The Pink Lake, or Lake Retba (Lac Rose), is a salt lagoon on the Grande-Côte, north-east of Dakar, known for the pink tint of its water, caused by a microscopic alga, and for the manual harvesting of salt. You can visit it freely, with no ticket or official opening hours: the colour depends mainly on the sun, and this page helps you choose the time of day and the season. You will find what explains the colour, what you see on site, the safety advice of the UK and US governments and the solar noon time calculated for each month.
The Pink Lake is most often visited from the capital: see our guide to visiting Dakar, our page on the best time to visit Senegal for the climate month by month, and our Senegal travel guide to plan the rest of your stay.
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Pink Lake: key facts
- Access: open natural site, with no ticket office or published official opening hours; boat trips, camel rides or vehicle trips in the dunes are offered by local guides and operators
- Colour: due to the alga Dunaliella salina, more visible under clear skies; it is never guaranteed
- Safety: the UK FCDO reports that robbery, burglary and assault have become more common in Dakar (GOV.UK, updated 15 October 2026); the US State Department warns of rip currents on the Atlantic coast (travel.state.gov, last updated 4 December 2025)
- Good to know: after the heavy rains of summer 2022, the water turned green; it regained its pink colour in early 2025, according to Wikipedia
Why the Pink Lake is pink
Lake Retba is a former lagoon cut off from the Atlantic Ocean by a ridge of dunes. Its channel closed around the 14th or 15th century. Fresh water arrives mainly through the water table on the landward side; very strong evaporation concentrates the salt, up to 463 grams per litre according to measurements reported by Wikipedia. In this hypersaline water lives a microscopic green alga, Dunaliella salina. To withstand the sun and the salt, it makes a red pigment of the carotene family, astaxanthin. This is what gives the lake its orange-pink tint.
The practical consequence: the alga is most active when the sky is not overcast. The colour is therefore stronger in clear weather, and less visible during the rainy season, when clouds filter the radiation. The Wikipedia article places the favourable period from November to June and the less favourable season from July to October, without a precise source for this: take these months as a trend, not a rule.
A fragile colour
The lake is not always pink. During summer 2022, particularly intense rains took its depth from 3 m (10 ft) to 6 m (20 ft), made salt harvesting impossible and washed in wastewater from neighbouring districts. The water then turned green, probably linked to the death of the halophilic microorganisms after the drop in salinity and the pollution. According to Wikipedia, the lake regained its usual pink colour in early 2025. Other threats weigh on the site: urbanisation, pesticides washed in from neighbouring crops, erosion of the dune by motorised vehicles, over-exploitation of fresh water. Before you go, find out about the state of the lake at the time of your stay.
When to see the Pink Lake: solar noon month by month
Since the colour depends on sunshine, the time of day matters as much as the season. The sun is highest at « solar noon », which falls in Senegal between about 1 pm and 1:30 pm local time, not at 12 noon. The table gives, for the 15th of each month, sunrise, solar noon and sunset times, and the day length.
| Month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:37 am | 1:18 pm | 6:58 pm | 11 h 21 min |
| February | 7:33 am | 1:23 pm | 7:13 pm | 11 h 40 min |
| March | 7:16 am | 1:17 pm | 7:19 pm | 12 h 02 min |
| April | 6:55 am | 1:09 pm | 7:23 pm | 12 h 28 min |
| May | 6:40 am | 1:05 pm | 7:29 pm | 12 h 49 min |
| June | 6:39 am | 1:09 pm | 7:39 pm | 13 h 00 min |
| July | 6:47 am | 1:14 pm | 7:42 pm | 12 h 55 min |
| August | 6:54 am | 1:13 pm | 7:32 pm | 12 h 37 min |
| September | 6:57 am | 1:04 pm | 7:10 pm | 12 h 13 min |
| October | 7:00 am | 12:54 pm | 6:48 pm | 11 h 49 min |
| November | 7:10 am | 12:53 pm | 6:36 pm | 11 h 27 min |
| December | 7:26 am | 1:03 pm | 6:41 pm | 11 h 15 min |
The takeaway: days vary little in Senegal, between about 11 h 15 min and 13 h according to this calculation. To see the strongest colour, aim for late morning and early afternoon under a blue sky, in the dry season. For detailed climate, see our page on the best time to visit Senegal.
What to see and do at the Pink Lake
The salt harvest
Salt extraction is done in the lake itself, by hand, since the 1970s. The men, in water up to their chests, break up the salt deposited on the bottom with a pole, then shovel it into boats carrying about a tonne. The women unload the boats and pile the salt on the banks to dry and whiten in the sun. The workers rub their bodies with shea butter to protect themselves from the salinity. Wikipedia points out that this work is hard and precarious, often done by workers from Mali or Guinea: photograph discreetly and ask people’s permission.
The shores, the dunes and the craft village
The lake is separated from the ocean by a barrier of dunes stabilised by casuarina trees planted in the 1970s. A craft village sits at one end of the lake. Guides there offer boat trips to watch the salt harvest, and excursions in the dunes by camel or motorised vehicle. Wikipedia notes that the frequent passage of these vehicles contributes to erosion of the dune: walking or the boat is kinder to the site.
The legacy of the Paris–Dakar rally
Until 2008, the Pink Lake was the finish line of the Paris–Dakar rally. A monument to Thierry Sabine, the founder of the race, recalls that era. The rally left Africa afterwards; the Africa Eco Race took over on this route.
Swimming in the Pink Lake?
Wikipedia does not document any organised swimming. Because the water is hypersaline, a few common-sense precautions apply if you put your feet in: avoid contact with your eyes and wounds, rinse with fresh water afterwards, and do not go far from the edge. Do not confuse it with the nearby ocean: the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated 4 December 2025) says a number of children drown each year in the Atlantic Ocean in Senegal and that riptides can occur anywhere on the coast.
Organising your trip to the Pink Lake
There is no official entry ticket for the Pink Lake. There are three ways to get there from Dakar: by taxi or with a driver booked for the day, by rental car, or on an organised excursion from the capital or the Petite-Côte. We give no journey time: it depends heavily on traffic leaving Dakar, and no official source publishes it.
Booking a Pink Lake excursion
Excursions sold online often combine the Pink Lake with Gorée Island or the Bandia reserve. Before booking, check what is included (boat trip, camel, meal), the group size, the departure time (arriving in late morning favours the colour), the guide’s language and the cancellation conditions. On site, agree any price before the service.
Safety at the Pink Lake: what the UK and US governments say
The Pink Lake is not named in the sections of the UK and US advice that we read. The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 15 October 2026) says cases of robbery, burglary and assault have become more common in Dakar, and in some cases involve weapons; it advises avoiding carrying large sums of money or valuables, using a hotel safe for your passport and valuables whenever possible, and being alert when withdrawing cash from ATMs, going by pre-arranged transport where possible. It also advises taking particular care in remote areas near the borders with Mauritania and Mali, and being alert to clashes in the Casamance region. The U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated 4 December 2025) says street crime, including robberies at knife-point and home burglaries, is common in Senegal, particularly in urban areas, and that the tourism industry is not well regulated, with safety inspections of equipment rare. See entry requirements for Senegal for entry and health information.
Common mistakes at the Pink Lake
- Coming under an overcast sky or late in the day expecting very pink water: the colour depends on the sun.
- Assuming the colour is guaranteed: the green episode of 2022–2024 shows it can disappear for months.
- Swimming in the neighbouring ocean without supervision: the U.S. State Department warns of rip currents and drownings on the Atlantic coast of Senegal.
- Photographing the salt harvesters up close without asking them.
- Accepting a service (boat, camel, quad bike) without having agreed the price beforehand.
- Carrying valuables and your original passport: the UK FCDO advises avoiding valuables and using a hotel safe where possible.
Checklist before you go
- Check the current state of the lake (colour, level) with your accommodation or agency.
- Choose a day of clear sky and aim for late morning.
- Bring water, a hat, sun cream and shoes that can take salt.
- Re-read the UK FCDO and US State Department advice for Senegal and check entry requirements for Senegal.
What to see around the Pink Lake
The Pink Lake is often part of a loop around the capital: our guide to visiting Dakar covers the city, Gorée and the Cap-Vert peninsula. To place the lake and the other regions, see the map of Senegal, and for the time difference, our page on time in Senegal.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Pink Lake pink?
Because of a microscopic alga, Dunaliella salina, which produces a red pigment, astaxanthin, to protect itself from the sun and the salt. The colour is more visible under clear skies.
Is the Pink Lake still pink?
After the heavy rains of summer 2022, the water had turned green. According to Wikipedia, the lake regained its pink colour in early 2025. Check its state before you go.
What is the best time to see the Pink Lake?
Under a blue sky, in the dry season, around solar noon, which falls between about 1 pm and 1:30 pm Senegal time according to our NOAA calculation.
Do you have to pay to see the Pink Lake?
There is no official entry ticket. Boat trips, camel rides or vehicle tours are paid services: agree the price beforehand.
Is the Pink Lake dangerous?
The UK FCDO says robbery, burglary and assault have become more common in Dakar and advises avoiding valuables (GOV.UK, updated 15 October 2026). The U.S. State Department warns of rip currents on the Atlantic coast (last updated 4 December 2025).
Why is the Paris–Dakar rally linked to the Pink Lake?
The lake was the finish line of the rally until 2008; a monument pays tribute to Thierry Sabine.
Our sources
- UK FCDO, Senegal travel advice (GOV.UK, updated 15 October 2026), read on 26 October 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Senegal (travel.state.gov, last updated 4 December 2025), read on 26 October 2026
- Wikipedia article « Lac Rose » (French edition: geography, hydrology, Dunaliella salina, salt, Paris–Dakar, 2022 episode, coordinates), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of the Pink Lake (Wikipedia) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
