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Senegal

Youssou N’Dour

With a macabre history steeped in the Atlantic slave trade – the main slave entrepót of Gorée Island lent its name to the twin forked ‘slave-stick’, or Gorée stick, used universally across Africa to pacify and constrain slaves in transit – Senegal is nowadays the most popular tourist destination in West Africa, and without doubt one of the most benign and pleasant nations in the region.

Senegal is the westernmost territory on the continent of Africa. It’s modern history has been characterised by an almost total lack of bloodshed, and, since independence, two peaceful transitions of power. Described as the most western influenced of African nations, with the obvious exception of South Africa, Senegal is nonetheless a predominately Moslem country, although with a tendency towards Sufism and not generally noted as a nation with a fundamentalist core.

The capital city Dakar, perhaps most widely known as the point of conclusion of the famous Paris to Dakar overland motor rally, is also one of the cleanest, most ordered and safest of West African cities. That is not to say the life of the city is subdued. Far from it. Dakar has a reputation for the best nightlife and music, film, literary and arts culture in all of West Africa. Most trip advisories will defy you to have dull moment in Dakar, but perhaps most pleasing of all is a general, if not total absence of the high pressure hustle and unending street brigandry that is so much a feature of other West Africa metropolis’.

Travel To & Within Senegal

  • Flights To Senegal
  • Hotels In Senegal
  • Hostels In Senegal
  • Why Travel To Senegal

    The two short answers to this question are beaches and culture. The latter is most accessible through Senegalese music which has a global following thanks to the work of international recording artists of the stature of Youssou N’Dour. Visitors can also enjoy various traditional styles of Senegalese drumming and percussion that have gained popularity amid a growing international appreciation of world music. However Senegalese architecture, visual and performing arts, particularly in the capital city of Dakar, are also among some of the most interesting in Africa, which ranks them probably among the best in the world

  • Gorée Island
  • Saint Louis
  • Touba Mosque
  • The beach culture in Senegal is superb, and is a popular destination on the French international travel circuit. Any number of French metropolitan dropouts, escapees, artists, writers and celebrities linger on the gorgeous expanses of sandy beach and the picturesque local communities scattered up the length of the Atlantic coast.

    Senegal was also one of the first African countries to develop a surf culture, which seeded originally from the filming in the country of the 1966 American surf classic Endless Summer. Thereafter a phenomenon took root with local surfers rising to top international rankings. In January 2006 the first surf and bodyboard national championships were held at the iconic Almadie Beach in Dakar that saw competition by top amateur Senegalese and European surfers.

    Other aquatic activities include sailing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing.

    For the wildlife and safari enthusiast Senegal might prove to be something of a disappointment. The nation does, however, have a handful of national parks, most notably Niokolo-Koba National Park along the Gambia River, which is famous for its proliferation of Elephants, chimpanzees and the rare Western Giant Eland.

    Check out Lake Retba, or the Pink Lake, in the north of the country, a highly saline body of water that at certain times of the year certainly is pink.

    When To Visit Senegal

    The Senegalese music and festival scene is most active between November and December, and again mid-year between April and June. The winter months between November and February is the most pleasant time, with temperatures cooler and the rainfall and humidity slight, however the annual Harmattan winds that blow sand in off the Sahara can be an irritant and have the effect on occasions of turning the ocean opaque. It is also the best time for migratory birds for which Senegal is noted.

    On the whole the Senegalese climate is pleasantly tropical with conditions among the most favourable along the West African coast.

    Travel Warning

    Senegal is a largely safe travel destination, but indications have recently surfaced regarding separatist activity in the southwest of the country, particularly in the region of Casamance, which have resulted in isolated incidences of banditry.

    Street crime is common in certain parts of the capital Dakar, but on the whole incidences are rare, and can be avoided by simple precautions.

    Malaria is common in Senegal, as are most tropical and waterborne diseases, although incidences of cholera are isolated and rare. HIV/AIDS prevalence is low, but caution is advised.

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