Senegal

Senegal is a country in West Africa, known for its lively towns, French architecture, bustling marketplaces and lovely ecotourism locations. The country is also home to long stretches of beaches, numerous national parks and a rich cultural diversity. In short, Senegal is an interesting African nation to explore.

Dakar, the capital of Senegal, is a bustling city known for its chaotic markets, fine beaches like Plage de Yoff, and lively nightlife featuring mbalax music (a popular local dance music). Here, you will also find Senegal’s most interesting museum, Musée Théodore Monod, that displays numerous cultural artefacts like masks and traditional clothing native to the West African region. Dakar is also home to Africa’s tallest statue, the 49m tall African Renaissance Monument, which marked Senegal’s 50th year of independence from the French. The outlying islands of Dakar are Ile de N’Gor, famous for its beaches and restaurants and Ile de Goree, a UNESCO listed island known for its fascinating museums, including the House of Slaves which was once a market for slave trade.

In the northern coast lies the UNESCO world heritage site and former capital of Senegal, Saint Louis. This is one of the oldest cities along the western coast of Africa and is known for its French heritage. The old town of Saint Louis, located on the N’Dar Island, is connected to the mainland by the Faidherbe Bridge which was designed by Gustave Eiffel, who designed the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. Cap Skirring in south-western Senegal is a popular resort town with some of West Africa’s best sandy beaches and a golf course. The town is a great place to unwind and you can also explore the nearby traditional villages. Senegal’s second most populous city Touba is a holy city and home to the Great Mosque of Touba, an important pilgrimage site. The annual Grand Magal of Touba, Senegal’s largest celebration, is hosted at this mosque.

If you love exploring the wilderness, make sure you visit the country’s amazing national parks. The Oiseaux de Djoudj National Park is a heaven for birdwatchers and has almost 300 species of birdlife. The Saloum Delta National Park landscaped by mangroves, woodlands, marshes and hundreds of tiny islands is another great bird watching destination. You can explore this park by navigating through the network of water channels and spotting wildlife. Niokolo-Koba is the country’s largest national park and is known for wildlife watching boat tours. You will spot animals like hippos, crocodiles, various monkey species and if you’re lucky elephants and lions too.

Senegal is one of the best travel destinations along Africa’s western coast. With a lovely blend of history, culture and nature, Senegal will be an interesting place for all its visitors to explore.