Senegal

Senegal, a generous and welcoming country, a safe destination that opens up to the visitor in all its facets, among the rhythms, colours and flavours of lively cities in full ferment, ancient colonial legacies and rural villages with a relaxed atmosphere, immersed in the semi-desert scenery of the north or in lush green lands in the south. Everywhere there is teranga, the proverbial hospitality that makes the Senegalese people proud, united and extremely respectful.

An easily accessible destination, in a pleasant balance between a peaceful and tolerant Wolof Islamic world and ancient rural animist traditions, Senegal will amaze you with its environmental and cultural richness.

A largely desert and barren country, it could paradoxically be described by the vibrancy of its colours. The ochre of the northern land and the gold of the coastal dunes contrast with the pastel colours of the historic colonial towns of St Louis and the Ile de Gorée or the saline pink of Lake Retba. The emerald green of the mangroves, rice paddies and mango and cashew forests of Casamance, contrasting with the blue of the sea and the silver of the river channels. The red of the clay soil and the cliffs of the deeper regions contrasts with the grey of the monumental baobab trees and the yellow of the thatched roofs of the traditional houses. Everywhere there is a riot of bright colours, in the markets, in the mosaic of traditional fabrics, in the chaos of Dakar’s liveliness, among the “cars rapides”, painted wooden carts and pirogues, imaginatively customised with geometric designs and religious slogans. The chromatic shades of the plumage of a myriad of migratory birds that populate the Djoudj bird park and the bolongs of Siné-Saloum. Even Mbalax music, the initiation ceremonies of the Bedik and Bassari, the Muslim spirituality of the Mourid of Touba or the very feeling of teranga could be described with all the shades of the rainbow.

Also colourful are the cheerfulness and smiles of Senegal, which conquer and enchant, making us feel at home wherever we go.