Senegal
History
The Takrur state on the Senegal River adopted Islam early.
Jolof and its successor kingdoms ruled the interior.
Portuguese navigators reached the coast; Goree later became a trading post.
Independence came on 4 April, with Leopold Sedar Senghor as first president.
A first change of governing party through the ballot box.
Part ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.Short facts
RegionWest Africa / Sahel
LanguageFrench
Time zoneGMT (UTC+0)
Drives onRight
Worth seeing
- Goree Island: The House of Slaves off Dakar, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Djoudj Bird Sanctuary: A Senegal River wetland where millions of migratory birds winter.
- Saint-Louis: The former colonial capital on an island in the river mouth, a UNESCO site.
Find a city in Senegal
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DakarPlanning questions
What is Senegal known for?Goree Island, Djoudj Bird Sanctuary, Saint-Louis.
What is the capital?Dakar.
Which language is useful?French.
When is the national day?4 April.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.
Upcoming events
Use Dakar as the first planning anchor for Senegal, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.
Food & drink
Street food
CoffeeKnown for
Goree IslandDjoudj Bird SanctuarySaint-LouisDakarStreet foodCoffee
Music & Culture