Along the Gambia River, more than a thousand standing stones form the largest known concentration of stone circles in the world. On the Senegalese side, Sine Ngayène and Wanar can be visited in a day from Kaolack or the Saloum Delta: a rare, still little-visited site for groups curious about history.
Between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD, societies of the Gambia River valley carved standing stones from laterite, one to two and a half metres high, and arranged them in circles around burials. The property inscribed by UNESCO in 2006 brings together four large groups: two in Senegal, Sine Ngayène and Wanar, and two in The Gambia, Wassu and Kerbatch.
Sine Ngayène is the largest group, with more than fifty circles; Wanar has about twenty and, since 2023, an interpretation centre. Excavations at Wanar since the mid-2000s continue to shed light on the funerary rites of these societies.
The site is still little visited, which is part of its appeal. For a group, it fits naturally into a heritage circuit between Dakar, the Saloum Delta and Eastern Senegal, with a guide to explain it.
Logistics, tips and site rules, checked on 13 October 2026.
From Dakar, the road reaches Kaolack in about three hours. Sine Ngayène lies to the south, towards Nioro du Rip, on the road to The Gambia; Wanar is to the east, near Kaffrine. The last kilometres are on tracks: a suitable vehicle is preferable.
The circles are visited on foot, in one to two hours per site. At Wanar, an interpretation centre presents the history of the megaliths and the excavations. Entry fees and guided tours are paid on site; we reconfirm them for each group.
These are burial sites and places of memory. Do not climb on the stones, move anything or take anything away. Drones: prior authorisation.
The sites are in full sun, with almost no shade: choose the morning or late afternoon, November to February. A hat, water and sun protection are essential.
The circles usually fit into a wider programme. The most requested formats:
The Saloum Delta, then the stone circles: two World Heritage Sites in three days, with nights in a lodge.
A stop of a few hours between Kaolack and Tambacounda, for a group heading to Niokolo-Koba or Bassari Country.
Archaeology, West African history, managing a cross-border property: programmes for universities and learned societies.
For an official delegation or an association: a guided visit, a meeting with the site's stakeholders, lunch in Kaolack.
Wassu and Kerbatch, on the Gambian side, complete the visit, subject to border formalities.
Indicative timings, set for each group around the season and track conditions.
Describe your group once: dates, number of people, language, format. We pass your request to the right destination management companies, and their proposals come back to you.
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Groups stay in the Saloum Delta or in Kaolack. A few examples; in Kaolack, we suggest the hotel that suits your group.
Accommodation listed as examples, with no guarantee of availability: we suggest what suits your group and your dates. “Verified” marks a profile confirmed by the agency.
One to two hours per site. Both Senegalese sites can be visited in a day from Kaolack.
It is a long day: about four hours by road each way. It is better combined with a night in the Saloum or in Kaolack.
Wanar has an interpretation centre. For a group, we arrange a guide for the whole day.
Yes: Wassu and Kerbatch lie across the border. Crossing involves formalities; we check the conditions for your group.
The circles are on flat but sandy ground, with no facilities. Tell us about any needs and we will adapt the visit.
✔ Page checked on 13 October 2026. Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Stone Circles of Senegambia”. Access, times and fees taken from sources published by the site managers and tourist information sites; they change and are reconfirmed for each request.