Senegal is situated on the western bulge of Africa and has borders with Mauritania to the north and northeast, Mali to the east, Guinea and Guinea Bissau to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It surrounds Gambia on three sides. The northern part of the Senegal coast is made up of dunes and to the south are muddy estuaries. Behind the coast is a sandy plain, which extends north to the floodplain of the Senegal River. Senegal has marked contrasts in climate.
The coastal region, except in Casamance, is equable, with low rainfall and high humidity. Inland, the climate is drier, ranging to the semi-desert of the Sahel region in the east.
Senegal is a country full of contradictions. Wide open to modernity. Senegal, nevertheless, remains deeply rooted in its tradition and respect for the elderly. Senegal has produced some of the best African artists and plays a key role in West Africa's arts, culture and politics, despite its small size. Senegalese food is among the best in Africa. Senegal is the most industrialized country in French West Africa after Côte d'Ivoire - poverty is still widespread, however, and unemployment high.
Dakar is the capital city and has a major cruise ship port with good restaurants and shops.
Tourism has been a growing industry in Senegal for well over a decade. In 2000, it was ranked as the country’s second largest industry after fishing and before groundnuts and phosphates. Most of its tourist attractions evolved from what were fishing villages.
Senegal has a variety of first-rate natural assets that help make it an attractive destination: six national parks and four reserves, a variety of birds, some wildlife, and access to big game fishing. It’s the music, culture and handcrafts that make Senegal what it is.
The expansion of tourism by government has led to an increasing number of hotels. There are several of international standard, and more development is underway. In Casamance, some luxury resorts have been built. Visitors may choose the floating hotel in the River Region. Government campsites provide a few beds, but no bedding. There are basic facilities for travellers who prefer to wander from the beaten track, although camping independently is strongly discouraged. Sometimes bungalows or grass huts are available; visitors must otherwise provide their own tents. A village will sometimes courteously offer a stranger one of the local huts as living accommodation, but it is necessary for visitors to provide their own bedding. For those on a budget there are two hostels in Senegal, one in Nianing and one in Mbour.
The local airline runs services to all major towns.
