they adapt to your pace and to the season.

1. Morning: crafts market and village market in Cap Skirring.
2. Around 11 am: fishing camp, next to Club Med, as the pirogues come back; order spiny lobsters and crabs for a picnic if you wish.
3. Lunch: your choice, at Les Hibiscus or Calao Beach, by the sea, or a picnic and barbecue on the beach.
4. Afternoon: relaxing on the beach.
5. Dinner: at the Case Bambou, at La Diaspora or at Les Jardins secrets de Many.
6. Evening: nightclub, at the Kassoumaye or the Case Bambou.

Practical advice for your excursion

• Bring a hat, sunscreen and water for the day.
• For a picnic and barbecue on the beach, let us know in advance: we order spiny lobsters and sea crabs at the fishing camp.
• Keep cash in small notes for the markets and meals.
• In the markets, bargain with a smile: it is the rules of the game.
• At the fishing camp, ask permission before photographing people.
• If the driver-guide is invited to the evening, he stays on site: a single round trip from Le Papayer Ecolodge and a price limited to the 4x4 hire and fuel. Otherwise, two round trips are needed (dropping the guests off, then coming to pick them up in the middle of the night): the price is higher.
• For the Thursday Senegalese night, let us know in advance: we arrange dinner and transport.
• In the evening, arrange your return with us before going out.
• Music programmes and opening days vary with the season: ask us before you come.

Frequently asked questions about the Cap Skirring excursion

What do you visit in Cap Skirring?

The crafts market and the village market, the fishing camp on the beach next to Club Med, then dinner with music and the nightclubs.

What can you find at the crafts market?

Sculptors, jewellers and tailors: African fabrics, wooden masks, jewellery, and leather shoes and bags. You bargain with a smile.

What is sold at the village market?

Jola women sell seasonal fruit and vegetables, Casamance chillies, papayas, mangoes, mangrove honey, roasted peanuts and cashew nuts.

What do you see at the fishing camp?

Pirogues lined up on the beach, next to Club Med, fishermen and women processing the fish. The pirogues generally come back around 11 am, depending on the sea. You can order spiny lobsters and sea crabs there for a picnic and barbecue on the beach.

Where do you have lunch?

Your choice, by the sea, on the Kabrousse side: at Les Hibiscus, one of the best tables in the area, with its beach and little shops, or at Calao Beach, recently taken over (formerly Le Bar de la Mer), where the food is excellent.

Where do you have dinner in the evening?

At the Case Bambou, at the Cap Skirring roundabout, at La Diaspora, near the fishing village, or at Les Jardins secrets de Many, in the village near the centre, for a more intimate atmosphere. There are often shows of traditional music and dance, with the kora.

What are the nightclubs in Cap Skirring?

Two nightclubs: the Kassoumaye and the Case Bambou, which holds a Senegalese night on Thursdays.

How much does the Cap Skirring excursion cost?

It depends on whether the driver-guide is present. If he is invited to the evening, he stays on site: there is only one round trip from Le Papayer Ecolodge and the price comes down to the 4x4 hire and fuel. Otherwise, two round trips are needed, one to drop the guests off and another to pick them up in the middle of the night, and the price is higher. Meals and drinks are extra.

What is the kora?

It is a West African stringed instrument, a kind of harp-lute, very present in the traditional music of Casamance.

Is the excursion open to people who are not staying at the lodge?

No. All our excursions in Casamance are reserved for guests staying at Le Papayer Ecolodge: we do not run excursions for outside visitors.

Going further: other excursions and features

See all our excursions in Casamance