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Senegal

Teranga, Gorée Island and Lake Retba (the Pink Lake).

Capital
Dakar
Currency
CFA franc (XOF) — fixed parity with Cameroon's CFA
Flight from Douala
7-14h (1 stopover)
Time difference
GMT+0 (−1h vs Cameroon)

Senegal, land of teranga (hospitality), charms with the history-laden Gorée Island, the salty Pink Lake, the Dakar corniche and a vibrant cultural scene. Same CFA franc, but note: as Cameroon is not an ECOWAS member, a visa is still needed.

Formalities

The visa, step by step

On arrival
Allowed stay
30 days
Cost
Free or minor fees on arrival
Processing
Immediate on arrival

How to apply

Tourist visa issued on arrival in Dakar (30 days), with no prior steps.

Required documents

  • Passport valid 6 months
  • Round-trip ticket & accommodation
  • Proof of funds
  • Yellow fever certificate

Good to know

  • •Per Passport Index: visa on arrival 30 days for Cameroon.
  • •Cameroon is not an ECOWAS member, but visa on arrival remains available.
How much it costs

A one-week budget

Backpacker
228 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight
Comfort
480 000 FCFA
/ week, excl. flight

Round-trip flight from Douala / Yaoundé

336 000 FCFA–726 000 FCFA

No direct flight; 7-14h via Lomé, Abidjan, Addis or Casablanca.

Indicative round-trip price: it varies widely by season, layover and how early you book.

Where the money goes (backpacker estimate)

🏨120 000 FCFA
🍽️66 000 FCFA
🚕39 000 FCFA
🎟️57 000 FCFA
Hostel
6 000 FCFA–16 800 FCFA
Mid-range
30 000 FCFA–72 000 FCFA
Nice hotel
78 000 FCFA–168 000 FCFA
Tailored

Budget simulator

Comfort level
Estimated total budget
564 000 FCFA
Must-sees

What to do there

1

Gorée Island

UNESCO, House of Slaves.

2

Lake Retba (Pink Lake)

Pink colour and salt harvesting.

3

African Renaissance Monument

Panoramic view over Dakar.

4

Medina & markets

Sandaga, Kermel, crafts.

5

N'Gor Island

Almadies beach by pirogue.

6

Museum of Black Civilisations

A pan-African reference.

7

Saint-Louis

UNESCO town or the Bandia reserve (safari).

Itinerary

One week, day by day

  1. D1

    Arrival, west corniche and sunset at Almadies.

  2. D2

    Gorée Island: House of Slaves, fish lunch.

  3. D3

    Plateau: Renaissance Monument, museum, Kermel market.

  4. D4

    Pink Lake day: salt swim, dunes, Lebou village.

  5. D5

    N'Gor Island by pirogue, beach and lunch.

  6. D6

    Day trip to Saint-Louis (UNESCO) or Bandia reserve.

  7. D7

    Shopping at Medina/Sandaga, airport transfer.

✓

Travel checklist

A printable list (or save as PDF) so you forget nothing.

Travel checklist — Sénégal

Before you leave

What to pack

Visa sources: diplomatie.gouv.sn

Indicative data (June 2026), reliability moyenne. Visa rules, prices and timelines change: always confirm with official sources before booking.

They did it

Traveler reviews

LN
Cameroon→Senegal

“Senegal is an excellent destination — it lives up to its name as the land of téranga (hospitality). There's so much to do in Dakar: I even did my first scuba dive, it was magnificent. It's beautiful, just a bit pricier than Cameroon.”

📌 Learn a few words of Wolof (“Nanga def?” = how are you?, “Jërëjëf” = thank you): it always goes down well and opens doors.

December 2025Solo9 dA bit pricierVisa on arrivalRecommends
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