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Senegal
Simultaneously exhilarating and tranquil, Senegal is captivating. Perched on the tip of a peninsula, Dakar, the capital, is a dizzying introduction to the country: elegance meets chaos, snarling traffic, vibrant markets and glittering nightlife, while nearby Île de Gorée and the beaches of Yoff and N'Gor tap to slow, lazy beats.
In northern Senegal, the enigmatic capital of Saint-Louis, a Unesco World Heritage Site, tempts with colonial architecture and proximity to scenic national parks. Along the Petite Côte and Cap Skirring, wide strips of beaches beckon and the wide deltas of the Casamance invite mesmerizing boat journeys amid astounding biodiversity, including hundreds of bird species.
Whether you want to mingle with the trendsetters of urban Africa or be alone with your thoughts and the sounds of nature, you'll find your place in Senegal.
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Senegal.
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Île de N'Gor
For a quick escape from the frenetic streets of Dakar, head to peaceful Île de N'Gor, a tiny island just off Dakar's north shore. It has a few calm beaches on the bay side, and some legendary surf on the northern coastline. Most visitors just come for the day, to relax on the beaches, stroll the sandy lanes of the village and have lunch in one of the waterside eateries, but there are several appealing guesthouses here as well. Pirogues leave every hour or so between 10am and 7pm from Plage de N'Gor for the 400m trip across to the island (CFA500, 10 minutes). It's a wet landing on both sides, so wear sandals and prepare to roll up your pants.
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Musée Théodore Monod
The is one of Senegal's best museums. Exhibitions delve into African art and culture with over 9000 objects on display. Lively displays of masks and traditional dress from across the region (including Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Nigeria) give an excellent overview of styles without bombarding you with more than you can take in. You can also see beautiful fabrics and carvings, drums, musical instruments and agricultural tools. A gallery behind the main building often houses contemporary art exhibitions.
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Mlomp Musée de la Tradition Diola
Set amid towering kapok trees on the main road between Oussouye and Elinkine, this striking case à impluvium houses an exhibition dedicated to Diola culture. A guide on hand can explain some of the rustic, crafted objects: hoops used for climbing palm trees, baskets that serve as fish traps, mortar and pestle for making palm wine, and shields made of thick hippopotamus skin. Also of interest is the gris-gris worn as amulets as protection against injury – but only of the slicing kind; some warriors would thus wield clubs to circumvent an enemy's perceived magical defenses.
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African Renaissance Monument
Allegedly Africa's highest statue, the African Renaissance Monument was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate Senegal's 50 years of independence from France. At 49m in height, it is taller than New York City's Statue of Liberty and Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer. The Soviet-style bronze of a man, woman and child looking out to sea has been heavily criticised for its cost (over US$30 million), the un-African shapes of its figures and the scantily dressed female (whose outfit offers a partial view of her breast and thighs). You can walk around the base for free; the entry fee is for the interior of the monument. A small display explains its construction and an elevator whisks you up to the head of the male figure, boasting expansive views of Dakar.
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Mamelles Lighthouse
A photogenic 1864 lighthouse graces the top of one of Dakar's few hills. It's worth making leisurely 20-minute walk, with sweeping views across the city and the water waiting at the top. Once there, you can visit the exterior of the lighthouse (CFA1000) or pay a little extra (CFA2000) for a short guided tour through the lighthouse and up to the top. Guides explain a bit of lighthouse lore: its evolution over the years, and its importance to the West African coastline. The beam is visible from up to 53km. There's also an open-air eating and drinking spot at the base of the lighthouse, which hosts live music on Friday nights and Sunday brunch.
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Plage de N'Gor
Plage de N'gor is a small beach popular with families and football-playing youths, and there are a few snack spots with tables on the sands. It's not a bad beach, but there better options on Île de N'gor, which you can reach by pirogue (CFA500, 10 minutes) from here.
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Plage de Virage
Plage de Virage is a popular spot with surfers. This small beach gets packed on weekends with a mostly local crowd, though a few foreigners pass by, sometimes before or after a flight as it's fairly close to the airport (located 1.5km south).
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Alliance Franco-Sénégalaise
This is easily Ziguinchor's most stunning building, a giant case à impluvium (a large, round traditional house) decorated with blindingly busy South African Ndebele and Casamance patterns. Inside are exhibitions, a large concert hall (shows take place at least once a week) and a welcoming restaurant and bar (with a weekday lunch special for CFA1000). Tourists are expected to make a donation of around CFA1000 when visiting the centre, and are given a postcard of the centre in exchange. And if you want to learn French, try here. Five-month-long group classes are available (180 hours for CFA60,000). You can also inquire about private one-on-one instruction. It's located about 2.5km south of the riverfront.
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Village des Arts
An arts tour around Dakar is simply not complete without a visit to this famous art complex, where some of Senegal's most promising and established painters, sculptors and multimedia artists create, shape and display their works in individual studios scattered around a large garden space. There's also an on-site gallery, which exhibits works by artists both home-grown and from abroad.