West African rhythm, islands and river deltas
Senegal sits on the westernmost tip of Africa, with Atlantic beaches, river deltas and a lively music and art culture. Dakar is energetic and creative, and the island of Goree nearby is a moving reminder of the Atlantic slave trade. Further afield are colonial Saint-Louis, the mangroves of the Saloum Delta and the green Casamance region. It suits travellers who like culture, music, birdlife and an easygoing beach pace.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
A small car-free island with colourful colonial houses and the House of Slaves museum. It is a key memorial to the Atlantic slave trade.
An old colonial capital on a river island, reached by the iron Faidherbe Bridge. Its faded streets and fishing quarter are full of character.
A maze of mangroves, islands and shell middens where the Saloum River meets the sea. Pirogue trips reveal fishing villages and many birds.
One of the most important wetlands in West Africa, hosting huge numbers of pelicans and migrating birds. UNESCO lists it as in danger.
A salty lake that can look pink in dry-season light, where workers harvest salt by hand. Dunes lie between it and the ocean.
A huge bronze statue on a hill above Dakar, with views over the city and coast. It is one of the tallest statues in Africa.
A large modern museum on the history and cultures of Africa and its diaspora. It opened in 2018.
A green southern region of rivers, rice fields and palm-lined beaches around Cap Skirring. Its Jola villages have distinct traditions.
A big savanna and forest park in the southeast with antelope, hippos and rare chimpanzees. UNESCO lists it as in danger because wildlife declined.
Hilly southeastern country with waterfalls and the cultural landscapes of the Bassari, Fula and Bedik peoples. It is remote and rewarding for hikers.
A patch of orange dunes near the coast with tented camps. It feels like a mini Sahara between Dakar and Saint-Louis.
Hundreds of ancient standing stone circles shared with neighbouring Gambia. Sine Ngayene is the main Senegalese group.
A strip of resorts and lagoons south of Dakar, with calm seas compared to the north. Somone lagoon is good for birds and kayaking.
A fenced private reserve with giraffes, rhinos and antelope, easy to reach from Dakar. It is the simplest safari in Senegal.
The vast mosque at the heart of the Mouride Sufi brotherhood, one of the largest in Africa. Visitors can usually enter with a guide outside prayer times.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Lively capital with music, art, markets and ferries to Goree.
culture, nightlife, gateway · Open the city guideAtmospheric colonial island town near Djoudj.
history · Guide comingLodge base for the Saloum Delta.
nature, birds · Guide comingPetite Cote beaches and Bandia.
beach · Guide comingGateway to Casamance.
nature, culture · Guide comingBase for Bassari Country hikes.
hiking · Guide comingBeach resort south of Dakar.
beach, relax · Guide comingBohemian coastal village with art.
art, coast · Guide comingBase for stone circles and the Saloum Delta.
history, delta · Guide comingThe busy capital peninsula and nearby islands.
Goree Island, Lac Rose, African Renaissance Monument
Sahel landscapes, colonial towns and wetlands.
Saint-Louis, Djoudj, Lompoul
Beaches and mangrove deltas south of Dakar.
Saly, Saloum Delta, Bandia
Green, wet south with beaches and Jola culture.
Cap Skirring, Ziguinchor
Hills, waterfalls and the main national park.
Niokolo-Koba, Bassari Country
Capital with islands and beach resorts.
Dakar, Gorée, Saly
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: November to May. The dry season is sunny with lower humidity.
The Saloum and Casamance are greener and wetter in the July to October rains; Dakar is breezier and milder than the hot interior.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
75°F daily high, 71°F average, 0.4 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
The US State Department rates Senegal Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, though petty theft is common in Dakar.
Roads have improved but public transport is shared taxis and minibuses, so most visitors hire a driver.
Food and transport are cheap, though good hotels in Dakar are not.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check visa and entry rules with Senegal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (diplomatie.gouv.sn) and your own government's travel advice before you travel. |
| Plugs | Type C, D, E, K; 230 V 50 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | Small tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff are appreciated. |
| Payments | Cash in CFA francs is king; mobile money such as Wave is widely used and cards work mainly in hotels. |
| Emergency | 17 police |
| Etiquette | Greetings matter, so take time to say hello before asking anything. Use your right hand to eat and pass things. Ask before photographing people. |
| What to wear | Dress modestly in towns and at mosques; cover shoulders and knees. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Most visitors hire a car with a driver. Shared sept-place taxis and minibuses link towns cheaply but slowly. A ferry and short flights connect Dakar with Ziguinchor in Casamance. |
| Main airports | DSS |
| Ride apps | Yango, Heetch |
The region was part of great Sahelian empires such as Ghana, Mali and Jolof before European traders arrived on the coast. Goree and Saint-Louis became hubs of French trade, including the trade in enslaved people. Saint-Louis served as the capital of French West Africa until Dakar took over. Senegal became independent in 1960 under the poet-president Leopold Sedar Senghor and has a long record of peaceful elections.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.