Gorée Island
The House of Slaves and its door of no return, twenty minutes by ferry.
Duration
4 hrs – 6 hrs
Best time
First ferry of the day
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
Gorée changed hands between Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, for its safe anchorage. The House of Slaves, built in 1776, is the memorial site of the Atlantic trade, with its 'door of no return' opening onto the ocean.
Historians dispute the actual number of captives who passed through that particular house — far fewer than the figure long quoted, most of the trade having left from other posts. That takes nothing from its value as a memorial: it is where what happened along the whole coast is named.
Getting there
Ferry from the Dakar jetty, twenty minutes, hourly or two-hourly. No cars on the island.
What the price covers
paid ferry; entry to the House of Slaves is extra, rates to be confirmed
Rules on site
The ferry fare is higher for non-residents and is paid at the desk, in cash. The last boats back are early in the evening: note the time when you arrive — there is no other way off.
