Travel advisory · SenegalSome governments advise against travel to parts of Senegal.The warnings cover only these areas: Casamance region, Gambia border strip (Casamance, off main roads), Guinea-Bissau border strip (Casamance), Mali border strip, Mauritania border strip (Matam).Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Casamance region · avoid non-essential travel · France, New Zealand
- Gambia border strip (Casamance, off main roads) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France
- Guinea-Bissau border strip (Casamance) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, France
- Mali border strip · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand
- Mauritania border strip (Matam) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain
Also named by one government: Southern Mauritania border strip (France), Ziguinchor city and secondary roads (Spain)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise normal precautions (Level 1) in Senegal | Dec 1, 2025 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution due to the level of crime (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (zone jaune) pour le reste du pays (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Senegal
Senegal suits travelers who want Atlantic coast towns, West African music and food, and a country where history is visible in its cities.
Senegal is a West African country on the Atlantic coast. Its capital and largest city, Dakar, sits on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa, and is the main base for most visitors. Gorée Island, reached by boat from Dakar, was a major slave-trading post, and its Maison des Esclaves is a key site for visitors. Saint-Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal River, is known for its colonial architecture and its old town on N'Dar island. The Gambia almost surrounds the southern Casamance region, so you cross Gambian territory to reach it by road.
Senegal suits trips built around cities, history and music. Mbalax, the best-known local music, grew out of Serer percussion, and teranga, the Wolof word for hospitality, is central to national identity. The Lompoul desert is a common excursion from the coast. The dry season is the most popular time to visit, and December to February are the coolest months. Allow about a week for Dakar and one or two day trips, and more for Casamance and the Sine Saloum delta.
Five things to know before Senegal
- Check your visa-free stay before you fly
British visitors can stay up to 3 months without a visa; check your own passport. Border officers may ask for a return ticket and proof of accommodation. UK entry rules
- Carry a yellow fever certificate if needed
A certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. Check your connections against the official list.
- Visit between November and May
The dry season is sunny and less humid, with harmattan haze in some weeks. The rains from July to October are heavy in the south.
- Take the ferry to Gorée from Dakar port
Boats leave from the ferry terminal in central Dakar. Go early in the day to see the island and the House of Slaves before the crowds.
- Carry cash in CFA francs outside Dakar
Cards work in larger hotels and supermarkets in Dakar and Saly, but markets, taxis and guesthouses want cash. The same franc is used in several neighboring countries.
Senegal travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays, documents at the border and yellow fever rules.
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical and evacuation cover, and what policies exclude.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMGetting data in Senegal from the day you land.
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards, ATMs and what to carry for rural stretches.
Read the guideGetting aroundDomestic flights, long-distance buses and hiring a driver.
Read the guide
Destinations in Senegal
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- F CFA 15,000
- Food
- F CFA 5,000
- Transport
- F CFA 1,500
- Sights
- F CFA 3,000
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- F CFA 30,000
- Food
- F CFA 15,000
- Transport
- F CFA 5,000
- Sights
- F CFA 10,000
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- F CFA 60,000
- Food
- F CFA 35,000
- Transport
- F CFA 15,000
- Sights
- F CFA 30,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryClear0 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Dry, breezyJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Dry, breezyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- MarchClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Dry, mildMarchClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
- AprilClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Dry, mildAprilClear
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
- MayClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Dry, warmMayClear
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low23°Humid, warmJuneClear
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Humid, warm
- JulyPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Rains startJulyPartly cloudy
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low26°WettestAugustRain
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 170 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Rainy, hotSeptemberRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, hot
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Rains endOctoberClear
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains end
- NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Dry, warmNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- DecemberClear0 rainy daysHigh26°Low23°Dry, pleasantDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
Average daily high and low in Dakar, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Senegal
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 40%
Dakar
08:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°25°40%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Tue30°25°18%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Wed30°26°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu31°27°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri32°27°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat37°28°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 37°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun39°28°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 39°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 08:24 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 587.8 XOF
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Senegal FAQ
Do I need a visa for Senegal?
Not for stays up to 3 months on a UK passport. Other passports should check the rule with a Senegalese embassy, and carry proof of return travel and accommodation.
When is the best time to visit Senegal?
November to May, the dry season. December to February is the most comfortable; July to October brings heat, humidity and heavy rain.
How do I get to Gorée Island?
Take the public ferry from the terminal in central Dakar. The crossing is short and boats run through the day.
How many days do I need in Senegal?
A week covers Dakar, Gorée and either Saint-Louis or the Sine-Saloum delta. Add days for Casamance in the south.
Can I combine Senegal with The Gambia?
Yes, by road across the border or the bridge at Farafenni. Check visa rules for The Gambia separately, as they differ by passport.