Travel warning is issued for traveling to Senegal. For more information please visit U.S. Department of State
Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Senegal
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC 0
- Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Currency: CFA franc (CFA)
- Country Dialing Code: 221
Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List by
- Island of Gorée
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
- Niokolo-Koba National Park
- Island of Saint-Louis
Senegal
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Capital
Dakar
Population
11,126,832 (July 2005 est.)
Regions
11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Ethnic groups
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions
Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)
Languages
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Government type
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Background
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal was ruled by the Socialist Party for forty years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. A southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982, but Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Visitor's Impressions
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