The water's colour
Pink to reddish brown.
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Lake Retba, known as the Pink Lake, is a salt lake near the Atlantic, some 35 km north-east of Dakar. Only a narrow band of dunes separates it from the sea. Its colour comes from algae living in the water, and its salt content reaches up to 40% in places. It is one of the most photographed places in Senegal. The colour is usually strongest from late January to early March, during the dry season. Flooding in September 2022 disrupted salt harvesting and took away the colour, which hurt tourism, but by 2025 the lake had regained some of it. As of May 2026 it was under consideration by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The shades change with sun and wind, from pink to a dark reddish brown, and a cloudy day can disappoint. Around the water lie orange dunes, a few trees and small villages, with a blue line of ocean beyond. Salt workers operate here, gathering salt from the bed by boat and piling it into small white heaps on the shore. It is about 28 km from central Dakar in a straight line, so half a day is enough. Midday with strong sun is the best time for the colour. Locals offer boat and vehicle tours, so agree a price first. If you go into the water, wash your skin afterwards, as it is very salty.
Pink to reddish brown.
A band before the ocean.
White heaps on the shore.
North-east of Dakar, Senegal
No, the colour changes with season, sun and wind, and is usually strongest from late January to early March.
People float easily because of the salt, but keep it out of your eyes and wash your skin afterwards.