Budget & Tips
Senegal offers a wide range of activities to do on site: fishing, hunting, safaris, birdwatching, canoeing... Everyone will be able to indulge his or her passions, at generally affordable rates. Some camps and lodges are specialized in hunting and offer package deals from mid-December to the end of April. Most of the time, they take care of all the formalities to obtain the permits. With its 700 km of coastline, Senegal also offers the possibility of many water sports: sailing, diving, surfing, water skiing, canoeing... The best spots are on the Petite Côte and on the Cape Verde peninsula (Pointe des Almadies, Ngor). As winter begins to fall on Europe, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the pleasant temperatures of the country. Casamance undoubtedly has the most beautiful beaches in the country, but you can also laze around on the beaches of the Cape Verde peninsula or the Petite Côte. If you don't stay in these regions, many establishments in the interior of the country have a swimming pool where you can lounge on deckchairs. As for safaris, tourists who have already been to the parks of Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa may be very disappointed... However, there are some private reserves and national parks where it is possible to observe some giraffes imported from South Africa, rhinoceroses or antelopes. The Niokolo Koba Park has a few specimens of lions and elephants, some of which were seen on the side of Mount Assirik in January 2020. Otherwise, you will observe monkeys, gazelles, warthogs, but also with a little luck, crocodiles and hippos. However, Senegal is better known as an ornithological destination, with its 650 listed bird species. The third largest bird reserve in the world, the Djoudj Park offers a majestic spectacle between December and March, when pelicans, wintering ducks and flamingos flock in their thousands. Other places are ideal for bird watching: the bolongs of Sine-Saloum, Casamance or the Somone Nature Reserve. In general, keep your eyes open all around you!
Main events
If you have the opportunity during your stay to enjoy the pirogue regattas in one of the country's fishing ports, or a wrestling match in Dakar or in a village, don't hesitate a second! Many cultural events also punctuate the Senegalese calendar, some of which are of international importance, such as the Dakar Biennale or the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival. Find out the dates!