Land of mystical stone-circles, rich nature reserves and sandy deserts, Senegal also hosts a good deal of urban African rhythms and culture, concentrated in the capital city of this West African country, Dakar. A must visit while in Senegal is Ile de Gorée, the historical slave island.
City destinations Representing the Urban wonders of Africa, the most popular tourism destination in Senegal is its famous capital city, Dakar. This cosmopolitan seaside city with a million inhabitants is rising above the sandy plains surrounding the westernmost point of continental Africa. More than that, it is the wealthiest point of the poor Senegal, and a city of pleasant beaches, religious sites, vibrant entertainment facilities, and a row of historically interesting places such as Gorée Island slave shipping point.
Nature lover's choices. Another interesting travel destination in Senegal is Niokolo-Koba Nature Reserve, located on the banks of the Gambia River, a huge water resource flowing through Senegal. Culturally oriented visitors might enjoy visiting the seaside city of St. Louis, which not only a charming beach resort, but also the best place of Senegal for exploring influences of Senegal's French colonial era.
Local culture. Senegal is a former French colony, which for a short period formed a federation with Mali before its independence in 1960. Today, Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa. It is also a French-speaking country, where English is spoken mainly in the major tourist areas and service points.
Pristine nature and cosmopolitan capital: Attractions of Senegal
Land of fascinating stone-circles, historical sites, precious nature reserves and dry deserts, Senegal carries historical and natural importance, which during becoming years might help this poor African country develop its tourism industry.City destinations Representing the Urban wonders of Africa, the most popular tourism destination in Senegal is its famous capital city, Dakar. This cosmopolitan seaside city with a million inhabitants is rising above the sandy plains surrounding the westernmost point of continental Africa. More than that, it is the wealthiest point of the poor Senegal, and a city of pleasant beaches, religious sites, vibrant entertainment facilities, and a row of historically interesting places such as Gorée Island slave shipping point.
Nature lover's choices. Another interesting travel destination in Senegal is Niokolo-Koba Nature Reserve, located on the banks of the Gambia River, a huge water resource flowing through Senegal. Culturally oriented visitors might enjoy visiting the seaside city of St. Louis, which not only a charming beach resort, but also the best place of Senegal for exploring influences of Senegal's French colonial era.
Practical tips for traveling to Senegal
Weather in Senegal is tropical, with average monthly high temperatures of 25-30 degrees Celsius available throughout the year. While the summertime in Senegal (between May and November) is rainy, the winter months from December to April are much drier, and thus form the most popular time to travel to Senegal. However, also the winter of Senegal has it's own low points, which in Senegal's case means Harmattan wind carrying the sand of Sahara in its imaginary wings.Local culture. Senegal is a former French colony, which for a short period formed a federation with Mali before its independence in 1960. Today, Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa. It is also a French-speaking country, where English is spoken mainly in the major tourist areas and service points.
Photo: Jpereira net, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Local culture in Senegal is characterized by devoted attention to religion, which in most cases is Islam. Therefore, also visitors should pay extra attention to respecting religious customs such as dressing and praying rituals. In Senegal's case, local people are friendly and will surely advise you on behavior if you ask for their help.
Safety. Although Senegal's people are friendly, most of them live in quite poor conditions and suffer from a low level of education. This is why crime level in Senegal is relatively high, and tourists should use a lot of common sense when staying in the cities, especially if they are walking outside after dark. During the daytime the biggest risk is pickpocketing, which is very common particularly in big cities like Dakar. Another risk connected to traveling to Senegal are the many diseases that can be obtained in this tropical country. As Senegal is familiar with several tropical diseases, vaccinations should be taken care of before traveling to Dakar. You should also be prepared to shelter yourself from mosquitoes, which are spreading malaria.
How to get there. Senegal is best reachable through Dakar International Airport that offers direct flights from many European and African destinations, as well as from North America. Senegal is also reachable by train from Mali. There are minibuses and taxis available for getting around inside the country. However, roads in Senegal outside Dakar are mainly in poor condition.
