Hotel reviews: Delta Niominka

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The Delta belongs to the same group as the Lamentin, which is currently being rebuilt following a fire. The hotel offers its own range of excursions, including an aperitif atop a baobab (!), which will set you back 20 000 CFA francs (around £27), from a boat trip down the river to a tour of Bird Island. For an additional 17,500 CFA (around £24) you can continue your evening with a traditional local meal consisting of a buffet of starters, grilled and flambéed crayfish, and dessert. Do bear in mind that the electricity supply (provided by a generator) is deliberately shut off between the hours of 10:00am and 1:00pm and 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The Delta Niominka experience begins long before you reach the lobby or the door to your bungalow. You really will be greeted like royalty on the Delta Niominka's private landing stage in the village of Djiffer, beginning your stay with a 15 or 30 minute crossing to the island, depending on the boat the hotel is using that day. Do beware, though, that your arrival at the resort is likely to be a tad acrobatic as the landing stage was undergoing some renovations when we visited. The Delta Niominka was built in the late 90s and has undergone much renovations since it was taken over in 2008, including the guest rooms and bathrooms, and the construction of an outdoor kitchen, a second swimming pool, and new accommodation.
The decor you'll find here today is African-influenced, modern, and sophisticated. There may not be much in the way of sports facilities (pétanque, beach volleyball, ping-pong, and mountain-biking are available free of charge), but then guests primarily come here to relax, enjoy some pampering in the spa, and to make the most of the superb beach, which is simply light years away from the hustle and bustle often found in holiday clubs. Bear in mind, also, that despite the feeling of being cut off from the rest of the world, they still manage to provide a Wi-Fi Internet connection in the communal areas!

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The hotel can only accommodate around a hundred guests at full capacity since there are only 55 bungalows. The peaceful surroundings are wonderful and a far cry from the hustle and bustle of larger hotels. The hotel offers a choice of two categories of accommodation, but if you can afford to treat yourself and there's one available, go for a cottage. The all-wooden bathrooms open into the bedrooms and are undoubtedly the main asset of this type of accommodation. Amenities include a stone bathtub-shower with a window, a stylish wash basin, a selection of hospitality products, and a separate toilet. The bedrooms, meanwhile, are circular and furnished with bamboo and wooden furniture, African masks, and a bed in the middle of the room. The second major advantage of these rooms are the terraces, some of which are right on the beach itself! Of the 16 cottages in the resort, only 10 actually have views of the beach. The standard rooms are altogether more basic but nevertheless pretty similar on the whole. You might be interested to know that the 4 separate blocks are adjoining, making them ideal for families with young children. With the exception of a phone and Wi-Fi Internet connection, you'll find all the usual facilities expected of a 4 star hotel, including a minibar, a safe, a television, individual air-conditioning, etc.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Full-board is really the only option available since the restaurant at the Delta Niominka is probably the only one on the island! This being the case, the hotel puts a great deal of effort into its cuisine and its restaurant setting. Although most guests choose to dine on one of the two covered terraces just a stone's throw away from the beach, there is also an indoor room should the weather take a turn for the worse. Indeed, the decor and setting here are as much of a treat as what you'll find on your plate, a combination of different influences, though primarily French and Senegalese. The menu changes with every meal and consists of a choice of two starters, two main courses, and two desserts. The gargantuan breakfast buffet is also worth special mention. Finally, you might be interested to know that 3 theme nights are held every week, including Senegalese (complete with a parade), exotic (where they even have an orchestra come in), and the seafood buffet.

• Z Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The beach at the Delta Niominka provides a peaceful and relaxing setting, light years away from the busy beaches of the Petite Côte and the turbulent waters of Casamance. Those lucky enough to be staying in a cottage bungalow can, in fact, enjoy this wonderful setting without even leaving the comfort of their terrace, which is right on the sand. Other guests (who are really just as lucky!) will find wooden deckchairs, cushions, and a small occasional table provided for their comfort. When it comes to things to do here (other than lazing around!), you might like to take a ride on a catamaran, on a pedalo boat, or even in a canoe. Bear in mind, though, that lessons incur an additional charge.