Senegal

Completely surrounding The Gambia, Senegal also has a year round fabulous warm climate, beautiful beaches, French-influenced culture and good wildlife. It is also one of Africa’s premier bird watching destinations. Highlights include:

The Sine Saloum Delta where the Sine and the Saloum rivers meet and flow into the Atlantic. The whole area is rich in plants, wildlife and birds
Toubacouta in the south of the Sine Saloum Delta is an authentic Senegalese village. It is a great location for birdwatching and has a weekly market
Casamance in the south of Senegal is largely untouched by tourism and has a lush green coastline with some of the most beautiful beaches in West Africa.
Cap Skirring in Casamance has a stunning white sand coastline backed by palm forests, rice fields and a smattering of villages. Explore creeks by canoe and hire mountain bikes and venture inland.
Kafoutine is the starting point for excursions through thick mangrove swamps to the Karon islands for great birdwatching and fishing.
Kaolack has the second largest covered market in Africa after Marrakesh.
Senegal has some great birdwatching in Saloum Delta National park, the Reserves de Popenguine et de la Someone and in Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary.
Fans of fishing will enjoy fishing from traditional pirogues or motor boats. Depending on the time of year the offshore waters are home to Dorado, Yellow Fin Tuna and Blue Marlin.

Eco Lodge stay

from £1200 per person

Stay for a week in an eco lodge overlooking a lagoon yet only 20 minutes from the beach in northern Senegal. A great hopping off point for visits into the national parks, and also to Dakar. The hotel has its own bird watching hides and can arrange numerous activities including visits to villages, boat trips and walks.

Luxury Hotel & Safari Lodge Twin Centre

from £1299 per person

Four nights at the award-winning Ngala Lodge situated between the coastal resorts of Bakau and Fajara. Over the years, it has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellent standards and service. This is followed by three nights at the Fathala Wildlife Reserve located within 2000 hectares of a 6000 hectare national reserve near Karang in the Sine Saloum South region of Senegal.

One week beach stay

from £1295 per person

One week at the Lamantin beach Resort & Spa which has an excellent reputation for elegant rooms, outstanding cuisine and first-class service. Its beachfront position on a fabulous stretch of sand is hard to beat, ensuring plenty of space to relax under the African sun. There is plenty to do with a watersports centre, and the Beach Club also offers a fitness centre and paddle tennis court.

Will I need a visa?

No visa is needed for a trip of three months or less to Senegal. For latest information view the FCO travel pages.

Will I need any jabs or injections?

As wells ensuring usual immunisations are up to date the following are also usually advised: Diphtheria; Hepatitis A; Tetanus; Yellow Fever Find more information on the NHS Fit For Travel website.

Are there any local laws or customs I should be aware of?

Local laws reflect the fact that Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions so that they don’t offend others, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. In 2020, Ramadan is expected to begin on or around 23 April.

You should dress and behave modestly in public outside the main tourist areas. Bars and restaurants usually serve alcoholic drinks but drunkenness is considered offensive, and penalties for drink driving are severe. Kissing as a greeting is acceptable but kissing romantically in public is not. View more on FCO travel pages .

Ideas for a trip to Senegal