Senegal is a country in the western part of the African continent. It has its own outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. Almost the entire territory of the state is represented by plains, only in the southwest and southeast there are small peaks, and then with a height of up to 500 meters above sea level.
The country has 9.4 million people and only three major cities. The capital of the state is the city of Dakar.
According to local legend, the country got its name from the Portuguese. When they arrived at the shores of the country, the first thing they heard from the local population was: Sunu gaal, which translates as "these are our boats." But the Portuguese did not understand anything and so they called the country Senegal.
Historical background
The first settlements in the valley of the Senegal River appeared in the 9th century, and then it was the state of Tekrur. By the 14th century, there were already several small kingdoms here, the most powerful being called Jolof.
The history of Senegal is closely connected with the island of Goré, which for many centuries was the center of the slave trade.
In XIXcentury the country was under the control of the French authorities. However, after the Second World War ended, the nationalist movement intensified in the country, people sought independence. A few years later, Senegal, like Sudan (Mali), received the long-awaited independence.
The modern look of Senegal and the capital has changed a lot, now it is one of the richest countries in Africa. State policy allows attracting foreign investors to the country. In terms of safety and comfort, the country is in the top five of the continent. Accordingly, tourists began to come to the country.
Tours
Senegal is a beautiful and original country, now many Russians are coming here. Travel companies offer an ordinary beach holiday on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and sightseeing tours. As a rule, excursions involve a 10-day stay in the country. During these days, tourists will be shown the most interesting places in the country.
Dakar
This city is not only the capital of the state, but also the political and economic center of the entire western part of the continent. It is located on the ocean, very quaint, African and European cultures are mixed here.
The central part of the capital is located on a hill and is surrounded by three streets. There are many shops and cozy restaurants. The center itself can be called a real landmark of Senegal. It has a "sahel" layout typical of Africa. That is, the houses were built in such a way that they form palaces-wells, and in the middle there is a tree.
In the capit althere is a magnificent IFAN Museum (Soweto Square), which presents a collection of masks, sculptures and musical instruments collected from almost all over the continent. It will also be interesting to look into the Art and Maritime Museum.
The Presidential Palace is very beautiful, which flaunts its white cladding on the ocean, surrounded by a park. Not far from the central part of the city is the "Great Mosque", it is quite "young", built in 1964, but very beautiful, with beautiful illumination that turns on at night. Non-Muslims are not allowed here.
Photo of the sights of Senegal is almost every tourist who has visited Dakar. This is a huge monument called "The Renaissance of Africa." It was erected in 2010 from bronze sheets, its height is 49 meters. The statue depicts a couple, where a man holds a woman with one hand, and holds a baby in the other, who points towards the ocean.
There are several large markets in the city where you can buy almost everything, the richest is Kermel, which is located near the port.
And, of course, the capital of Senegal is famous for its rally. The event has been held annually since 1978, and amateur teams participate in it. This is a track with a length of more than 10 thousand kilometers, cars start in France and finish in Dakar. The rally is known as a real survival race with a very difficult track, rocks, dunes and mud.
Pink Lake Retba
This landmark of Senegal is located 20 kilometers from Cape Verde. Hereride to see the water, the color of which ranges from purple to scarlet. This is a natural phenomenon that arose against the backdrop of a large number of cyanobacteria in the reservoir. The lake has long been the end point of the Paris-Dakar rally.
Saint-Louis district
This is another attraction of Senegal, where tourists are sure to be taken. In the old days it was the capital of the state, located near Dakar.
The most interesting thing in the city is the ancient architecture, which tells about the colonial past of the state. Now the central part of the settlement is a monument listed by UNESCO.
Island of Woe
Only 4 kilometers from the capital of the state is a historical and simply interesting place in Senegal - the island of Gorée. For many centuries, the island was a transshipment base for slaves who were brought here from the western part of the continent. The slave traders themselves lived here and avoided traveling deep into the mainland.
This is a small piece of sushi. By the way, it is believed that the name came from a distortion of the Dutch name Goede reede, which translates as "good harbor".
Now millions of tourists come here to see the House of Slaves and the fortress.
Reserves
Of course, Africa would not be Africa without a safari. One of the most visited and famous is the Bandia Reserve. This attraction of Senegal is located 65 kilometers from the capital. itas much as 15 hectares where rhinos, buffaloes and giraffes live, and all these animals wander among the baobabs. A unique copy of the baobab has been preserved on the territory of the reserve, where grits, that is, artists and musicians, were buried almost to this day. The locals never buried these people in the ground so as not to desecrate it.
In the north-west of the country there is another attraction of Senegal - an ornithological reserve called Dzhudzh (near Saint Louis). It is the third largest among such parks in the world, with a total area of 16 thousand hectares.
The park is home to about 330 species of birds, more than 70 species of animals and 60 representatives of reptiles. People often come here to see crocodiles, huge monitor lizards and flamingos.
Niokolo Koba National Park is one of the largest parks on the entire continent, it covers approximately 1 million hectares of land. There are two rivers in the territory: Niokolo and Gambia. It is in this park that you can see the largest specimens of lions, antelopes, hippos, panthers and even elephants. And who wants a little exotic, you can visit the villages where representatives of the Bassari people live. These settlements are located near the park, on the border with Guinea.
Sali
What to see in Senegal? Fans of sea resorts should definitely go to the resort of Sali, which is located 80 kilometers from the capital. These are beautiful sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast. In the district, everything is created for a comfortable stay, many hotels, entertainment venues, the opportunity to go diving andscuba diving.
What tourists say and advise
Our tourists are concerned about the ambiguous situation in Senegal. It seems to be calm here, when compared with other African countries, but in some areas and regions, conflicts periodically flare up between separatists and government troops. In light of this, it is not recommended to walk outside the big cities on your own, only accompanied by a guide.
Photography and videography is not particularly welcome in Senegal, in most places permission and payment are required. Smoking is also quite strict here, this can only be done in specially designated areas. Smoking is prohibited near mosques.
According to tourists who came from a trip, any clothes will do, but it is better to exclude short skirts and shorts. There are many conservative Muslims in the country, so it is better to refuse kissing in public places.
Trips to national parks and safaris require yellow fever vaccinations and malaria medications.
One should be prepared that in the country, power outages are in the order of things, and without announcing the reasons and terms of switching on.
According to tourists, the cuisine in Senegal is very monotonous and not very tasty, the wines also do not differ in exquisite taste. In most restaurants and cafes, a tip is already included in the bill, about 10%. In the capital itself, the beaches are not very good and clean, in order to reach the depth you will have to walk up to 30 meters, and there will be stones on the way.
