Hotel Le Ranch de Bango

In the midst of nature, Ranch de Bango is a ten minute drive north from Saint-Louis and a 5 minute drive from the international airport. A shuttle service takes you from the hotel to Saint Louis and the airport. Just next door, the guests can go and explore Djoudj Nature Reserve.

From December to April, two types of hunting practices (strictly regulated) are possible: waterfowl and small game hunting.
Children are welcome in this hotel, where peace and quiet are favoured, as well as relaxation. Shows sometimes take place in the hotel, which is equipped with wireless.For swimming, the hotel recommends that you go to Gandiol beach on Langue de Barbarie, 30 minutes from the ranch. The building of a spa is planned (May 2008).

On arrival at the ranch, everyone notices the car park where the various cars dedicated to competitive hunting or to park and nature reserve tours are parked. Once you have gone passed the reception and its wooden counter, you will find yourself in the middle of the charming main garden of the establishment where a wrought iron boar, (a gift from a Belgian friend who is a hunter), welcomes the guests. Between the lawn, the restaurant halls and the terrace, a few parasols shelter some deckchairs set up alongside a 136m² rectangular swimming pool. Long and narrow and topped with red tiles, the bungalows serving as accommodation encircle the hotel setting. The setting is adorned with several open green spaces where it is nice to take a stroll amidst lemon and mango trees, peacock flowers, palm trees, bougainvilleas, etc. You can then explore the stables where there are around fifteen horses. First built in 1990 with only four bedrooms, the site has progressively grown. The ranch recently acquired a second more comfortable building on the other side of the small footpath which cuts through the estate. Although it is a shame that this two-storey purple building does not really match the surroundings, the peace and quiet is much appreciated, and its interior design and beautiful swimming pool opposite the Lampsar, (one of the Senegal river's tributaries) are much admired.

With a total of 49 rooms, the ranch offers 35 basic rooms in the main building and 14 comfortable rooms in the more recent building. The former cannot be compared to the latter. Small and outdated, the non-harmonious rooms are very simple, with low quality, worn-out bedding, a small TV with six channels, air-conditioning and mosquito nets on the windows. The lack of lighting and the insufficient cleanliness is deplorable. In the large bathrooms, the shower has no curtain.
In the more recent building, the atmosphere is completely different. The rooms are homogenous and typical, their decoration and comfort make you want to make the most of the nicely designed area with its four-poster bed (and mosquito net). The rooms are large and brightened up by the use of gaudy colours such as the orange of the few tiles on the wall. You will find a flat screen TV, a hair-dryer, individual air-conditioning and a fan. In the red and pink bathroom, the hammered iron sink gives a beautiful effect. The care taken in selecting the decorative elements is visible: a wooden toilet rim, a framed mirror, etc. Outside, the terraces with deckchairs give a breathtaking view of the Lampsar. Room service is available during the opening times of the restaurant.

There are two restaurants at the Ranch de Bango, one on each side. The cuisine is simple and prepared with fresh and local products. Due to the hunting times, breakfast is served from 4:00 am to 10:00 am. After having made your choice from the buffet, you can sit wherever you like. Often, the pleasant bar area is called for as a change of scene. Opposite the lawn, in the open-air and sheltered, the seasonal products used for making the drinks are written on the blackboard next to the counter. On the side of the ranch, lunch is served from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and dinner from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, offering only one menu of three dishes (around CFA 8,000), which varies from one meal to the other depending on the season. A large hall offers the opportunity for all the hunters and fishers to gather round one big table. Between the second simple room adapted for individuals and the terrace, the choice is obvious. It is a shame that the latter can not receive many guests at a time.
In the more recent building, the second restaurant is much more popular, due, in particular to its cylindrical roof, its decoration and its view of the swimming pool and surrounding nature. Two menus are available here, including the choice between meat and fish. There is no wine menu.