Senegal is a West-African country that holds a dear place in my heart. I had the chance to work on a bio-agriculture project aiming to empower women’s entrepreneurship in bush villages there, back in 2016. I lived in the wonderful village of N’Dinguiraye for three months and once my mandate was done, I took the opportunity to explore the rest of the country along with my Canadian colleagues, and discovered a country both beautiful and complex, but most of all, incredibly welcoming, thanks to the famous local teranga.
Teranga is a Wolof word that Senegalese people often use; it means hospitality, and it is so true and so representative of the community spirit of the country, so distinct from the general individualist state-of-mind of too many Occidentals. Senegal is a country that is worth the visit. Here is then a list of the five most welcoming touristic places I have visited in Senegal (in no particular order).
Saly
Saly is probably the most touristic city of the whole country. It is a seaside resort that is famous for its beautiful beaches where you can swim in the Atlantic Ocean, its typical resort activities (jet-skiing, surfing, dance lessons…), its nightlife and souvenir shops. I have very fond memories of that place. Since Senegal is not extremely touristic (I mean, most people would not think of taking their vacations there), you always have a privileged spot on the beach. I remember floating in the ocean one night completely alone, watching the sunset, and later the stars, hearing nothing but the soft sound of the waves. Talk about a peaceful moment!
Yes, the beaches are great and you get to relax and have a nice tan, but the nightlife is the complete opposite; it is wild! My friends and I decided to experiment with it once, and oh, it was quite the ride. We chose one nightclub that seemed great. Well it was… in a way. Firstly, we almost all passed out at some point because the heat was unbearable. It was already extremely hot outside, the club was full of people dancing for their lives and sweating, and there was no air conditioning. The waitresses were all dressed like bunnies, there were small people in cages, and other things I can’t write here! At least there was a terrace outside where we could smoke hookah and cool down a little. And the music was simply amazing!
Mbour
Mbour is located right next to Saly. It is more residential and less touristic, but nonetheless interesting. If you are staying in Saly, you can easily access and visit Mbour, and vice versa. There is a lot to do and see in Mbour. The Great Mosque is stunningly beautiful, the cloth markets are big and busy, and the food is delicious. What I enjoyed the most during my short stay there was to wake up early and go to the beach to watch the fishermen take out their nets. The amount of fish they catch is impressive, and the way they all help each other carry the heavy weight of the fish is a beautiful and special thing to witness.
Dakar
I cannot write about Senegal and not mention its capital: Dakar. I visited the city twice and stayed in somewhat poor neighborhoods both times, as you can see from my picture. Nevertheless, Dakar is a rich city in terms of history, art, and culture. There are so many things to do there. I would recommend going to Gorée Island if you want to learn about the horrible, but important, truth of the Slave Trade. In a lighter spirit, you can always swim in the ocean, try one of the many typical Senegalese restaurants, drink attaya (the local tea), and visit some art or history museums.
If you love African art and want to bring home a unique souvenir, then you have to go to the “Village des Arts” and to the “Marché Sandanga”. You will most certainly find something for yourself or for a loved one there. Also, do not be afraid to negotiate the price. Bargaining is a national sport in Senegal! Obviously, you want to fairly reward the artist for their work, but when you are a Toubab (a foreigner), the prices they give you are ridiculously high!
If you simply want to wander around, you can look at all the churches and mosques to understand how Christian and Muslim Senegalese live peacefully together. Although, if you intend to walk in the city, be extremely careful. The streets are very busy, and can be dangerous sometimes.
Bandia
Bandia is known for its Nature Reserve. When you are there, you can embark on a safari with your own private guide who will be more than happy to tell you all about the plants and animals living there. You will mostly see giraffes though, so don’t be scared; there are no tigers or rhinoceros on the Reserve! Once you are done with your safari, you can enjoy a good meal surrounded by nature. This is a fun, short activity to do, especially if you are traveling with children. It is calm and full of exotic animals. I, unfortunately, could not do the safari because I was sick (I had caught cholera!!), but I at least got the opportunity to feed crocodiles! (or alligators? I can never remember the difference!) All of my colleagues did the safari and absolutely loved it, which is why it is still on my list of recommendations.
N’Dangane
N’Dangane was, by far, my favourite touristic stay in Senegal. I was there for 5 days, and enjoyed every single minute of it. I particularly liked walking on the crab beach. There were so many small crabs! I was a little scare at first, but if you are careful, you are not going to step on one of these small beings (like I was so afraid to do). There are also countless colourful “pirogues” that you can photograph, or even hop on for a unique boat ride.
Another thing I really enjoyed in N’Dangane was exploring the village, looking at all the artists’ work, having a beer in a pub, and watching soccer matches with the locals. It is such a nice, little, isolated touristic haven. There is always something to do, like participate in a tam-tam jam! The city is located in the Sine-Saloum region, which is, well according to me, the most beautiful region of the country. Plus, if you do go there, you will also have the occasion to admire the thousands of old, gigantic baobabs on the road 🙂
I hope you will get the opportunity to travel to Senegal one day. It is such a warm country, in every sense of the term. People are extremely welcoming, and I believe that Senegal is a great introduction to the African continent. It is affordable, and relatively safe. So, what are you waiting for?
Bittersweet Travel Memories 