How to Find Luxury Hotels in Senegal

Senegal is a predominately Muslim, developing West African country. Senegal, known for its gorgeous coastline, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. With Dakar as its capital, Senegal is sandwiched between the countries of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea to the south, Mali to the east and Mauritania to the north. Senegal also envelops the country of Gambia.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet access and telephone for making reservations

Get to Know Senegal

1. Buy a phrase-book in French or Wolof, both of which are official languages of Senegal.

2. Purchase souvenirs and food with the franc CFA (CFA), the official currency of Senegal.

Arrive in Senegal

3. Fly into Dakar airport.

4. Take a bus or the taxi-brousse (mercedes bus) to get around town.

Find Luxury Accommodations in Senegal

5. To book accommodations, contact Senegal Tourist Office in New York at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

6. Escape to Cap Skirring, known as the city with the most beautiful beaches in Africa. Resort and luxury accommodations dot the coastline in this city.

7. Get a taste of the "real" Africa, in the city of Dakar. This city is the urban center of Africa and is host to some of the most luxurious accommodations in the country.

Learn About Local Customs and Historical Sites

8. Visit Lac Rose (Pink Lake), which is very popular with tourists and locals. A high mineral and salt content give this lake its pink color.

9. View the Maison des Esclaves. An 18th-century slave-trading house, this museum illuminates a grim period in the nation's history.

10. Explore the traditional dress and native masks of West Africa in the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) Museum. This museum is considered one of the finest in West Africa.

Tips & Warnings

• A passport is required for stays of fewer than 90 days.
• The U.S. Embassy recommends that all visitors to Lac Rose, which lacks multiple exit and entry points, be particularly vigilant and not travel alone.
• Current yellow fever, cholera, and meningitis vaccinations are required if you are arriving from or have recently traveled to Senegal, which is an endemic area.
• Avoid public demonstrations, which are known to involve violence.
• Separatist forces, in the the city of Casamance, have been known to engage in car jackings and armed assaults after dark. Although the violence has diminished since 2004, it is advisable not to go out at night in the Casamance area.