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|  | SENEGAL COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | Senegal is bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania and encloses the confederated state of The Gambia. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. On the coast between Dakar and St Louis is a strip of shifting dunes. South of Dakar there are shallow estuaries along the coastline, fringed by palm trees. Dakar, the capital, is a bustling modern city and major port with good restaurants and shops. There is an interesting boat ride to Gorée Island, a former slaving station. St Louis, once Senegal's capital, is another French fortified settlement from the days of slave trading. There are good beaches. A cruise lasting several days can be made up the Senegal River from here. There are six national parks and four reserves in Senegal, particularly rich in birdlife. The best time for viewing is usually winter: Niokolo Koba and Djoudi are especially recommended. Senegalese dishes include chicken au yassa (chicken with lemon, pimento and onions) and dem à la St Louis (stuffed mullet). Traditional Senegalese festivals are held throughout the year. Cinemas tend to show the latest French language as well as local films. Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping. 11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor. In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during 1995-2003. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance, however. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries debt relief program, Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private sector debt. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | Dakar
A bustling modern city and major port situated at the tip of the Cap Vert peninsula. Dakar's markets include the Kermel and the Sandaga, the former selling mainly fruit, fabrics, clothing and souvenirs, the latter being the city's main fruit and fabrics market. The main museum is the Institut Fondemental d'Afrique Noir (IFAN), which has a collection of masks, statues and musical instruments from West Africa. Senegal's Galérie Nationale is also worth a visit. The Palais Présidentiel (presidential palace) is a white building surrounded by luscious gardens. The Grande Mosquée, the city's most famous mosque (noted for its minaret, which is lit at night), is closed to the public and located in Médina, which is off the tourist map. Dakar's main beaches include the Plage Bel-Air and the cleaner and safer N'Gor and Yoff. Other good beaches within reach are Yenn and Toubab Dialao which are well known for their spectacular red cliffs.
Excursions
About 3km (1.8 miles) from the city lies the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Île de Gorée (Gorée Island), which used to be a slaving station and was one of the first French settlements on the continent. The island has many colonial-style houses, a small beach as well as two museums - the Maison des Esclaves (Slaves' House) and the Historical Museum in the Fort d'Estrées. The Retba Lake (also called the Lac Rose or 'Pink Lake' due to its pink colouring) is a popular spot for picnics and weekend excursions. It is also the terminal for the Paris-Dakar motor rally.
St Louis
A former slave settlement and once Senegal's capital, St Louis is partly located on the mainland, partly on an island and partly on the Langue de Barbarie peninsula at the mouth of the River Senegal. The city reached its zenith in 1854, when Faidherbe undertook the reunification of the country, which was still divided into small kingdoms at that time. Due to the expansion of Dakar, St Louis inevitably lost some of its importance, but it retains a nostalgic and provincial atmosphere reflected in its narrow streets flanked by beautiful colonial houses, balconies and verandas. The island can be reached via the Pont Faidherbe. There are some good beaches and a cruise lasting several days can be made up the River Senegal.
The Petite Côte
South of Dakar, the Petite Côte (Little Coast), which stretches for some 150km (94 miles), is one of Senegal's best beach areas. The main tourist resorts in the area are Mbour and, slightly further north, Saly Portudal, which is set in a green park and has the highest concentration of luxury hotels as well as its own golf course.
Siné-Saloum Delta
Further south is the delta formed where the Siné and Saloum rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. This wild region of mangrove swamps, dunes and lagoons is also Senegal's main groundnut-growing basin. Located largely within the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, the delta's myriad small islands are scattered between so-called bolongs (channels). The most popular mode of transport in this beautiful region is the pirogue (traditional African boat), which can take visitors to a number of nearby islands: some of the most beautiful include Guior, Guissanor, Saloum, Betani, the Île de Mars and Palmarin. The palm-fringed sandy beaches along the coast give way to dense vegetation populated by small villages of fishermen and groundnut farmers.
Basse Casamance
This fertile, swampy region borders The Gambia in the north and Guinea-Bissau in the south. However, travellers are advised to avoid this region while political instability continues. The resorts of Cap Skiring and Ziguindor are considered safe at present but check the political situation before visiting. Cap Skiring, the region's main tourist hub, has countless hotels along what are generally considered the country's best beaches. The region is well-known for its traditional mud houses (also called impluvium), the most striking examples of which can be found in Affinam (on the north bank of the Casamance River) and Enampor. On the island of Karaban the ruins of a Breton church and a colonial settlement are worth visiting.
National Parks
There are six national parks and four reserves in Senegal. The best time for visiting is usually between October and April. The Senegalese Ministry of Tourism advocates a strict nature preservation policy which invites tourists to respect the natural habitat. Accommodation is available, mostly in the form of campements or lodges. For further information, contact the Ministère du Tourisme (see Address section).
Parc National de Niokolo Koba
Occupying a total of 903,150 ha (2.23 million acres) and situated in the southeast, this is one of West Africa's greatest reserves for large mammals. The park stretches over two geographical areas: the Sudanese savannah and the Guinea forest. Over 84 species live here, including Africa's largest lions, elephants, panthers, crocodiles, a variety of antelopes and over 300 species of birds. Niokolo Koba can be reached by air (with a flight to Simenti and, from there, a two-hour drive); by road (from Dakar to Tambacounda on the RN1 and from there to the park on the RN7); or by train (two weekly trains from Dakar to Tambacounda). Visitors are not allowed to explore the park on foot. The park headquarters are in Tambacounda.
Parc National des Oiseaux de Djoudj
Situated in the northeast, 60km (37 miles) from St Louis, at the southern edge of the Sahara, this beautiful park has 40,000 acres of water stretches and is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world. Its position makes it a favoured gathering place for migrating birds and a number of previously unknown bird species have recently been observed. Numerous organised tours are available from St Louis. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Parc National de Basse Casamance
Sixty kilometres (38 miles) from Ziguinchor in the extreme south of the country, this park extends over some 12,300 acres of forest and mangroves. Situated in a very rainy region, the park benefits from the luxuriance of the Guinea forest with its kapok trees, oil palms and imposing parinarias. Basse Casamance is famous for its tropical vegetation and variety of wildlife, including the Derry Eland and Buffoon Cob antelope, as well as many species of monkeys. It can be reached by plane or car from Dakar. The park headquarters are in Oussouye.
Parc National Langue de Barbarie
A narrow strip of sandy lands between the Atlantic and the River Senegal, this park is a refuge for birds and sea tortoises who come here to breed. Boat trips from St Louis are available.
Parc National du Delta du Saloum
Situated in the Saloum delta, 80km (50 miles) east of Kaolack, and extending over 180,000 acres. The landscape is characterised by small islands, sand dunes and swamps providing a perfect habitat for hundreds of bird species, including pelicans, storks and pink flamingoes.
Parc National de l'Île de la Madeleine
Situated west of Dakar, 3km (1.7 miles) from the coast, this small archipelago is a protected marine park of approximately 1200 acres. The rocky nature of the archipelago, thought to be of volcanic origins, has favoured the establishment of numerous colonies of sea birds. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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