Introducing Senegal
Couched between the arid desert lands in Northern Senegal and lush tropical forests in the south, this country boasts a stunning array of sights, sounds and flavours. The capital Dakar alone hands you the country in a capsule. Perched on the tip of a beach-lined peninsula, this dizzying city is composed elegance and street hustle all rolled into one. The busy streets, vibrant markets and glittering nightlife will easily draw you into their relentless rhythm, but the escape route is always open – be it to the meditative calm of the historical Île de Gorée or the golden sands of Yoff and N’Gor. And if Dakar’s sensory overload really gets too much, architecturally beautiful Saint-Louis, the first French settlement in West Africa, boasts a vibrant urban culture without the inner-city bustle.
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Most visitors head to Senegal for its beaches, and for good reason. North and south of Dakar, wide strips of white sand invite swimming and sunbathing, whether in the built-up resort zones, where a lazy day at the beach can be followed by a cocktail trail at night, or in one of the coast’s charming fishing villages, the beaches of which are dotted with hundreds of colourful wooden pirogues. At the deltas of the Casamance and Saloum Rivers, the coastline is broken up into a maze of thick mangroves, tiny creeks, wide lagoons and shimmering plains. A pirogue trip through these striking zones reveals hundreds of bird species, from the gleaming wings of tiny kingfishers to the proud poise of pink flamingos. Whether you want to mingle with the trendsetters of urban Africa, or be alone with your thoughts and the sounds of nature – Senegal is the place to be.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Language for travelling in Senegal
by rHatton 14 September 2011
Brilliant, thanks for the quick reply. Im really looking forward to Senegal, first time to africa aside from Morocco and South Africa.....so…
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RE: Language for travelling in Senegal
by Giora 14 September 2011
Even way out in the villages in the more remote areas of Senegal, you'll still come across several people who speak French. Learning some…
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Language for travelling in Senegal
by rHatton 14 September 2011
Hi guys and gals I hear french is widely spoken, should some knowledge of french be fine for a 10 day tour of Senegal? Or should some…
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Senegal
Things to do
- All things to do (147)
- Activities (20)
- Entertainment (27)
- Restaurants (40)
- Shopping (15)
- Sights (39)
- Tours (6)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Senegal
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1 Saint-Louis
Crumbling colonial architecture, relaxed atmosphere and a major annual jazz festival
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2 Dakar
Busy markets and a thriving nightlife - urban Africa at its best
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3 Parc Nactional Des Oiseaux Du Djoudj
One of the world's most important wetland bird sanctuaries
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4 Île De Gorée
Early European settlement, historical architecture and meditative calm
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5 Siné-Saloum Delta
Pirogue tours through mazes of mangroves and bird islets
Fast Facts about Senegal
- Time
GMT/UTC
- Population
11.1 million
- Borders
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania; all borders open from dawn to dusk
- Seasons
Dry (December-March), hot (March-May), rainy season (June-November)
- Telephone
Country code 221; international access code 00
- ATMs
In all major towns
- Budget
US$40 to US$60 a day
- Capital
- Visa
Required by all except nationals of Canada, the EU, Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States), Israel, Japan, Norway, South Africa and the USA
- Languages
French, Wolof, Malinké, Pulaar, Diola
- Area
197, 000 sq km
- Money
West African CFA; US$1 = CFA498
Our favourite Senegal Blogs (beta)
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5 Unexpected Things about Dakar, Senegal
Blog: Two Backpackers - 6 September 2011
Rachael Cullins of Girl, Guy, Globe shares some unexpected experiences while living in Dakar, Senegal as an expat. The city of Dakar, Senegal is often called the “Paris of West Africa.” But don’t let the (nick)name fool you – I’ve been to Paris and I live in Dakar, and Dakar is no Paris. This crazy, [...]
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Updates from the Field: Costs of Kiva, Donkey Shares + the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 5 September 2011
Over the course of their fellowship, each Kiva Fellows class gleans a better understanding of innerworkings of microfinance and how a microfinance institution (MFI) can tip the scales of success.
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Of Chinese Proverbs and Gambian Donkeys
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 31 August 2011
by Tim Young, KF15, Senegal Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Give a man a donkey and you feed him for at least five years, providing the donkey is well treated and doesn’t get sick. On a recent trip to the Gambia, Kiva Fellow Tim Young visited a fascinating project, which has for the last 10 years or so has been fighting poverty, by helping the local people help their working animals.
