Women-only weekend getaway at Yokan Lodge
Hi Y’all!
I hope you are doing great.
I’m feeling pretty good myself. The boys are back in school since September, work is busy, and life feels like it’s slowly settling into a routine again—well, as much as it ever can. But amidst this comforting sense of normalcy, I did something recently that was way out of my comfort zone, and I just have to share it with you.
Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a real boom here in Senegal: travel agencies popping up everywhere, offering all sorts of trips—from quick day escapes to two-week adventures. These agencies handle everything: transportation, accommodation, meals, activities. All you have to do is pay and show up. Sounds dreamy, right? As much as I love planning, I’ll admit it’s exhausting to sort out every little detail when you travel. Plus, some of these destinations are so far out of reach for me. I’m not a confident driver, I can’t stand public transport, and booking a private car? Too expensive.
So, I’ve been “stalking” these agencies for a while now, waiting for the perfect trip. The last time I booked one was back in 2021—a day trip to Bandia with the boys. We had a blast spotting animals and enjoying lunch at the reserve. It was one of the happiest days I’ve had outside Dakar with my kids. But since then? Nothing.
Until 2 months ago.
I spotted an announcement for a women-only weekend getaway at Yokan Lodge, one of those dreamy spots I’d always wanted to visit but couldn’t justify splurging on. This time, I didn’t hesitate. It was organized by Leave Senegal and Sunu Trip. I booked it. And as luck would have it, a friend decided to join me.
The trip was organized by two women entrepreneurs running travel agencies here in Senegal. They teamed up to create this experience: one night at Yokan Lodge, plus a full itinerary of activities—boat rides, Pilates, matcha-making, games. Eighteen of us set out from Dakar, women of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds, some who had just arrived in Senegal a month ago.
The journey to Palmarin was long—about three and a half hours—but the scenery was breathtaking. The Sine Saloum region is lush and green, surrounded by rivers and the sea. Yokan Lodge itself felt like a little paradise: wooden and cement structures blending into the landscape, plenty of greenery, and even animals roaming around. The place is massive. By the time we toured it, I was pretty sure I’d already hit my daily step count.
The lounge where we had our welcome drinks
Our room was at the far end of the lodge, and it felt wonderfully and scarily secluded. I shared a suite called Bandia with my friend and two of her coworkers. The suite had a big living room, dining area, and two ensuite bedrooms, plus a little terrace. The décor was warm and earthy—simple but charming.
Stone path to our room
Can you spot our room?
This bathtub was sadly in another room.
Lunch was a short walk (well, more like a 10-minute trek!) to a restaurant near the beach. I opted for a cherry tomato and tuna salad, grilled meat with mashed potatoes, and passionfruit sorbet. The sorbet was a little too acid for me, but the rest? Perfection. We all talked during lunch, properly introducing each other and even networked a bit. I took the occasion to introduce my clothing brand.
The wooden path to the restaurant
Cherry tomatoes and tuna tartare
Grilled meat mix with mashed potatoes
Passion fruit and pineapple sorbet
The highlight of the afternoon was supposed to be a boat ride on the river—a lifelong dream of mine. Unfortunately, the boat got stuck in the mud. The fishermen tried everything: having us shuffle from one side to another, getting us to disembark, but nothing worked. After a while, a few of us decided to skip it partly due to the rudeness of the fishermen. I was disappointed but chose to stay positive. Instead, I ended up having some lovely conversations with the other “rebels” who bailed on the boat ride. Sometimes, plan B is where the magic happens.
Weird patterns on the sand
Back at the lodge, we spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool. Just us girls, no men. I even traded my usual burkini for a shorter swimsuit and felt totally free. The sunset was stunning—I regret not taking a walk on the beach before dinner, but honestly, I was already on cloud nine.
Dinner was just as delicious as lunch, followed by games in the lounge. I did not like the fact that we had the same menu options as for lunch. Yet I settled for crispy spring rolls as an entree, a mozarella arabiatta pasta as main meal and tried my neighbor's camarel rice pudding. The food was delicious. For the games, I somehow ended up as a team captain, and we placed second, winning cute gifts from sponsors. By midnight, I was ready to collapse into bed, happy and exhausted.
Sunset
The lounge at the offical entrance of Yokan lodge by the restaurant
I absolutely enjoyed the decor.
Crispy chicken spring rolls
Mozarella arabiatta pasta
The next morning started early—thanks to a rebellious air conditioner that decided to wake us up freezing cold. There were no kettle in the room, therefore I found myself sipping coffee by the pool as the lodge slowly came alive. I even gave Pilates a try (for the first time!) and loved it. Breakfast was buffet-style, with everything from pastries to fruits, but the eggs were made to order. Then came a matcha-making workshop. I’ve been a matcha lover for years, so I found the whole “matcha trend” in Dakar amusing. Still, I had a great time, especially chatting with a Canadian woman about sea diving.
Morning Joe
Breakfast
The rest of the day was pure relaxation: chatting, dancing, swimming, and soaking it all in. We left around 2 PM to avoid traffic, and by the time I got home, I was so worn out I was in bed by 8:30 PM.
The second pool where we spent most of our time
Looking back, the trip was magical. I made new friends, tried new things, and had plenty of unexpected laughs. Sure, it wasn’t perfect—the air conditioning was faulty, the Wi-Fi nonexistent, and the menu lacked variety for a place with such steep prices. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I’d splurge on the gorgeous four-bedroom suite with the wooden bathtub! And when I say splurge, I mean someone else will foot the bill (LOL). Still, I’d recommend Yokan Lodge for couples wanting a romantic getaway.
For me, the memories from this trip will always feel special, flaws and all. And I will definitely book with Leave Senegal and Sunu trip for another trip.
Comments