Senegal, West Africa - a Tourist-friendly and Spicy Destination

Senegal is located in West Africa. A former French colony, Senegal gained its independence in 1960. Senegal is an enormously stable and democratic country, though it is very poor, by Western standards.

The vast majority of the population practices their own version of Islam, the rest practice Christianity, and other religions. They all seem to accept each other and live in harmony. Dakar, the capital city, has good infrastructure, good hotels, great markets, etc. The areas where the hotels are situated are where most foreigners (expats) live. These areas have good roads, beautiful homes, shopping, restaurants, galleries, running water, and electricity. However, there are many arrondisements (sectors) in Dakar that are very poor.

Most nationalities (US, Canada, the European Union, Australians, and many others) can get a free visa on arrival.

Senegal Highlights

A ten-day tour should give you a good feel for Senegal. If you wish to include the Gambia, then a 14-day tour is probably desirable.

Excursion originating in Dakar

Many popular spots are located within the outlying areas of Dakar. Tour companies offer organized tours, but, you can negotiate a good rate for a rental car, and drive yourself. You can save a lot of money, especially if there are several people in your group. Yes, it's safe to self-drive. Another option is to hire a friendly taxi driver, who is willing to drive outside of the city, and guide you around.

Dakar

Europeans have long known that Dakar is easy going, has beautiful beaches and is relatively affordable. There are many hotels and B&B for every budget. Eating out is inexpensive.

Dakar enjoys a rich cultural atmosphere and there are several museums and art exhibitions by "starving" artists on sidewalks, to the more formal ones found in galleries. Another fun place to visit is the Artists' Village, on the road to the airport.

Dakar is a shopper's paradise. There are many markets in Central Dakar, and we visited three prominent markets, namely, Kermel, Sandaga, and Soubedionne. Kermel is primarily an artisans' market for wooden sculptures, jewelry, beads, flowers, and other objects. Marché Sandaga is a vibrant maze of narrow streets, selling a wide variety of fabrics, from rich brocades, silks and cottons. Lastly, a visit to the fishermen's village of Soubedionne; is a must, to purchase arts and crafts.

2. Ile Gorée-½ day

The ferry ride from the port of Dakar takes less than 30-minutes. A must see is the Maison des Esclaves, where the slaves were kept in dungeons, as well as the colonial buildings, historical museums, and little art galleries.

3. Bandia Safari-½ day

Take a tour to the Bandia National Forest near Dakar. There are 500 hectares of baobabs and acacias, with a good number of wildlife mammals and reptiles, except for predators.

4. Lac Rose - Full Day

The lake has "mauve and purple" colors because of the high salt concentration. There is a nice little village, and two hotels offering very good food. The beach is on the other side of the dunes, and is nice for swimming. A full day is enough to enjoy the beach, a camel ride (or dune bug ride), and a lovely lunch.

5. Farming - Fishing villages

There are several villages, such as Kayar, where fishermen still go out fishing using methods used centuries ago. The boats are colorful and the villagers are quite friendly.

6. St. Louis

This requires an overnight stay. St. Louis is the regional capital in north Senegal, with a distinctive French flavor. St. Louis is an island at the mouth of the Senegal River and was founded by French colonists. The beautiful colonial buildings are well-maintained and are still occupied. Hotels here are affordable, as is eating out.

7. Beaches

The most popular destination is called the Petite Cote (little coast), a stunning area, stretching for 75 miles. There are a good number of hotels in this area. The Grande Cote, to the north also attracts many visitors for its white, powdery beaches, and deliciously cool waters.

Conclusion

Most hotels and restaurants serve European, Senegalese, as well as Creole food, but in the larger cities, there are other "international" choices.

The pleasures of visiting Senegal are relatively simple, such as stunning beaches, humble villages, the friendliest locals, and amazing markets. Senegal has a good number of animal reserves, some of them, such as Parc National du Niokolo Koba, housing a good number of mammals, to include elephants and lions.

Despite the long French and Middle Eastern influence, the Senegalese have kept their African roots alive, with their own brand of exotic music, food and customs. If you can accept the fact that this is a very poor country, and can rise above focusing on the poverty, you will see the beauty of this country's geography, historic sites, and most of all, its people.