Do you want to know what to see in Senegal? In this post we are going to help you know the most notable sites. In addition, we will give you some tips so that your trip goes well. You should know that since Gran Canaria There are direct flights with Binter. They also fly from other airports in Spain such as Barcelona. You can check prices and connectivity from your city on Skyscanner.es. We have the contrast of Senegal and all its beauty just a few hours away!
What to see in Senegal
As you can imagine, traveling to Africa can be quite an adventure, but don't worry, Senegal is very safe if you move with locals. We have gone several times for work and whenever we can we take the opportunity to visit the best-known sites in this country. We love. What we like most is the happiness and kindness of its residents. Next we make you a List of places to visit in Senegal:
1. Bandia Nature Reserve, an essential place to see in Senegal
Here you go on a safari to see up close zebras, ostriches, giraffes, antelopes, wild boars, rhinos, crocodiles, monkeys…In addition, everything in its environment and surrounded by baobabs. A wonderful experience. The entrance price is approximately €20 and you also have to hire the guide and the jeep for the Safari. You can check the rates at their official website. It is very worth it and they have a guide who speaks Spanish, who will tell you everything about the animals that reside in Bandia.
From Dakar to Bandia it is approximately 1 hour by car. You can negotiate the transfer rate with the driver detailed below, your hotel or hire the transfer from Dakar here. Without a doubt, this safari is a must visit of the places to see in Senegal.
2. Island of Gorée or Gorea. Another essential thing to see in Senegal!
It is also known as the slave island. It can be easily reached by boat from Dakar. You must keep in mind that there will be guides who will try to ask you for alms so that you allow yourself to be "accompanied" by them, that it is dangerous to go alone, etc. The island is touristy and safe enough to explore on foot on your own, don't be afraid. Here you can buy some souvenirs or art, appreciate local life and visit the House of Slaves. For hundreds of years it was the epicenter of the Atlantic from which slaves were supplied to visitors. If you prefer, for greater comfort you can hire your excursion to Gorea from Dakar with guide in Spanish here.
The island is beautiful!
3. Pink Lake and completion of the Dakar Rally. Our third essential thing to see in Senegal
Pink Lake is characteristic for its high concentration of salt, 10 times higher than that of the sea. Thanks to this and the microalgae that live there, In sunlight it sometimes looks pink (not always). Apparently it is possible to bathe, but be very careful with your eyes and mouth, we do not recommend submerging your head due to the amount of salt. If you dare to take the bath, you will see that given the concentration of salt you will float perfectly. There is a restaurant on the same pink lake on a wooden platform. It is highly recommended (sorry, I don't remember the name). You can hire the Pink Lake excursion from Dakar which includes 4×4 through the area where the old Paris-Dakar Rally took place. There is also transfer from Saly.
4. Popenguine Beach and Food with Sea Views
One hour by car from Dakar we have Popenguine beach. It is a beautiful virgin beach where you can take a walk and enjoy a pleasant meal with sea views. On the beach you will see how the Senegalese are obsessed with sports and do not stop running, playing soccer, jumping, etc. Especially men! We recommend a walk along this beach and a meal with sea views at the place we show you below. It's called L'echo cotier and they have international and local dishes.
5. Lunch at Lagon 1 and swim on the beach.
If you don't know where to eat in Dakar, next to the sea is the Lagon 1 restaurant. It is suspended on a kind of catwalk, so the views of the bay are spectacular. Here you can try the food and the local beer, Gazelle. They also have international dishes such as pasta, salads, etc. Eye, We do NOT recommend ordering salad throughout the country, nor fruit washed with water from here, nor ice.. I made the mistake of ordering a salad and spent the whole night in the bathroom 🙁 and the rest of the diners were fine... As you can see below, there is a nice beach right below.
6. Shopping in Dakar and city sightseeing
The driver you hire will be able to take you for a walk through the streets of Dakar. You can even ask her to take you to a seamstress to order your own African designs.. A unique experience. The prices and finishes are very good, yes, you have to go from the first days to buy the fabrics, choose designs and have them take your measurements so that in at least 2-3 days they can finish it and even do a test before Let them give it the final shot. When buying fabrics you also have to haggle, although they are quite cheap. At the same time, if you are going to make several designs, haggle with the seamstress as well. Don't pay more than you would for a piece of clothing in Europe, basically.
7. Baobab adventure
A few kilometers from Bandia is the adventure park among Baobabs of Senegal, is the Accro Baobab. We didn't get to try it because it was very hot and it was outdoors, but we did stop by to see it and we know that it is a tourist attraction in the area. You dare?
8. Saly and Mbur
Just under 1 and a half hours by car from Dakar we have the tourist area of Saly and the port of Mbur. A long beach full of resorts, restaurants and entertainment. On the other hand, a few minutes by car you have the port of M'bour, which is where the Senegalese fishermen leave and arrive with traditional boats.
According to what we have been told, it is a little dirty and smells a lot of fish, but a 100% local experience. Below we show you a photo of the typical Senegalese boat in Popenguine, since we have not gone to Mbour. One thing that you unfortunately have to get used to is seeing the sea and the streets full of garbage.
General information
The currency of Senegal is senegalese franc. Here it is spoken French or Wolof. The Senegalese are Muslims, but not very strict. That is, they drink alcohol in bars and restaurants. At the same time, women are not covered like in other African countries. However, the majority practice Ramadan. The currency they use is the CFA franc and We recommend that you bring cash in exchange or take it out there, since in many places you cannot pay by card. Therefore, don't forget your free card Revolut which allows you to pay abroad and withdraw money from ATMs outside of Spain without commission.
On the other hand, the country itself is developing and growing very quickly. They do not stop opening hotels, conference centers and improving roads. Even so, you will continue to find a lot of poverty on the street, dirt, burning garbage, abandoned animals, etc. But at the same time you will realize that they are very happy with what they have and will always make you smile.
What to see in Senegal and how to get around
To get around Senegal it is better to go with locals, we do not recommend renting a car, since taxi transfers are quite cheap (YOU HAVE TO HAGGLE). If you still dare to go on your own, you can compare the rates below.
We are going to leave you the WhatsApp of the company with which we move there. Is Senegal Tours. They can pick you up at the Dakar airport and also take you on excursions. Likewise, at your hotel you can ask about the rates of the transfers you are going to make and compare them with those offered by Senegal Tours. The Senegal Tours telephone number is: +221338325667. You can send them a WhatsApp, they speak English or send an email to [email protected]. Always try to make the hours and places/destinations and rates very clear so that it is in writing and you can consider whether to hire it. Just in case, don't pay anything in advance.
Hotels in Senegal
Whenever we have gone to Senegal we have stayed in the capital, Dakar and we have made a daily excursion to each of the sites. The furthest is Pink Lake, which is 1 and a half hours away by car. The hotel where we stayed in Dakar is the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza. It is quite expensive, but you are assured of a peaceful stay. That is, with a good breakfast, rooms, cleanliness and service. In addition, at the entrance to the hotel there is control of metals and weapons as if you were going through airport control.
If you are out of budget, we also know that the Pullman Dakar Teranga It's good and it's more central. Otherwise, find your here hotel in Dakar o Saly, the most tourist areas.
Vaccines
To travel to Senegal you have to be vaccinated against yellow fever and malaria.. Be very careful with the fruit and vegetables you eat. It is HIGHLY recommended that you carry a small kit with paracetamol, fortasec, primperan and oral serum. So that if you get sick you can cut it off and, at the same time, hydrate yourself with the oral serum.
Travel and security insurance in Senegal
As we mentioned at the beginning, Senegal is a safe country. That is, there are usually no murders, robberies, rapes, etc. However, you are a tourist and they are going to try to get as much juice out of you as possible. That is, they will ask you on the street. Above all, they will want to accompany you to act as a guide in Spanish or English, etc. but in general you can trust the locals. We recommend that you haggle everything you are going to buy and if you can be accompanied by the driver to advise you, the better. After all, it is a predominantly Muslim country and they preserve the traditions of haggling.
Likewise, we recommend that you hire travel insurance with medical coverage abroad if you don't already have it. With IATI you have a 5% off for being our reader in all your policies. You can calculate below the price of the insurance that best suits your trip; the prices will appear with the discount.
Iati insuranceAnd this is all we can tell you about Senegal for the moment, we hope we have helped you. We have contacts and friends in the country, if you have any questions that are not raised here, contact us and we will try to help you.. Thanks for reading us!
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
