A new chapter in Senegal’s evolving creative and hospitality landscape is taking shape along the Atlantic coast. Founded by Anna Rahal, Samaka Surf Camp is a women-led surf and cultural retreat that blends ocean rhythm, Senegalese heritage, and a deeply personal vision of community.
Samaka officially opened in September 2025, and Anna remembers the exact moment the idea crystallized, “One Sunday, after a surf session, my friends and I were sitting on the beach watching the sunset. I felt a strange sadness knowing that Monday would come and I would have to wait another week to experience that feeling again. I realized I didn’t want to wait for weekends anymore. I wanted to live that energy every day. The only way to do that was to turn my passion into my profession.”
Surfing, for Anna, has never been just a sport, it’s a philosophy. “Surfing is everything that makes you feel alive, human, connected to nature,” she says. “That’s what makes us so addicted to it in this somewhat robotic world.”
The name Samaka reflects this layered identity. It draws from the names Sakaja and Makaja which are both associated with protection, faith, and blessings in Senegalese tradition. During local celebrations, masked figures known as Sakaja and Makaja embody strength and symbolic guardianship. The parallel was clear to her when she was deciding on a name, as Anna and her closest friend Pake were known as “the inseparables”(Sakaja and Makaja), from the time they began surfing together. Naming the camp after that bond felt inevitable. Only later did Anna discover that “samak” means “fish” in Arabic, a serendipitous confirmation of her Lebanese roots and the oceanic soul of the project. “It was the perfect name,” she says.
Samaka was created with a clear intention: to introduce travelers to La Teranga, Senegal’s spirit of welcome and shared humanity. The villa itself is a living expression of that philosophy. Fully furnished with handcrafted pieces by local artisans, every detail reflects craftsmanship, care, and a deep love for Senegalese culture.
During the day, guests surf lesser-known local breaks, taste seasonal fruits, wander markets, and meet fabric sellers. Evenings return to comfort: private rooms, thoughtful design, poolside gatherings, and shared meals.
Having grown up in the hospitality world (her family owns Terrou-Bi hotel), Anna insists on balance, where she pairs the roots of surfing with refined hospitality. “We are surfers. We spend half our time in swimsuits with sand everywhere, enjoying life as simply as possible. But I also want guests to come home to comfort and calm. That’s important to me.”
Samaka is also an act of advocacy. Every day, Anna sees young Senegalese surfers pushing toward professional dreams without the financial support required to compete abroad. Having achieved her own dream, her goal is to build a business strong enough to support theirs. “I don’t want to see children unable to participate in competitions because of a lack of funds. I want them to hold on to their dreams. I want them to know it is possible,” she says.
Launching Samaka required Anna to step away from the established family business and define her own path. “My biggest challenge was clearly myself. The fears, the doubts, the never-ending, ‘Am I capable of this?’ But in the end, I went for it.”
Finding the right location took two years. Financing required caution. Bureaucracy proved complex during a politically sensitive moment in Senegal. Choosing to work exclusively with local artisans meant higher costs and slower timelines, but she persevered. “Anything done with love and passion can be achieved,” she says.
Samaka operates with environmental intention. Plastic is eliminated wherever possible. Water fountains replace disposable bottles. Glass straws are used. Electricity use is monitored. Partnerships are formed with local companies sharing similar values.
Future ambitions include beach clean-ups, school conferences on ocean pollution, and surf competitions designed to fund awareness initiatives. “It all starts with us,” Anna says.
Samaka attracts families, solo female travelers, groups of friends who are united less by their actual surfing ability, but more by curiosity. Guests typically surf in the mornings and spend afternoons exploring Dakar’s art scene, museums, markets, and emerging culinary landscape.
Above all, Samaka invites immersion. “It is important to us that guests feel they have come to Senegal, and that they immerse themselves in it,” she says.
Her guiding principle remains simple, “A place in the heart of Teranga, in an ocean of culture and sharing.” At Samaka, it’s the spirit of ‘Amoul solo, nio far’ which from Wolof translates to ‘there’s no problem, we are together. Life is beautiful.’
