Mainland Africa’s westernmost country occupies a colossal cut out of the Sahel. It ranges from the fringes of the Guinean woods to the bottom of the Sahara, and throws up fascinating destinations aplenty.Take the capital, Dakar: a town of pandemonius markets and endless energy. Or, look to the ports of Saint-Louis, which bustle with ships and Parisian-style arcades. Out in the wildernesses and Senegal has more treats for the traveler, ranging from the winding channels of the Gambia River to the shimmering beaches of the coast. Animals like hippos and hyenas all mingle here, while rustic communities continue to tick over.And the cherry on the top? Despite a dangerous Ebola outbreak, Senegal has been one of Africa’s most stable places for decades. Fair elections and peaceful power transfers all add up to make this one accessible and fun place for the worldly explorer.
Lets explore the best places to visit in Senegal:
Niokolo Koba National Park
While Senegal isn’t known as a safari destination on the level of, say, Tanzania, you can still spot some beautiful wild creatures while in the country. Niokolo Koba National Park is one of those places and is filled with a variety of landscapes, crossed by the Gambia River. Inside the park, you’ll be able to spot hippo, antelope, crocodile and even a lion if you’re lucky.
Petite-Côte
This splendid stretch of beach is one of the most popular places in the country to visit. Tradewinds keep the dazzling white beaches cooler than spots farther inland, and the peaceful surrounds make a great side trip from Dakar. The area stretches for nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) south from Dakar and is dotted with fishing villages, nature preserves, and pristine beaches.
Gorée Island
Just off of the coast of Dakar, Gorée Island is a paradise of warm colors, sandy beaches, and tranquil community. But though it is breathtaking on the surface, the island has a difficult history that actually serves as its bigger tourist draw – Gorée Island was one of the most popular outposts for the slave trade, and it has become an important stop for people to pay respects to their ancestors who were affected by the slave trade and remember the horrors of the era.
Pink Lake
Retba Lake, or Pink Lake, is so named for its incredible pink-purple color, the result of high salt content, unique bacteria, and the reflection of sunlight. An hour’s drive north from Dakar, visitors can also view the salt harvesting that takes place on the lake, an important agricultural industry for the country.
Saloum Delta National Park
Saloum Delta National Park, in western Senegal, is over 76,000 hectares of incredible biodiversity, including a wide variety of birds, fish, mangrove forests, savanna, forest, and more. The park forms part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is most definitely worth a visit.
Bandia Reserve
If you head inland from the Petite-Côte, you’ll find the Bandia Reserve, a natural park with over 3,500 hectares of savannah. The reserve was established in 1990 and is the first working and enclosed breeding site for large animals in the country. Inside, you’ll be able to spot ostrich, monkeys, warthog, zebra, hippo and crocodile.
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
Located about 60km north of Saint-Louis, this park is the third largest ornithological park in the world. The site is also on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is a sanctuary for 1.5 million birds (including 400 species). The park’s most famous birds are the pelicans and flamingos, both of which are easy to spot.
Sine-Saloum Delta
The Sine Saloum Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage site located a few hours south of Dakar and is without a doubt one of the best parks in Senegal. Covering 180,000 hectares, the delta contains hundreds of tributaries, islands, mangrove forests, and dry forest. Dozens of bird species inhabit these wetlands and close to 30 burial grounds have been excavated showing the rich history of human habitation as well.
Guembeul Natural Reserve
If you’re traveling to St. Louis, you’ll probably want to stop by the Guembel Natural Reserve (Réserve de Faune de Guembeul.) While it’s rather small, it’s still worth a stop and contains a mixture of lagoons, dry woodlands and marsh areas. Inside the area you’ll be able to see monkeys, tortoises and gazelles. The area is also a bird lover’s paradise and over 190 species have been spotted in the area.