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Sensational Senegal: Offering Travelers History, Culture, Adventure And More

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Overview

Introduction

With its capital city jutting out as the Western-most point on Africa’s West coastline, Dakar has long welcomed many travelers to the country of Senegal.  Senegal offers those who journey to its sandy and clay-filled landscapes with gorgeous seaside resorts, cultural tours and festivals, bird watching opportunities, scuba diving sites, and more.  Its six major game parks and reserves, along with diversified fauna and flora allow for a vacation that mixes ancient human history with a chance to explore the earth’s natural beauty and in some locations in its rare, undeveloped condition. 

Geography

Senegal is a land of wide open plains sprinkled with baobab trees that reach toward the horizon. Geographically, it is bordered by five other West African nations.   The Gambia, Africa’s smallest continental nation, is almost entirely engulfed by Senegal.  The climate, though mostly hot and dry for the majority of the year, is varied in the Cassamace region where average rainfall is almost double what the rest of the country sees each year.

History

Senegal’s history has been shaky; contact with the West crumbled the coastal kingdoms of West Africa when English, French and Dutch adventurers competed for control of the slave trade in the 1500s. Eventually, control of Senegal was taken by the French, who placed Dakar as the center of their West African colonial empire. Today, Dakar is the capital of Senegal and the major trading center has a population of approximately three million people of diverse ethnic heritages. Still listed as one of the United Nations least developed countries, the majority of Senegal’s villages consist of tribal people who make a living from agriculture.  The overwhelming majority of the Senegalese people are Muslim, and are very welcoming to foreign tourists.  In some areas, finding English speakers can be difficult, and hiring a French or Wolof interpreter can be helpful.

Economy

The economy of Senegal relies heavily on foreign direct investment and agriculture. Tourism contributes significantly to the economy as well; the wild game reserves and coral reefs draws many visitors each and every year.  From hundreds of marine species to large land mammals, travelers looking for a wildlife encounter is sure to be ecstatic about thier trip to Senegal.

Location:
  • Africa
  • Senegal
Keywords: diving guides, africa dive travel, senegal dive travel, dakar dive travel, senegal diving, dakar diving, goree island diving, la petite cote diving, cap vert peninsula diving Author:
Melissa Gwaldis
Related Tags: Diving Guides