Senegal sits on the Atlantic Ocean, at Africa’s most westerly point between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, with The Gambia, almost entirely enclosed within it.
Senegal enjoys a steadily warm, year round climate, with a short rainy season between the months of June and October. As such it provides the perfect weather for a lazy beach holiday, especially in the Saly region just south of Dakar; but Senegal also has three mighty rivers and these provide a good deal of fertile land and some wonderfully intricate coastal lagoons and waterways that are a joy to explore. These fertile waters support a great wealth of wildlife including numerous birds from coastal waders to large raptors, and various mammal species such as warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, baboons, manatees and dolphins.
Yet some might argue that Senegal's greatest draw is its thriving culture, which draws from centuries of the region's tribal history and also the many incursions from outside cultures, including the Islamic marabouts who came to the area from Northern Africa, and the French who were the dominant imperial power during the 19th and 20th century until independence in 1960. These myriad influences have fused into an eclectic whole, which you can see in the local dress, music, cuisine and architecture.
Many of the ethnic groups of The Gambia and Senegal are related, so share many customs and indigenous languages. The Senegalese are as welcoming and friendly as their Gambian cousins and you are guaranteed a warm welcome by its people who adhere to the traditional values of respect for others, good manners and hospitality.
With an ever-shining sun, beautiful scenery, a relaxed pace of life and excellent hospitality, Senegal is just waiting to be discovered!