Senegal is the most straightforward country in the region to move around. The roads out of Dakar are good, the toll motorway east works, and distances are manageable. The working language is French and Wolof is spoken everywhere.
The geography changes fast. Dakar sits on a rocky peninsula at the western tip of the continent. Two hours north the Senegal River meets the Atlantic at Saint-Louis, in half-desert. Three hours south the Sine-Saloum breaks into a delta of mangrove channels. Below The Gambia, the Casamance is green, wet and culturally distinct from the rest of the country.
Gorée Island, off Dakar, is the country's principal memorial to the slave trade and part of most itineraries. Birders come for Djoudj, on the river north of Saint-Louis, which is one of the major wintering grounds for European migrants. Outside Dakar, Saint-Louis and the Petite Côte, tourist infrastructure is limited and often seasonal.
When to go
| Months | What it is like |
|---|---|
| Nov-Feb | Coolest and driest, and the best window overall. Djoudj is full of migratory birds from Europe. Dakar evenings can be genuinely cool near the coast. Harmattan haze reaches the north of the country in this period and flattens the light. |
| Mar-Jun | Dry and increasingly hot inland; the coast stays moderate with the sea breeze. Lac Rose shows colour most reliably in these dry months under high sun. The Saint-Louis Jazz Festival is usually held around May or June. |
| Jul-Oct | Rains. Humid, with heavy downpours rather than all-day rain. Parts of Dakar flood. The Casamance is green and hot. Some delta and Casamance camps close. |
Before you go
- Visa: many European and North American passport holders enter without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Confirm for your nationality before booking, as the list is not universal.
- Health: yellow fever vaccination is required for entry and the certificate is checked. Malaria is present, with the highest risk in the south and in the rainy season. Check current requirements for your nationality close to departure.
- Money: the West African CFA franc (XOF), pegged to the euro. Cards are accepted in Dakar hotels and supermarkets; elsewhere assume cash. ATMs are reliable in Dakar, Saint-Louis and Ziguinchor and scarce in between.
- Getting around: Blaise Diagne International Airport is about 45 km east of Dakar, which is an hour or more each way with traffic. The Casamance is reached by air to Cap Skirring or Ziguinchor, or by the overnight ferry from Dakar; the road route crosses The Gambia twice and is slow. Check current government travel advice for the Casamance before planning road travel there.
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