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Country Information > West Africa > Senegal Travel
Advice Country Description Senegal is a developing West African country. Facilities for tourists are widely available but vary in quality.
Entry Requirements A passport is required. A visa is not required by nationals of Denmark, France, germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxenbourg, the Netherlands, the USA and the UK for stays of less than 90 days. All other nationalities require a visa. Visas are usually good for multiple entries and stays of three months. Visas are NOT available at airports or land borders. Several types of items - including computers and computer parts, video cameras and players, stereo equipment, tape players, auto parts, and various tools and spare parts - cannot be brought into Senegal without clearance by Senegalese customs officials. Airport customs officials will hold such items if brought in as baggage or carry-on luggage. Senegalese Embassies Belgium Germany France UK
Public Holidays Senegal celebrates the feast days of the Muslim Calendar. These are moveable feasts which depend on the new moon and may not be known well in advance. New Year's Day - January 1 The major holidays are Independence Day, end of Ramadan and Tabaski. Other festivals include the Grand Magal pilgrimage and celebration held in Touba 48 days after the Islamic New Year. The Paris-Dakar Motor Rally ends in Dakar around the second week of January.
Business Hours 8/9am to noon and 2.30pm (often 3pm on Fridays) to 6pm. Banks are open weekdays, normally from 8am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
Areas of Instability Travellers contemplating visiting the Casamance area are urged to contact their local national Embassies due to incidents involving Casamance separatists. Road travel between Mauritania and Senegal is restricted to several designated border crossing points, and long delays at the border are normal. Political gatherings and street demonstrations have been known to occur. Travellers should avoid large crowds and maintain security awareness at all times.
Information on Crime Street crime in Senegal poses moderate risks for visitors. Most reported incidents involve pickpockets, purse snatchers and street scam artists. Wallets, jewelry and other valuables are subject to theft, especially during times of international meetings or events that draw large crowds. In Dakar, there has been a relatively high incidence of purse snatchings and muggings in a popular restaurant area known locally as "la Petite Corniche", located along a three-kilometer stretch of coastal road in the southeastern part of the city. The loss or theft abroad of a passport should be reported immediately to local police and to your nearest national Embassy or Consulate.
Medical Facilities Medical facilities are limited, particularly in areas outside the capital, Dakar. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation can cost thousandse. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Yellow fever vacination certificate and malaria treatment are advisable. Bottled water is also advised.
Medical Insurance Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Traffic Safety & Road Conditions The information below concerning Senegal is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Safety of Public Transportation: Fair Road conditions in Senegal range from adequate to poor. Travelers should remain on the major hard-surfaced routes and drive only during daylight hours. Paved roads link most major cities but are often in poor repair. Drivers should anticipate stretches of potholes and other obstacles. Rural roads range from well-maintained dirt and gravel routes to sand tracks. Traffic accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in Senegal. Visitors should use caution in using public transportation, particularly if the vehicle appears to be overcrowded and/or poorly maintained. Visitors who drive should take the time to learn local traffic rules and drive defensively.
Photography Photography is allowed, even at the Presidential Palace, but many people do not like having their picture taken and can be abusive.
Criminal Penalties While in a foreign country travellers are subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from thoseat home and may not afford the protections available to the individual under their own national law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe for similar offenses. Persons violating Senegalese law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Senegal are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
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