Visiting Senegal

Palmarin, Senegal

The best places to visit in Senegal are dotted throughout the country. Some are cities, others villages, islands, or nature reserves.

A great place to start your travels in Senegal is Dakar. The capital of Senegal deserves a visit, and is a good way to get a feel for Senegalese culture while you are in the country.

Dakar offers a wide variety of things to see and do, including great restaurants and nightlife, a beach on the westernmost point in Africa, and the famous Ile de Goree. The last of these is not only one of the best places to visit in Senegal, but one of the best places to visit in all of west Africa.

Near Dakar, visitors shouldn’t miss a chance to visit Lac Rose and Le Village des Tortues. The former is a lake that turns pink in certain light, and is surrounded by small shops, resorts, and restaurants. The latter is a turtle sanctuary where turtles from all over west Africa can be seen. Le Village des Tortues’ conservation and repopulation efforts are evident throughout the grounds.

Another great place to go in Senegal is Saint Louis. This city in the north of Senegal was made famous by early postal routes that flew from Europe to South America via Africa. Now the city is home to beautiful colonial architecture, long sandy beaches, a huge fish market, and several museums.

Near Saint Louis is the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. Visitors can go on a day trip from Saint Louis and take a boat safari to see thousands of pelicans and other migratory birds. There are also warthogs and other animals on the land there.

South of Dakar, the Petite Cote is famous for its beaches and laid-back atmosphere. Small shops, restaurants, and accommodations line the coast, and the area is very popular with visitors from Europe.

Another one of the best places to visit in Senegal’s southern region is the Palmarin Nature Reserve. Palmarin is located at the southern tip of the Petie Cote above the Sine-Saloum Delta. It is close to the border with The Gambia. Visitors to Palmarin can enjoy the area’s beaches, go on river cruises through the delta, and stay in a treehouse at Les Collines de Niassam lodge.

Djoudj Bird Sanctuary

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is one of the best places to visit in Senegal.

Overview of the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal

Called the Parc national des oiseaux du Djoudj in French, the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is located on the northern border of Senegal and Mauritania.

The Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comprises 16,000 hectares of wetlands. The park is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world, and is particularly famous for the pelicans in Senegal that come to Djoudj every year.

Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal

Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary is best done from Saint Louis, the largest city nearby. You can take a half or full day trip to the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary from your hotel in Saint Louis. The hotel can arrange a driver to take you to the park and back. The drive takes around 45 minutes each way.

Once you arrive at the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary, you will take a 14 km boat safari in Djoudj to see the birds. The boat trip takes around 45 minutes.

The Djoudj Bird Sanctuary isn’t all about birds, though. You can also see warthogs, pythons, crocodiles, giant lizards, and other wetland wildlife.

Tips for Visiting the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary in Senegal

Arrive early so that you don’t have to wait for a boat. There are hotel boats and local boats. If you want to support the locals, take a local boat.

You can purchase tickets for the Djoudj Bird Sanctuary at the entrance to the park. There are also bathrooms there, but they’re not very clean and do not have toilet tissue.