Senegal - 9 Amazing Places to Visit

From the traveltalk.dk family – started in Denmark in 2018

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Senegal – the Gateway to Africa

Senegal is regarded as the “gateway to Africa”, sitting on the westernmost point of the continent and connected by numerous air and sea routes.

The country lies at an ecological crossroads, where semi-arid grasslands, the coastline and tropical rainforest meet; Senegal has been blessed with a wide variety of plant and animal life thanks to this diverse climate.

Senegal is like a hidden treasure in Africa. Your trip to

Senegal tells the story of Senegal as one of Africa’s most electrifying countries, with a French twist to its flavour that speaks to a heritage from its colonial days. Senegal was under French rule for three centuries and gained independence in 1960. After independence the country maintained strong ties with France, and French influence remained in the city’s architecture and culture, where well-preserved colonial buildings, grand houses and café terraces stand as a statement from the past.

Any traveller interested in an African city adventure, a blended atmosphere, a lively music scene and exciting entertainment options, from safari parks to birdwatching, nature hikes and trekking, is well placed to book their place on a flight to Senegal.

IFAN Museum of African Arts

The IFAN Museum of African Arts, also known as the Museum of the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa, located in the capital Dakar, is one of the best places to learn more about the culture, religion and history of the Senegalese people. The museum holds a collection of artworks from various countries in West Africa, including Mali, Ivory Coast and others. Old weapons used in earlier days, alongside the usual musical instruments, ritual masks and textiles, are among the things you will find here.

The House of Slaves (Slave House)

At La Maison des Esclaves, part of the World Heritage Site and a monument to the Atlantic slave trade on Gorée Island, you can feel the weight of iron chains as you pass through the ‘Gate of No Return’, through which enslaved people boarded the slave ships that carried them halfway around the world to overseas plantations. The two-storey pink building, built in 1776 with two curved staircases, houses a series of exhibits and paintings illustrating the abhorrent trade that tore generations of families apart. Chains, whips, shackles and other instruments used for enslavement can be studied, and a statue of a freed slave carrying broken chains can be seen – a sign of his freedom.

Ngor Beach and the beaches of Ngor Island

There is no doubt that Senegal offers some of the most beautiful beaches for holidaymakers along the West African coast. When you visit Ngor Beach as well as Ngor Island, you will certainly be able to appreciate the beauty of the Senegalese coastline. N’gor Beach is a popular spot for holidaymakers keen on sunbathing, where you will see people lazing on the sand as well as several fishermen who have a tradition of singing as they bring their boats back from the sea to the mainland. Do not miss the various fish and shellfish dishes prepared by the different restaurants nearby.

The nearby Ile d’Ngor beach also offers an excellent escape from busy city life, a relaxed experience that is ideal for unwinding. This tropical island has several private beaches, many of which have good restaurants specialising in preparing delicious fish and shellfish.

Mlomp Museum of the Diola Tradition

This striking “impluvium”, set between towering kapok trees on the main road between Oussouye and Elinkine, houses an exhibition dedicated to Diola culture. Every local, rustic craft can be explained by a guide on site: rings used for climbing up palm trees, baskets used as fish traps, mortars and pestles for making palm wine, and shields made from thick hippopotamus hide.

Also curious are the gris-gris, worn as amulets to defend against attacks; some warriors would therefore use clubs to overcome the magical protection that an opponent was believed to have.

Keur Moussa Abbey

This peaceful monastery on a beautiful hillside was founded by nine monks and lies around 30 miles east of Dakar. Visitors from across the country are also welcome to join the Sunday morning service, accompanied by the sound of the kora, balafon and traditional drums. The monks also produce and sell kora, chicken, goat’s cheese and tropical fruit grown in their own orchards.

Djoudj National Bird Reserve, Saint-Louis

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, a World Heritage-listed wetland in the Senegal River delta, is home to hundreds of thousands of birds. The park protects purple herons, African spoonbills, great white pelicans, great egrets and cormorants, serving as a wintering ground for migratory birds from the Sahara. To learn more about the sanctuary’s conservation efforts, you can take a guided boat trip and see other species that live here, including warthogs, jackals, gazelles, crocodiles and manatees. The sanctuary covers around 39,537 hectares (16,000 acres) and contains a large lake.

Lac Rose or Pink Lake

Lac Rose, also known as Pink Lake in Senegal, is a place that will almost certainly impress you at first sight. The contrast of the pink water of the lake against the fine white sand and the golden colour of the dunes dotting the horizon under the blue sky is breathtaking. One might wonder why it is called the pink lake, and the distinctive pink colour of this shallow lake is caused by the high concentration of bacteria that make it alkaline in nature.

To absorb sunlight, this bacterium forms a characteristic red pigment that gives the water a pink tint. The lake is best visited in the dry season from November to June, when you can enjoy a range of activities such as camel rides along the beach and even swimming. Read more about Lac Rose and the rest of Senegal’s teranga in our in-depth article.

Saint-Louis Jazz Festival

The most globally renowned festival in West Africa takes place in early or mid-May each year and draws jazz greats from around the world. The main event typically takes place at the Quai des Arts or on the open-air stage at Place Faidherbe, while fringe events are held throughout the area.

Saloum Delta National Park

This Senegalese national park owes its name to its location 50 miles west of Kaolack, in the Saloum Delta. Within the park, a landscape of dune-covered islands and spectacular mangroves, the North Atlantic meets the Saloum River. The park also includes Fathala Game Reserve, the only place on earth where visitors can see the endangered western giant eland and the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, a birdwatchers’ paradise. It is possible to explore Fathala Game Reserve safely by canoe, on foot or on self-guided safaris. At Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, waterbirds migrate from Europe every winter to join flamingos, pelicans and nearly 400 other exotic bird species.

Lompoul Desert

The Lompoul Desert, known for its orange sand dunes, is small but a very popular tourist destination. Travellers can experience the sandy landscape, take part in an annual music festival or go on a camel ride.

Rally Dakar

The Dakar Rally was founded in 1978, when the race started in Paris, France, and headed south to Dakar across the dry desert. Today this international rally event, which draws tens of thousands of spectators, is an off-road competition that takes entrants, including experienced drivers and amateurs, across extremely rugged terrain.

N’Gor Island

There is no point in Africa further west than this small island, just five minutes from Dakar by canoe. N’Gor Island may be most popular for its excellent surfing, but visitors can also hire pedal boats to ride around the island, eat meals at N’Gor Island restaurants or admire the magnificent Bougainvillea-covered gates that guard the islanders’ homes.

Dakar – The Capital

Dakar is the capital of Senegal, and today this bustling city is growing with a variety of activities taking place everywhere. The capital has a number of attractions that can be visited on day trips, one of which is the Musée Théodore Monod (which houses a range of historical objects such as masks, traditional musical instruments and statues) and several markets selling all kinds of goods.