SENEGAL
The Gateway to Africa
Visit Senegal
Senegal, located at Africa's westernmost point along the Atlantic Ocean, spans 196,722 sq km and is bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and a 550 km Atlantic coastline. Its capital, Dakar, is a vibrant peninsula in the west.
The landscape is mostly flat, with sandy grounds and altitudes below 130 metres, except near the Guinean border. Senegal is traversed by three rivers: the Senegal in the north, Gambia in the centre, and Casamance in the south.
The country has a dry tropical climate with distinct dry (November to June) and rainy (July to October) seasons, supporting diverse vegetation: forests, savannahs, and steppes.
The African Renaissance Monument is the tallest statue in Africa. Built atop one of the twin hills called Mamelles in Dakar, it is taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
The statue, which symbolises the rebirth of Africa, was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Senegal's independence
The Mosque of Divinity was built 1973 when a holy man by the name of Mohamed Gorgui Seyni Guèye envisaged a grand mosque on the beach. He took his dream as a prophecy and a commandment from the Lord.
The sacred site was indeed built on a beach in the ancient fishing village of Ouakam outside Dakar, completed in 1997. It’s known as the Mosque of the Divinity (Mosquée de la Divinité).
The Soumbédioune Craft Village showcases diverse local crafts, including wooden sculptures, leather goods, pottery, jewellery, weaving, and basketry.
Home to 2,000 artisans, it thrives as a creative hub despite challenges like the Soumbédioune Tunnel project. It remains a premier space for creating and exhibiting traditional Senegalese craftsmanship.
Ngor Island, off Dakar's Ngor district, offers a peaceful escape from the city. With French colonial architecture, solar-powered energy, and a safe harbour, it attracts visitors and celebrities like Akon.
Similar to Gorée Island, it's a top destination in Senegal for its charm and tranquillity.
The Bandia Private Reserve, 65 km from Dakar, is an ecological success, showcasing restored flora and reintroduced African wildlife.
Visitors can observe rhinos, crocodiles, and monkeys, and explore Serer pyramids, ancient baobab tombs and Fulani huts. Knowledgeable guides provide engaging explanations and anecdotes, enhancing the experience.
The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders.
Goree Island is a world heritage site and the number one tourist site in Senegal.
A symbolic relic of slavery, Goree Island is home to several museums as well as the
the house of the slaves which depicts the suffering of the slaves deported to
America and the famous "Gate of No Return
Museum of Black Civilizations: Located in the heart of the city centre, the museum was inaugurated in December 2018. It is the the result of a project imagined more than 50 years ago by the 1st President of Senegal Leopold Sédar Senghor.
The museum celebrates Africa's contribution to the world's cultural and scientific heritage. and scientific heritage and hundreds of works are on display.
Pink Lake: Less than an hour away from the capital city of Senegal there is an unusual lake that will surely catch the unsuspecting visitor’s eye because of its unusual yet vivid pink colour.
Officially known as Lake Retba, the lake's high salinity and rare microbiome long-fostered an algae that turned it a pinkish colour, making it one of the West African country's most visited attractions and under consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Lake Retba (or Lac Rose as it is known by locals) is separated only by some narrow dunes from the Atlantic Ocean and, as expected its salt content is very high. Its salinity content compares to that of the Dead Sea and during the dry season.