Senegal is one of the touristic gems of West Africa as a whole, home to some of the most pristine beach stretches on the whole Atlantic seaboard, and a bubbling hotpot of cultural interest that fuses the old colonial character of France with the unique regional nuances of Muslim Africa.
In the capital at Dakar, visitors are treated to a microcosm of high-energy and culture that also offers one of the best nightlife scenes in the region. Within easy reach, the famous Ile de Goree is a somewhat darker introduction to the country’s story, where visitors can see clearly the juxtaposition of 18th century slave quarters and regal houses, all built by the various European colonialists that passed through over the years.
But away from the hedonistic and heritage-related pursuits nearer to the capital, any Senegal tourist guide is usually quick to recommend the beaches around N’Gor, or for surfers and water sports enthusiasts, the sand stretches nearer to Yoff. Further inland, Senegal offers up a range of totally different outdoors pursuits, from 4WD tours of the northern dunes, to canoe excursions on the Cassamance River flood plains.