Senegal holidays

Holidays to Senegal show off Africa’s next big name, where beaches along the continent’s sand-covered west coast serve as the centre of attention.

Dive in to Dakar

Dakar – Senegal’s colourful capital city – is where you’ll see most of the country’s culture on show. Its bustling centre’s home to everything from museums and galleries to nightclubs and open-air markets. The former two are where you can get to know a bit about Senegal’s history, and in the latter you'll see brightly coloured fabrics and fully laden fruit stalls competing for sales.

Peruse Pointe Sarene

Head two hours down the coast from Dakar and you’ll find one of Senegal’s up-and-coming resorts – Pointe Sarene. This sleepy fishing village is getting a massive holiday makeover, with a collection of huge hotels and over 200 luxury villas being built along its six-mile-long beachfront. The crowds haven’t picked up on Pointe Sarene's potential yet, so you can be one of the first to spread out on its postcard-worthy coast.

No shortage of nature

Senegal has six national parks up its sleeve, the easiest of which to get your hands on is Saloum Delta National Park – it’s 20 miles south of Pointe Sarene. This sprawling reserve stretches out for more than 440,000 acres, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The delta’s saltwater canals and forest-wrapped wetlands are home to hundreds of species of birds, including flamingos, terns and spoonbills – you might be able to spot them during a guided cruise around a portion of the park.