Saly Holidays

Saly sits along the Petite Côte coast in the west of Senegal, around an hour-and-a-half’s drive south of the lively capital, Dakar. Saly is often described as Senegal’s answer to the French Riviera, thanks to its manicured beaches, high-end hotels and handfuls of French restaurants. It’s still got a distinctly African feel, though – hand-painted fishing boats dot the ocean, craft and clothing stalls line the main streets, and the beachfront hotels are of the low-rise type.

Around a million visitors a year flock to Saly for its peaceful, palm-fringed beach – widely regarded as one of the best in the country. The long ribbon of camel-coloured sand’s lapped by calm, aquamarine water, and backed by upmarket hotel restaurants. Despite being one of West Africa’s most popular tourist hotspots, Saly’s beach rarely comes close to being crowded, so you’ll have a big slice of sand all to yourself on your sunbathing days.

Saly’s beach might look like it was made for lounging on, but it’s popular with watersports enthusiasts, too. Beachfront kiosks offer everything from windsurfing to jet-ski rental. And with deep water not far off-shore, the area’s a favourite spot for recreational fishing trips – in the summer, this part of the ocean’s teeming with the likes of marlin, tuna and sharks.