Practical information Senegal

French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian nationals are exempt from a visa for tourist stays of less than 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date and have two blank pages. An entry stamp is affixed upon arrival at Blaise Diagne Airport in Dakar or at land border posts. For longer stays or a work visa, apply to the Sénégal embassy in your country of residence. We also recommend keeping a digital copy of your passport and travel insurance, sometimes required by immigration.

Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory to enter Senegal, and must be done at least ten days before departure at an approved center. Also recommended: hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, tetanus-poliomyelitis, and possibly meningitis and rabies depending on your itinerary. Malaria is present year-round, particularly in Casamance, the Saloum, and the southeast. An antimalarial treatment prescribed by your doctor is advised, especially between June and November. Remember to bring an effective repellent and wear long clothing in the evening. A consultation at an international vaccination center six weeks before departure allows you to adjust recommendations based on your profile and your route.

Excluding international flights, expect between 80 and 150 euros per day and per person for an organized trip with charming accommodations, 4x4 vehicle and driver. The main expenses are accommodation (40 to 90 euros per night in a good standard double room), vehicle rental with driver (approximately 120 euros per day all-inclusive), domestic flights (90 to 130 euros Dakar-Ziguinchor one-way), and meals (5 to 15 euros for a thieboudienne at a local eatery or dinner at a lodge). Park entrance fees range from 5 to 10 euros. Also budget for tips for your driver and local guides, a well-established custom.

The dry season, from November to May, offers the most comfortable conditions: clear skies, temperatures of 22 to 30 °C on the coast, low humidity. This is the peak period for combining Dakar, Saint-Louis, the Saloum and Casamance. December to February are particularly suitable for observing migratory birds at Djoudj. March to May remain pleasant but hotter inland, reaching up to 40 °C in Bassari country. The rainy season, from July to October, transforms the landscape into intense green, especially in Casamance, but secondary roads can become difficult and some lodges close. September remains possible for flexible travellers.

On our tours, we prioritize 4x4s or minibuses with English-speaking drivers, the most flexible option for combining Dakar, the north, and the Saloum. Main roads are good (the Dakar-Thiès highway, the route to Saint-Louis), but tracks to Diola or Bassari villages require an adapted vehicle. To save time heading to Casamance, the domestic flight Dakar-Cap Skirring or Ziguinchor takes 45 minutes versus ten hours by road via Gambia. The overnight ferry Dakar-Ziguinchor remains a popular option. In the Saloum, the motorized pirogue is the natural means of transport between islands and camps.

Senegal ranks among West Africa's most stable countries, with a strong democratic tradition and a reputation for hospitality. Security is generally good across all our itineraries, including in Casamance where the situation has significantly improved since the peace agreements. Precautions are those of any urban trip: be mindful of personal belongings at Sandaga market or in Dakar's tourist areas, use official taxis in the evening, avoid wearing obvious jewelry. Our team on the ground monitors the situation continuously and adjusts itineraries if necessary. Border areas with Mali are avoided on our circuits.