The rhythm of the camel’s lope took a bit of getting used to as we sauntered down a sandy road lined with palm trees and small shrubs a stone’s throw from Senegal’s pink-hued Lac Rose.

The salt content of Lake Retba or Lac Rose, as it’s locally known, rivals that of the Dead Sea – exceeding 40% salinity in some parts – and it is a combination of the sun and a salt-loving ...