Enjoy my detailed travel guide to Senegal, Africa. I’m sharing what you should know, where to stay, and things to do in Senegal! Many people have considered visiting African countries that are off the beaten path but do not know where to start.
My husband and I visited Senegal in April 2022, and it was amazing! There was so much culture and history, and the people were very friendly. We went during Ramadan, which is a Muslim holiday that lasts from March to April every year. We wanted to visit a country with rich history and culture but also relax on a beach. If you want the same experience, keep reading this Senegal travel guide.
Travel Advice
Before I travel to any country, I make sure to check out the CDC Traveler’s Health Link and the Department of State Travel Advisory site. Within these sites you will find any warnings in place, embassy information, required vaccines, and different health risks that may be associated with the country.
We flew Delta Airlines from JFK directly to Blaise Diagne International Airport and had a good experience in business class. Highly recommend! The food was so good! The flight will take about 9 hours.
Upon going through security in Senegal’s airport, one of the agents asked us for a yellow fever vaccine record. Please note while the yellow fever vaccine is recommended for travel to Senegal, it is not required. We did not have our yellow fever vaccine records at the time.
The security agent then requested my husband and I to provide 50 euros per person to be allowed in the country. Please be aware that this is not legit. If you ever encounter a worker asking for payment in an effort to get into the country, please alert a supervisor. Once we did this, we were allowed to go past the security gate without payment.
Senegal is a mostly French-speaking country. It will behoove you to know some French before going to Senegal. It will make your life a lot easier. My husband and I did not know much French, so we did encounter some language barriers along the way.
I recommend hiring a driver ahead of time to get you from point A to point B during your stay in Senegal. Most of the taxis that we saw were very dated and more than likely did not have air conditioners in them. We had a driver set up already and he was always prompt to get us to the next destination.
Where to Stay
The first few nights in Senegal, we enjoyed our stay at the Pullman Dakar Terranga. This hotel was in the city of Dakar, which is the capital. I highly recommend staying here as it was very nice and welcoming. The hotel staff were very accommodating and did speak English. Our room was clean and spacious. I loved the decor throughout this hotel! They had an onsite restaurant with traditional Senegalese cuisine. So delicious!
The second hotel we stayed at was the Hotel Riu Baobab, which is about 45 minutes outside of Dakar. This is an all-inclusive resort that was brand new when we went. The Hotel Riu Baobab is also on the beach.
The staff we encountered were very friendly and eager to please. We enjoyed the food at the buffet-style restaurant. Since it was still the first week it opened, not all the specialty restaurants were available as of yet.
The resort had a large selection of wines, spirits, and juices. Most of the staff we encountered did not speak much English at all. So that did make it a little difficult to communicate when you wanted certain drinks or certain items during your stay. Know some basic French before going!
This resort has multiple pools that are spacious and accommodating. One pool is an Olympic size pool for adults only. The other main pool features a swim-up bar and music. The beach volleyball is very fun, but the sand is so hot. Wow! Keep in mind, this is a desert location so definitely be prepared for the heat. I believe it was over 98° F when we went in April.
The staff tries to keep your stay lively by offering several activities throughout the day. The nighttime entertainment is also very entertaining. You will see the local attire and dances being performed. The hotel rooms are very spacious and nice. I loved the African decor throughout the room and the resort.
Things to Do
We booked the Full Day Goree Island and Dakar City Tour through Viator. Our guide picked us up from the hotel. He was very knowledgeable about the city and gave a lot of information throughout the ride around town.
African Renaissance Monument
The first stop on the tour was Le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine. In English, it is called the African Renaissance Monument. This all bronze monument was gigantic standing approximately 171 feet tall (52 meters). The monument depicts a Senegalese man, woman, and child. It is the most well-known of Senegal’s monuments and is the tallest monument in the whole country of Africa!
Mosque of Divinity
The second stop for us was the Mosque of Divinity. This is a beautiful and colorful mosque overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
We also stopped at a local market to check out vendors, African art, and jewelry. The vendors can be a bit pushy for you to buy what they are selling. But, remember always to negotiate the price, because at first the price you are told can be a bit high.
Goree Island
The most important stop along the tour for me was Goree Island. You take a 20-minute ferry ride from the city of Dakar to get to Goree Island. The ferry ticket is included in this tour. Goree Island features the House of Slaves and the Door of No Return. From the 15th to the 19th century, this was the largest slave trading post on the African coast.
Thousands and thousands of Africans from different countries were brought to this trading post to be sent to America. We were shown the rooms the slaves were housed in while they awaited their fate. We were even able to go inside of them. Not a good feeling.. But a much-needed look at history.
Overall Impression
I had a great experience during my visit to Senegal. It was very eye-opening and comforting to see this culture and part of Africa. Setting foot on Goree Island was very powerful and heart-wrenching. You really felt the spirit of the ancestors around you, even though you could never fathom what they went through and the immense struggle of it all.
I feel that it is safe to travel to Senegal. I do recommend a driver and keep aware of your surroundings as always. Senegal is one of the only African countries that has not had any major war or internal conflict.
You can tell that Senegal is a growing country and has good infrastructure overall. Senegal is definitely on the verge of becoming a more well-known tourist destination. Every local person I encountered had a very welcoming spirit and was friendly toward us. You don’t always get that experience when visiting other countries. All in all, I do recommend others to visit the country of Senegal.
