Joel Diatta

Joël Diatta was born and raised in the lush landscapes of southern Senegal, in the heart of Casamance, where rice fields stretch toward the horizon and traditions remain deeply rooted in daily life. A proud son of the Diola people, Joël grew up immersed in the rhythms of the land - planting, harvesting, listening to elders, and absorbing the stories that shape identity and belonging. Long before he carried a guiding certificate, he carried an inherited knowledge of culture, landscape, and hospitality.

With numerous years of professional experience as a certified tour guide, Joël combines academic rigor with lived experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages (Tourism) and a Master’s degree in Tourism and Cultural Activities Management from Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor. His academic path reflects a deep commitment to research, preservation, and the thoughtful promotion of Senegal’s cultural and natural heritage.

But Joël is not only a guide - he is a field researcher and cultural advocate. As a research assistant, he has traveled extensively across Senegal, contributing to the evaluation of agricultural and cultural development projects for NGOs and consulting firms. These journeys took him far beyond the well-trodden routes, strengthening his belief that tourism must serve communities, protect heritage, and celebrate authenticity.

Guiding, for Joël, is a vocation. His safaris and cultural journeys are immersive, personal, and grounded in connection. In Casamance, he invites travelers into the world of the Diola - into rice fields shaped by ancestral knowledge, into village compounds where food, music, and storytelling remain central to life. His guests do not simply observe; they participate, listen, and share.

Beyond Casamance, Joël leads guests to some of Senegal’s most iconic and meaningful landscapes. From the poignant history of Gorée Island to the contemporary narratives housed within the Museum of Black Civilizations; from the shifting sands of the Lompoul Desert to the extraordinary birdlife of Djoudj National Bird Park - one of the world’s great ornithological reserves - his journeys blend ecology, history, and living culture. He also guides through Niokolo-Koba National Park, the waterfalls of Dindefelo Waterfalls, and the wildlife-rich Fathala Wildlife Reserve, where savannah landscapes reveal another face of the country.

One of the most powerful moments of his career came in December 2024, when he guided a group of African American visitors through the rice fields of Lower Casamance. As they explored Diola agricultural traditions and culinary heritage - practices historically connected to the transatlantic slave trade - the experience became deeply emotional. Standing together in the rice paddies, tracing knowledge systems that had crossed oceans centuries ago, was a reminder of tourism’s ability to reconnect histories and heal narratives.

Warm, thoughtful, and quietly passionate, Joël embodies the spirit of Teranga - Senegal’s legendary hospitality. He believes travel should build bridges, empower communities, and leave both guest and host enriched.

Home location: Senegal

Guides in: Senegal

Languages: English, French

Daily rate: $