Senegal Travel Guide

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Passports and Visas

All visitors must either hold a return or onward ticket, or pay a deposit to the airline approximately equal to the fare of a ticket from Senegal to their country of origin (refundable on request to the local Treasury before leaving Senegal) and all documents for next destination. Passports must be valid for at least three months on entry. However, it is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Americans

US nationals must have a passport valid for three months after intended travel. A visa is not required for a stay of up to three months.

UK Nationals

UK nationals must have a passport valid for three months after intended travel. A visa is not required for a stay of up to three months if passport is endorsed British Citizen, otherwise a visa is required.

Canadians

Canadians must have a passport valid for three months after intended travel. A visa is not required for a stay of up to three months.

Australians

Australian citizens require a visa to enter Senegal.

South Africans

South Africans must have a passport valid for three months after intended travel. A visa is not required for a stay of up to three months.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals must have a passport valid for three months after intended travel. A visa is not required for a stay of up to three months.

New Zealanders

New Zealand nationals require a visa to enter Senegal.

Healthcare

Stomach troubles are the most common health concerns for visitors to Senegal. Travelers should watch what they eat and drink; do not drink untreated tap water. Protection against mosquito bites is essential as malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya fever occur; malaria is prevalent throughout the country and prophylaxis is recommended for all travelers. A yellow fever vaccination is a requirement for entry to Senegal if coming from an infected area, but all travelers should be vaccinated against yellow fever as a precaution; other recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus and typhoid. Outbreaks of meningococcal infections occur and vaccination is recommended for travel during the dry season (November to May). Outbreaks of cholera also occur. There is a risk of bilharzia, and visitors should avoid contact with stagnant, fresh water. Medical facilities are good in Dakar, but are limited in the rest of the country, and travelers should ensure they have comprehensive health insurance.

Safety

Most visits to Senegal are trouble-free, but street crime and pick-pocketing, especially in Dakar, are common. Visitors are advised to conceal valuables from the public eye. Travel by road in the Casamance region west of Kolda is unsafe due to the activities of separatist rebel groups, and should be avoided.