Safe travel in Senegal​
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Welcome to Senegal, it takes just an extra 90 minutes of flying beyond Morocco to get here from Europe. The West African nation is an easy living, non-violent and tolerant country where you can wear what you like and enjoy a cold beer.
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Senegal is one of West Africa's most popular destinations. The capital Dakar is a vibrant, lively city with colorful markets and good nightclubs. Senegal is culturally rich, famous for its excellent musicians and story tellers. The new decade (2020) is a particularly exciting time to be visiting Senegal as the country is currently developing at impressive pace - a nation-wide high-speed rail network, the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and mass-entrepreneurism are just some of the things which are transforming the country into a socio-economic African leader. At the same time, Senegal is also host to wildlife and nature reserves, as well as micro-deserts and mangrove forests, for those looking to combine a safari-style excursion to their surf trip. See Useful Links for more information.
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Area: Senegal covers an area of 196,190 sq
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Population: Just under 17 million people live in Senegal.
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Language: French (official), Wolof
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Religion: Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)
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Climate: Senegal has a tropical climate and is generally hot and humid. There's a rainy season (July to October) with strong southeast winds. The dry season (November to June) is dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind.
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Currency: CFA Franc and you can change Euro everywhere at a fixed rate – ATM cash machines available all over the country
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Visa: Since the 1. of May 2015, European citizens do not need to obtain a visa for traveling to Senegal. You will just get a stamp in your passport upon arrival. For other nationalities, please confirm with your respective embassies on the necessary visa requirements.
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Malaria prophylaxis recommended if you travel inland or in the south of Senegal.
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Yellow fever vaccine recommended, but not compulsory.