Traveling to Senegal: Top Tips and Must-See Destinations

Author’s note: Before travelling to Senegal, check the latest travel advice relating to safety. As the elections in February 2024 approach, Dakar and other large cities could see more protests and social disorder. When a friend of mine invited me for her destination birthday trip, along with others, we had our eyes set on Dubai. Unfortunately, our dreams were short-lived. The UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians, so we had to change plans. With other countries adopting similar travel restrictions on Nigerian passport holders, and with only 3 months left to plan, the easiest option was to choose a visa-free country. And this was how our anticipated Dubaian experience became a Senegalese one. Senegal isn’t a country most people put on their bucket list of places to travel to, but after travelling there in March 2023, I can say that Senegal is a hidden travel gem in West Africa. In this article, I’ll walk you through my top travel tips and must see-destinations in Senegal. Country name: SenegalCapital: DakarOfficial language: FrenchCurrency: West African CFA FrancPopulation: 16.9 million (World Bank, 2021) 1. Language French is the official language in Senegal, but other local languages are spoken as well. I traveled in a group of 7 friends, and 2 of us spoke French. I only came across a handful of people in Dakar that spoke a little English, so I pretty much relied on my friends for communication with the Senegalese. So, if you’re planning on traveling to Senegal, and you can’t speak French, I’d advise you to go with a French-speaking friend or hire a local tour guide or translator. 2. Sim card A sim card is a must-have if you want to avoid roaming charges. I went with Orange, a popular mobile network in Senegal. You can get it at the airport, after passing through immigration. They just need your passport to register the sim card and can assist you with activating the internet connection. Their data packages were quite affordable, so I went with their 7GB weekly data plan (5,000 CFA/$8). 3. Adapter A bit random to title a sub-heading “Adapter” but I think it’s worth mentioning that EU plugs (types C and E) are used in Senegal. You can get a universal travel adapter; most of them support EU plugs. 4. Accommodation Our Airbnb was definitely the highlight of the trip. We booked a stunning 4-bed villa about 1.5 hours from the airport. The only catch was that it was about 2 hours from Dakar (where most tourist areas are located) so we did quite a bit of journeying each day. It’s worth finding suitable accommodation near Dakar, but if you’re looking for a more relaxed ambience then you might have to search outside the city. Looking back, I don’t think I would have chosen a different place to stay. The road trips were long, but they allowed my friends and me to catch up, play games, and connect. 5. Currency exchange From my experience, the best currencies to exchange in Senegal are euros (€), US dollars ($) and pounds (£). When I arrived in Senegal with my friends, I exchanged at various Bureau de Change locations over our 5-day trip. I found that exchange rates were better in the city than at the airport (beware of individuals selling currency on the side of the road, as opposed to a bureau de change shop, as they may try to cheat you). Here’s a summary of the average exchange rates we found (March 2023): $1 = 613 CFA€1 = 650 CFA£1 = 700 CFA How much money will you need?This will depend on your planned activities and, of course, how long you decide to stay in Senegal. Here’s a breakdown of my spending during my 5-day trip (excluding flights): Note: Total amounts cover 5 days. Accommodation was for 4 nights. My only expenditure on the 5th day was travel back to the airport. ‘Transport’ covers all transportation to tourist destinations and journeys back to accommodation and airport. ‘Food & snacks’ is the total cost of general meals during the trip (the average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant was around 5,000 CFA). ‘Activities’ covers expenses at tourist destinations (e.g. entrance fees). ‘Other’ covers sim card, data, and miscellaneous items. 1. Îles du Saloum (Saloum Islands) Location: Ndangane, Senegal Visiting the Saloum Islands was a relaxing adventure. My friends and I went by canoe into the depths of the mangrove swamps that make up the islands. Our friendly tour guide narrated the history of the Saloum Islands which, I’ll admit, I’ve all but forgotten. I was too busy relishing the sun against my skin after coming from 3°C in London to 22°C in Senegal. I’ve always seen the beauty of God’s creation in nature, so it was a great afternoon spent watching the birds and the natural scenery unfold around me. 2. Gorée Island Location: Dakar, Senegal Gorée Island is a beautiful island with a dark past. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, it was the largest trade slaving centre on the African coast. On the island is a building known as the House of Slaves, a former holding centre for Africans who were waiting to be transported across the Atlantic. Today, the island is a peaceful tourist destination serving as a symbol of human exploitation and liberation. If you want to visit Gorée Island, you can buy ferry tickets and explore the island by yourself. Or, once you arrive, you can easily find someone offering tour services in English for a small fee. 3. African Renaissance Monument The African Renaissance Monument is a must-see destination for any tourist visiting Senegal. It is a 52-metre bronze statue, making it the tallest statue in Africa. It symbolises the liberation of the continent from slavery as Africa, in the words of Senegal’s then president, Abdoulaye Wade, “emerges from the bowels of the earth to leave darkness behind and move toward the light.” The statue, however, has been subject to widespread controversy, particularly due to its high cost ($27 million) and the perceived immodesty of the semi-nude figures. 4. Bandia Reserve Location: Sindia, Senegal Bandia Reserve is a privately-owned safari park hosting various African wildlife including rhinos, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and even crocodiles. There are no predators in the main reserve, making it safe for the animals (and tourists, phew!). During our tour, we were accompanied in open-side safari jeeps, giving us a great view of the wildlife. I was impressed by the tour guide, who was quite knowledgeable about the reserve and its wildlife. It’s a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you, as it’s quite hot and dry in the savannah forest. 5. Soumbédioune Craft Market We wrapped up our trip by visiting a souvenir market in Dakar to collect memories of Senegal. There is a wide variety of local crafts at Soumbédioune Craft Market from artwork and sculptures to woven baskets, earrings, handbags and clothing. Funny story:We spent nearly 2 hours looking for a souvenir place. Rather than taking us to a souvenir market, our driver took us to a rowdy market in Dakar, comparable to Balagon Market in Lagos, Nigeria. It was funny because my friends and I were wearing long colourful dresses, so we made a spectacle of ourselves as we wandered around the market looking for souvenirs. It was the first time I felt so security conscious in Senegal. My passport and phone were in my bag, and I remember holding my bag tightly against myself while thinking about how I couldn’t afford to get stranded in Senegal. Unsurprisingly, we didn’t find any souvenirs in the market so we checked Tripadvisor (which we should have done before setting out). And that’s how we found Soumbédioune Craft Market. The destinations below are places I didn’t visit, but would have loved to: 6. Ecolodge Lompoul Location: Lompoul , Senegal If you’re looking for a day of fun-filled activities in Senegal, then Ecolodge Lompoul could just be the place for you. There’s camel riding, massages, sandboarding, and much more. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit Ecolodge because it was 3+ hours from our accommodation and we couldn’t fit it into our schedule. It’s also a similar distance from Dakar, so if you want to visit, you’d have to plan your itinerary around this. You can also stay overnight at their tents which are designed for desert camping. 7. Lac Rosa (Pink Lake) Location: Cap Vert Peninsula, Senegal A pink lake? That’s right. Lac Rosa (also known as Lake Retba) is named for its occasional pink hue caused by the presence of algae called Dunaliella salina. It’s also known for its high salt content, comparable to that of the Dead Sea. This makes it easy to float in the water. The consensus is that the lake’s colour is more visible during the dry season (November — June) and less during the rainy season (July — October). We planned on visiting Lac Rosa during our trip. However, the locals said the lake wouldn’t be pink, and, in other words, we shouldn’t bother. This is likely due to the extreme flood experienced in September 2022 which had a severe impact on the salt harvesting activities and reportedly caused the lake to lose its colour. All in all, I enjoyed my stay in Senegal. Going with a large group of friends made the trip full of life and energy. Senegal is a beautiful country with calming scenery and many coastlines. Our Airbnb was right next to a beach, and we managed to take a gorgeous photo of the sunset, shared below. Now you know what to do in Senegal!