Location: West Africa, along the Atlantic coast, bordering Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania
Capital: Dakar
Tourist Attractions: Senegal gained independence from France in 1960. It is known for its natural beauty, palm-fringed beaches, shifting sand dunes and national parks with an amazing variety of wildlife. Tourist attractions in Senegal include the capital city of Dakar, famous for its fascinating French culture and colonial architecture, Cap Skiring, renowned for its white sand beaches and watersports, Île de Gorée (Gorée Island), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its colonial houses and museums, and Lac Retba (Lake), a popular picnic spot. Senegal also has some of the finest national parks in the world including Parc National des Oiseaux de Djoudj (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Parc National de Niokolo Koba. Visitors can enjoy activities like wildlife safaris, swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, kayaking and birdwatching.
Access: Many airlines fly directly to Senegal from various destinations in Europe and Africa. Several cruise lines cover Dakar (Senegal) from the Canary Islands, France, Morocco, Spain and several South American and West African ports. Train and bus services also connect Senegal with most of its neighboring countries.
Climate: Senegal has a hot and humid tropical climate. It has only two seasons: the rainy season (May to November) with strong southeast winds, and the dry season (December to April) with cool trade winds in coastal areas.