What it is
A shallow, very saline lake about 35 km northeast of Dakar, separated from the ocean by a dune belt. Salt is cut from the bed by hand and carried out in pirogues, and the workers coat themselves in shea butter against the brine. It was for years the finish of the Dakar Rally.
Why go
The colour, when it appears, comes from a salt-tolerant alga and shows strongest in the dry season under high midday sun. Be clear that it is not reliable: the pink varies with salinity, season and weather, and after flooding in recent years the lake lost its colour for extended periods. The salt harvesting is worth seeing regardless, and the dunes between the lake and the sea are the usual excuse for a quad or 4×4 run.
When to go
Dry season, and the middle of the day, which is the opposite of normal photographic advice but correct here. Ask your operator for a recent report on the colour before building a day around it. Hawking at the lakeside is persistent; agree prices for anything before you take it.
Most people stay Day trip.