馃 Senegal

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 36% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Your passport decides the visa rules, so see the official site below. Anyone who needs a visa should apply well ahead through a Senegalese embassy. Documents usually asked for are a yellow fever certificate, proof of accommodation, a return ticket, photos and a passport with 6 months of validity; an entry authorisation may also be required. An embassy, or the Senegalese foreign ministry, can confirm the rule as it stands now, so ask before booking. A doctor can advise on malaria prevention.

Culture and practical - take note

Over 90% of Senegal's people are Muslim, and the country is famous for 'teranga', meaning warm hospitality. Take care to greet people properly, enquiring about their families, and use the right hand. Modest dress matters most away from tourist beaches. The main day of prayer is Friday. Halal food can be found everywhere. Persistent sellers are to be expected in markets and on beaches, and a polite 'no merci' does the job. Photographing people calls for asking first. Make sure you hold copies of your passport, and do not walk alone after dark. Atlantic currents are strong, so enter the water only at safe spots. Gor茅e Island serves as a memorial to the slave trade, so be respectful there. Some governments advise caution around Casamance and along the borders, so check advisories. People speak French and Wolof.

Emergency

Reported numbers: police 17, ambulance 1515, fire 18 - confirm with your hotel.

Good to know

Cash machines and mobile wallets

The currency is the CFA franc, says Canadian advice. UK advice says cash machines that take foreign cards are found in Dakar but are scarce elsewhere, with low withdrawal limits and frequent cash shortages. Larger tourist businesses usually accept foreign credit cards, and mobile wallets such as Orange Money and Wave are widely used. Both advisories recommend changing money only at reputable exchange bureaux or banks.

Local laws and customs

Dress, photos and same-sex laws

UK advice says to dress and behave modestly, especially in Ramadan or near religious sites, and that romantic kissing in public is not acceptable. Drug possession, use or trafficking carries severe penalties. Canadian advice says to carry photo ID and a certified passport copy, and not to photograph airports, ports, military sites, government buildings or people in uniform. Both advisories say same-sex sexual acts are illegal; UK advice says the law is enforced, with prison terms raised in March 2026.

Taxis and scams

Yellow and black taxis

Official taxis in Senegal are yellow and black, and Canadian advice recommends riding only in these marked cars. They have no meter, so negotiate the fare beforehand and have small notes ready. Ride-hailing apps are available; choose a trusted one and check the licence plate and who is driving before you get in. UK advice is to pre-arrange transport through your accommodation or an authorised operator.

Bogus drivers and fake cash

Fake taxi drivers who act as if they know a newly arrived passenger and then overcharge are a warning in UK advice, especially on airport journeys; it advises arranging transport in advance through your accommodation or an authorised operator. It also cautions that people changing cash risk receiving fake money, and suggests ATMs or reputable exchange bureaux instead.

Who can help

local government

Police Secours 17 (Ministry of the Interior)

Helps with: The Interior Ministry's site lists 17 as the police emergency number and a toll-free line 800 00 20 20. It does not mention a tourist police unit.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Senegal, including visitors, who needs the police urgently.

Phone: 17

Email: [email protected]

Address: Place Washington, Dakar 4002, S茅n茅gal

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Sapeurs-Pompiers 18 (fire brigade)

Helps with: The fire brigade's emergency number, listed as 18 on the Interior Ministry's site, which also lists the toll-free line 800 00 20 20.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Senegal, including visitors, who needs the fire brigade urgently.

Phone: 18

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

Agence S茅n茅galaise de Promotion Touristique (ASPT)

Helps with: Senegal's tourism promotion agency, working under the ministry in charge of tourism. It markets the country as a destination and lists a Dakar office, phone and email for enquiries.

Who qualifies: Anyone planning a trip to Senegal. It is a promotion agency, not an emergency service.

Phone: +221 33 869 61 90

Email: [email protected]

Address: VDN, Annex Fund Social Security, Building ASPT

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Senegal

Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Senegal it works on trafficking, assisted voluntary return and reintegration, labour migration and migrant health.

Who qualifies: Migrants, including returnees and child trafficking victims. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +221 33 869 75 30

Email: [email protected]

Address: Route des Almadies, Zone 3, Dakar, Senegal

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

City selection based on: Senegal tourism promotion agency (ASPT) materials, UNESCO listings, travel guides; no official city ranking found.

Festivals and events

sport

Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026

31 Oct - 13 Nov 2026 路 Dakar

Africa has never before hosted an Olympic event. Expect hotels to fill and prices to climb, so plan early.

Official site

religious

Grand Magal of Touba

around Jul 2027 路 Touba

With millions of pilgrims present, roads to Touba get very crowded.