Senegal
Republic of Senegal
Western Africa · SEN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Senegal
Senegal is one of the easiest and most rewarding West Africa trips for travelers who want coastal culture, music, and a compact route with strong history. It works especially well as Dakar plus one or two add-ons such as Goree, Saint-Louis, or the delta and national parks.
Popular For
Things To See
- Dakar
- Goree Island
- Saint-Louis
- Lompoul Desert
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
- Saloum Delta
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Dry-season months are easiest for road travel and birding.
- Dakar and Saint-Louis make a strong first-trip pairing.
- A coast-plus-delta route gives the best balance without overcomplicating logistics.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Senegal.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Senegal Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Senegal.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Dakar
- Population
- 18,593,258
- Area
- 196,722 km²
- Region
- Western Africa
Languages
- French
Currency
West African CFA franc (Fr)
XOF
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
35.0
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 45.0
- Restaurants
- 42.9
- Rent
- 19.3
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Dakar (14.73°N, 17.63°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 49/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.530
Low human development
- 5-year change
- +0.008
- 10-year change
- +0.026
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.924
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.490
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.512
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (7)
- 🏛️
Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula and Bedik Cultural Landscapes
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
Saloum Delta
Inscribed 2011
- 🏛️
Stone Circles of Senegambia
Inscribed 2006
- 🏛️
Island of Saint-Louis
Inscribed 2000
- 🌿
Niokolo-Koba National Park
Inscribed 1981
- 🌿
Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary
Inscribed 1981
- 🏛️
Island of Gorée
Inscribed 1978
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 26.3%
- Forest cover
- 41.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 21
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 24
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
30/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
80/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Exercise normal precautions in Senegal. Exercise increased caution in the Casamance region due to crime and landmines. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Advisory Summary Senegal is generally a safe destination for travelers. Read our travel guidance for Senegal to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution Casamance region Exercise Increased Caution in the Casamance region due to crime and landmines. U.S. embassy personnel can only travel in the Casamance region on main roads and during daylight hours. Crime Separatist rebel groups operate in the Casamance region. Bandits sometimes commit armed robbery in the area. Stay on main roads and do not travel at night. Landmines Landmines and unexploded ordinance from prior conflicts exist in the Casamance region, primarily in border and rural areas. The locations of landmines and unexploded ordnance are often not known, marked, or easy to recognize. If you decide to travel to Senegal: Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Do not visit locations where landmines are known to exist. Be alert to signs that mark unexploded landmines. Stay on main roads and well-traveled areas. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Senegal. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Senegal, including which vaccines are recommended prior to your travel. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of August 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data