Senegal - Info & Facts

Suggested Length of Stay

Allow yourself between 5-12 days to experience Senegal.

Modes of transport

Road

There are myriad obstacles. Out in the countryside, slow down: you’ll be sharing the road with errant goats and cows, bicyclists, pedestrians and overloaded, slow-moving vehicles – with oncoming cars swerving wildly into your lane as they pass. It’s dangerous to drive after dusk when you have to contend with the same challenges – plus unlit vehicles – but in the darkness.

Public transport

Bus

The quickest way of getting around the country is by sept-place taxi – battered Peugeots that negotiate even the most ragged routes. Slightly cheaper, but infinitely less reliable are the minibuses (Ndiaga Ndiaye or grand car), carrying around 40 people. Vehicles leave from the gare routière (transport station) when they’re full, and they fill up quickest in the morning, before 8am.

Flying

Groupe Transair flies between Dakar, Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring.

Health Precautions

The following vaccinations are recommended for travel in Senegal: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, typhoid, yellow fever and boosters for tetanus, diphtheria and measles. Malaria is a serious concern in Senegal, and the risks shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are various effective anti-malarial regimens recommended for travellers, including atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine. Chloroquine is not advised as mosquitoes here have shown drug resistance to it.

Food and Drink

Senegal’s national dish is thiéboudienne (rice cooked in a thick tomato sauce and served with fried fish and vegetables). Also typical are Poulet Yassa or Poisson Yassa (marinated and grilled chicken or fish) and mafé (peanut-based stew).

Local drinks include bissap, made from hibiscus flowers, and bouyi, made from the fruits of the baobab. The best local beer is Flag.

Money

Senegal used the West African franc.

Senegal uses the West African CFA (SAY-fuh) franc. All larger towns have banks with ATMs. US dollars and euros are the most easily exchanged currencies.

Time Zone

Senegal observes Greenwich Mean Time all year. There is no Daylight Saving

Visas

You’ll need a visa to travel to Senegal. Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Embassy of Ghana for up-to-date information.

Embassy & Consulate contacts for Senegal

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Senegal. The Canadian Embassy in Dakar provides consular assistance to Australians in Senegal and can issue Provisional Travel Documents. The Australian High Commission in Accra, Ghana, can also help you.

Australian High Commission, Accra

2, Second Rangoon Close

(cnr Josef Broz Tito Ave)

Cantonments

Accra, Ghana

Phone: (+233) 302 216 400

Fax: (+233) 302 216 410

Email: AccraHC.Enquiries@dfat.gov.au

Website: ghana.highcommission.gov.au

Senegal Embassy contacts in Australia

Senegal does not have an embassy in Australia, for all enquiries please contact the Senegal Embassy in Japan

Embassy of the Republic of Senegal

1-3-4 Aobadai, Meguro Ku Tokyo 153-0042 JAPAN

Web Site www.senambatok.org

Email Address: senegal@senegal.jp

Phone Number +81 3 3464 8451

Electricity

In Senegal, the power plugs and sockets are of type C, D, E and K. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Getting there (stopovers)

Singapore Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines fly daily via, Singapore, Addis Ababa and Bamako to Dakar.

A brief history

Senegal has been inhabited for thousands of years. The Arabs arrived in the 11th century and many of the local tribal peoples converted to Islam. Later, in the 13th and 14 centuries the Mandingo and the Jolof Empires formed in Senegal.

When Europeans first arrived Senegal became a significant area for slaves. It wasn’t until the 1850s when the French began to explore further inland and colonise the land. In 1959 Senegal and the French Soudan merged and formed the country the Mali Federation. This didn’t last very long as in 1960, Senegal declared its independence and Leopold Sedar Senghor became the first president of Senegal.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected at budget eateries. At pricier restaurants, a 10% tip is customary, though this is sometimes included in the bill. It’s uncommon to tip taxi drivers. If you hire a guide or a driver for the day, however, you should plan on tipping (assuming the service wasn’t abysmal).