Travel Destination: Senegal

Dakar - Park of Remembrance
Dakar – Park of Remembrance

Never been to West Africa before? Why don’t you start by visiting Senegal? Senegal is an excellent choice for a first trip in West Africa. You will be able to discover a diversified culture, friendly people and amazing landscapes.

The city of Dakar is well known all over the world as a host place for international exhibitions, conferences and entertainment activities. During our journey, we visited museums and monuments while enjoying relaxing time at the beach. For those who like to enjoy the night life, you will find a vibrant scene out there.

Dakar - IFAN Dakar Museum
Dakar – IFAN Dakar Museum
Dakar - African Renaissance Monument
Dakar – African Renaissance Monument
Dakar - Beach at Hotel Terrou Bi
Dakar – Beach at Hotel Terrou Bi
Dakar - Little Buddha Lounge
Dakar – Little Buddha Lounge

All along the coast, Dakar is board by islands accessible to the public by boat (cost may vary depending the destination) such as Madeleine National Park, Ngor and Gorée.

Madeleine Island National Park
Madeleine Island National Park
Ngor Island
Ngor Island
Gorée Island
Gorée Island

To visit others cities, the smart choice will be to take a mini-bus (12 to 14 people) available at bus stations. The bus is the cheaper way but it is very less comfortable. From the station Baux Maraichers, we went to the city of Saint-Louis.

Saint-Louis - Oceanfront
Saint-Louis – Oceanfront
Saint-Louis - Langue de Barbarie National Park
Saint-Louis – Langue de Barbarie National Park

Some destinations are not accessible by public transportation or it could take you too much time to get there. In this case, it is recommended to opt for a private taxi (do not hesitate to negotiate the price). This is how we went to Bandia Nature Park for a safari tour and also enjoy a race in desert at Lac Rose.

Bandia Nature Park
Bandia Nature Park
Lac Rose Desert Race
Lac Rose Desert Race
Lac Rose
Lac Rose

Let’s conclude on a foodie note to mention our favorite Senegalese dish: the Tiep Bou Dienn. This is the national dish of Senegalese cuisine and it is made of rice, fish, tomato sauce and vegetables. During our stay, we always ordered local drinks such as bissap juice (extract from hibiscus) or corossol juice.

Tiep Bou Dienn
Tiep Bou Dienn and Corossol Juice

For more info about Senegal or to prepare your trip, visit Senegalese Agency for Tourism Promotion website.