From rivers and rainforests teeming with wildlife to the cultural history of Dakar and Saint-Louis, Senegal is forever captivating.

The sheer energy of Dakar can leave some visitors feeling overwhelmed, but stick around and once you’ve got your bearings you’ll find a slower pace simmering just beneath the surface. From its charming French colonial towns to heart-warming maafe stews and some of Africa’s best beaches right along the coast, Senegal is a country made for long exploratory walks and lazy afternoons. Made better still by the chance to encounter iconic wildlife while cruising down the leafy Saloum Delta.

Senegal travel highlights

Our Senegal trips

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Senegal holiday information

Senegal Facts

Local Culture of Senegal

Geography and environment

Shopping guide to Senegal

Senegal Festival calendar

Food and drink in Senegal

Further reading

Senegal travel FAQs

•    Australia: No
•    Belgium: No
•    Canada: No
•    Germany: No
•    Ireland: No
•    Netherlands: No
•    New Zealand: No
•    South Africa: No
•    Switzerland: No
•    United Kingdom: No
•    USA: No

To enter Senegal, all travellers require a passport valid for at least three months from date of entry. Visas are not required for stays less than 90 days for the majority of countries. 

We recommend you check in with your local consulate for the latest up-to-date information on visa requirements. 

Senegal has a distinct wet and dry season, with monsoonal rains the norm from May to November. The best time to visit Senegal is in the dry season in November to February, but this will also be when the prices are highest. If you’re looking for a bargain, aim for the humidity of July to September, with price cuts of up to 40%. While most of Senegal benefits from a tropical climate all-year round, weather varies across the country, with the cooler regions on the coast to the west and the warmer regions inland to the east. Along the coast, expect temperatures from 18C (64F) to 27C (80F), while along the eastern border they can get as high as 50C (122F). 

For the most part, tipping is not expected in Senegal. This can be different in the tourist trade, however, where it’s polite to reward good service from a tour guide. Pricier restaurants and hotels will include a 10-15% service charge on the bill. 

Getting online in rural villages will prove difficult, but you should be able to find a decent speed in the hotels and internet cafes of most major towns and cities. 
 

International roaming agreements will depend on your carrier. Coverage in Senegal is typically limited to urban areas and tourist centres, with rural areas becoming patchy at best.

Toilets in Senegal are typically squat toilets. A good travellers’ tip is to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitiser, as many toilets won’t have any. But the closer to a tourist centre you are, the more likely you are to find a toilet of the Western variety. Most hotels will have sit-down flush toilets.

Coffee = US$2.50 (1,250 CFA)

Beer at a bar = US$2 (1,000 CFA)

Short taxi ride = US$9 (5,000 CFA)

Simple meal at a local restaurant = US$9 (5,000 CFA)

Dinner in a high-end hotel restaurant = US$15.50 (8,750 CFA)

These price estimates were last updated December 2017. 

Water in Senegal should be considered contaminated, and should be boiled or sterilised before drinking, brushing teeth or making ice. Ice in drinks from restaurants and bars should be avoided. Help the environment and try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle with filtered water. Your leader or hotel can tell you where to find filtered water.

The majority of transactions in Senegal are in cash. Even some major credit card companies like VISA and MasterCard are not universally accepted, and those that are will often be charged a commission fee.

It’s best not to rely on ATMs in Senegal. They’re easy to find in cities like Dakar, but less common in more rural areas. However, those you find will often not accept foreign cards. 

Senegal is not unsafe for LGBTQI travellers, but they do need to exercise extreme caution. While most people are accepting of difference and diversity, open displays of affection between same-sex couples have the chance of placing people in very real danger. Genuine issues for queer travellers are rare, but the exceptions need to be noted. 

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.
 

Yes. All Peregrine passengers are required to purchase travel insurance prior to their trip. Your insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day.

For more information on insurance, please go to Travel Insurance.

Jan 1: New Year’s Day

Apr 4: Independence Day

Apr 17: Easter Monday

May 1: Labour Day

May 25: Ascension Day

Jun 5: Whit Monday

Jun 25: Korite (End of Ramadan)

Aug 15: Assumption

Sep 1: Tabaski (Feast of Sacrifice)

Sep 22: Islamic New Year

Sept 30: Tamkharit (Ashura)

Nov 1: All Saint’s Day

Dec 1: Milad un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)

Dec 25: Christmas Day

For a current list of public holidays in Senegal go to https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/senegal/public-holidays/ 
 

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who have transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

It is recommended you visit your doctor or travel clinic for up to date advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Recommended vaccines and boosters

1.    Hepatitis A (transmitted through contaminated water)
2.    Hepatitis B (transmitted through blood and other bodily fluid)
3.    Yellow Fever (transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes)
4.    Typhoid (transmitted through contaminated water)
5.    Diphtheria (transmitted through person-to-person contact or contact with infected objects, such as a cup or tissue)
6.    Tetanus (transmitted through infections to cuts or puncture wounds)
7.    Rabies (transmitted through bites of infected mammals)
8.    Cholera (transmitted through contaminated food and water)
9.    Meningococcal Meningitis (transmitted through person-to-person contact or contact with infected objects)