Senegal Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

West Africa.

Language

The official language is French. There are many local languages, principally Wolof. Other languages include Pulaar, Mandinka and Diola.

Area

196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Population

12.4 million (UN estimate 2007).

Population Density

63 per sq km.

Capital City

Dakar. Population: 2.51 million (official estimate 2005).

Government

Republic since 1963. Gained independence from France in 1960.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye since 2009.

Head of State

President Abdoulaye Wade since 2000.

Religion

Around 94% Muslim, 5% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic with some Protestants) and a minority holds traditional beliefs.

Recent History

President Wade won re-election in February 2007, having originally come to power in 2000. He won 56% of the votes cast, avoiding the need for a second-round ballot.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +221.

Mobile Telephone

Mobile phone coverage is limited to the main cities and tourist areas. Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in Dakar, Saint Louis and other major towns.

Media

Senegal's constitution guarantees freedom of the news media, although there are laws prohibiting reports that discredit the state or incite disorder. Still, the country has traditionally enjoyed a liberal media climate, and private media frequently criticize the government. In recent years, however, there have been a number of attacks on journalists. Publications must be registered, but foreign publications circulate freely and multichannel pay-TV is readily available.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes between seven and 10 days, and surface mail between two and six weeks.

Press

• Le Soleil is a state-owned daily.
• Sud Quotidien, L'Info, Wal Fadjri and Le Matin are privately published.

Radio

• The RTS also operates the Chaine Nationale and Chaine Internationale networks, the capital's 94.5 FM and Dakar FM, as well as four regional services.
• Sud FM is a private station available in Dakar and other cities.
• Radio Nostalgie is a Dakar-based private station.
• Sept FM is a private Dakar station operated by Groupe Com 7, while Walf FM is operated by Groupe Wal Fadjri.
• BBC World Service and Radio France Internationale are available on FM in Dakar.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
17 May Ascension
15 Aug Assumption
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Apr Independence Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Ascension
13 Jun Whit Monday
15 Aug Assumption
30 Aug Korité (End of Ramadan)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
26 Nov Tamkarit (Islamic New Year)
28 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
5 Dec Tamkharit (Ashoura)
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb *Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
4 Apr Independence Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
28 May Whit Monday
19 Aug Korité (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice)
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
15 Nov Tamkarit (Islamic New Year)
24 Nov Tamkharit (Ashoura)
25 Dec Christmas Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. * For Shi'a, the Prophet Mohammed's birthday is celebrated 5 days later.

Contact Information

Ministère du Tourisme (Ministry of Tourism)

VDN Rue 50 X 23 Villa 23A/bis BP 45510 Dakar, Senegal.
Tel: 867 0171.
Website: www.tourisme-senegal.com

Embassy of the Republic of Senegal in the UK

39 Marloes Road, London W8 6LA, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 7237 or 7938 4048.
Website: www.senegalembassy.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 1000-1300 (visa applications).

Embassy of the Republic of Senegal in the USA

2112 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 234 0540.

Bureau Sénégalais du Tourisme (Senegal Tourist Office) in the USA

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3118, New York, NY 10118, USA
Tel: (212) 695 9630.
Website: www.senegal-tourism.com