Island of Gorée

by Juan

What is the Island of Gorée?

The Island of Gorée was the largest slave-trading centre in Africa during the 15th-19th centuries. It was a colony ruled successively by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French. It was an invaluable strategic location in between North and South and as a gateway for an Atlantic crossing.

Located just a short boat ride away from the Senegalese capital of Dakar, the island is now a pilgrimage centre for the African diaspora. 

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Why is the Island of Gorée a UNESCO World Heritage site?

It is very significant that Gorée Island is one of the initial twelve locations selected in 1978 as World Heritage sites. The main reason to select it was to preserve it as a “memory island”: an “exceptional testimony to one of the greatest tragedies in the history of human societies: the slave trade,” according to UNESCO. Today, Gorée Island is a reminder of human exploitation but also a place of reconciliation.

Previous to being listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site, the Island of Gorée was listed as a historic site by the French colonial administration in 1944. This prohibited any major constructions on the island, protecting its authenticity for generations to come.

What can you expect on a visit to the Island of Gorée?

This was a deeply touching visit when I was travelling in Senegal. I consider it one of those complicated UNESCO World Heritage sites – much like Auschwitz – where it’s important to remember the atrocities and mistakes of the past. At the same time I felt slightly out of place as a tourist. 

It’s a small island, less than a kilometer long. When you visit, you can expect to see a stark contrast between the grim slave quarters and the elegant colonial architecture where the slave traders live. The colonial buildings are still well-preserved around the small island.

If you’re able to distance yourself a little from the history of the place, you will find a really beautiful island which is small enough to be walkable in one or two days. Although nowadays it’s a touristic site, I thought of it as pretty quiet and not crowded. It has a handful of traditional restaurants and guesthouses to spend a couple of days learning about the place.

When you walk around the island, you’ll find small trails and dusty paths taking you from the two small beaches on the island to the House of Slaves, the colonial architecture and up to some beautiful viewpoints near the Goree Memorial.

The House of Slaves with its “door of no return” is a significant museum to not miss on your visit to Gorée. You can join guided tours there of the museum and also of the whole island.

This tour includes pick-up in Dakar, the ferry, and a guided tour of the island.

Is Gorée Island worth visiting? 

I said above that I felt slightly out of place, but that’s very subjective. I ended up valuing my visit to Gorée a lot. To me, the island is a must on any Senegal itinerary. It’s important to learn about and never forget those horrific times in human history.

You can either make it a one-day visit from Dakar or spend one night on the island, which is what I did. The island is pretty chilled and quiet. I find that spending a day and a half to walk it slowly and absorb more of its history is a show of respect to the people who passed through here.

Use the map below to find and compare accommodations on Gorée Island:

What sorts of travelers would like Gorée Island?

This is certainly a quiet destination where you can have moments of deep introspection while you learn about the history of the island and the role it played in one of the greatest tragedies for humanity.

This is not a destination to show off on social media, but one of a more sombre profile, which is a contradiction when you separate its past from its natural beauty. As long as you’re not looking for a party destination, anyone and everyone should visit the Island of Gorée. 

Tips for visiting the Island of Gorée

To go to Gorée you need to take a ferry from the port of Dakar. You don’t need to book online so just show up at the port to buy the ticket. 

It’s important to check the timetables as the ferry runs every one or two hours. The good thing is that they run from early in the morning until late at night so you can really maximise your day if you’re not able to stay overnight.

The trip to and from the island is less than 30 minutes. If you’re lucky you may spot some dolphins on the way.

If you’re only going for a day visit, make sure to grab an early ferry. Even though the island is small, there’s plenty to see.

Take comfortable shoes with you to walk around the island. Most of the historical sights are almost at sea level. The highest point is just about 25 meters (82 feet) above sea level. Although it may not be fully accessible for people with reduced mobility, almost everyone will be able to see the main sights on the island.

There are a few local restaurants that are fairly-priced, which is good news when you’re on a touristic island. 

Top tip: Don’t make any “promises” to vendors. Senegalese people are very polite and not super pushy when they try to sell you souvenirs, but they don’t take your words lightly. If you tell a street vendor that “you will come later” just to try to brush them off, they will look for you afterwards and tell you “you told me you were coming” and go after you (in a non-violent way of course). You may even find some sellers when you board the ferry from Dakar as they’re commuting to the island. They will try to make you “promise” them a visit later in the day. Just tell them you’re not interested if you’re not really looking to buy anything.

Where is Gorée Island? 

The Island of Gorée is only accessible via a short ferry trip away from Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The trip lasts almost 30 minutes in total and you can just go for the day or stay overnight in one of the few guesthouses on the island.

For more information about the Island of Goree, see its official website (In French – use Google translate).

Have you been to the Island of Gorée? If so, do you have any additional information or advice about this UNESCO World Heritage site? Please add your comments below!