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
Showing all cities
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
Senegal National Day4 April 2027 — Across Senegal — SenegalUse 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