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West Coast
Dakar
The capital itself is modern and spacious and has plenty
to see and do, including fantastic beaches, and a vibrant
nightlife. Take some time to explore from the Place de
l'Independance and the surrounding street where you can
get a real vibe of the city. There is an interesting museum,
the IFAN, containing a collection of, among other things,
masks and musical instruments. Also take some time to wander
the markets, the two largest being Marche Kermel and
Marche Sandaga. If you need to relax after all this sightseeing
and shopping, take a trip to N'Gor, about eight miles north-west
of the city which has beautiful beaches. As well as in Serekunda,
Dakar has a thriving wrestling scene and you can catch
this local entertainment at the Stade Iba Mar Diop,
this is a very lively event, so don't miss out.
Keep an eye of your possessions, especially when in crowds
as pick pocketing and muggings are increasing in the capital,
and other parts of the country. As a rule, avoid wearing expensive
jewellery and walking dark and secluded places at night. You
are also likely to get hassled by hustlers, more of an annoyance
than threat; the best advice is to ignore them. That aside,
get to grips with the country and you'll find the Senegalese
are among the friendliest people in the world.
Ile de Goree
Declared a UNESCO world heritage site, this quaint little
island is a peaceful step out of the bustle of Dakar. The
history of the ex-colonial island is, however, less sunny.
It was one of the busiest slave centres and its legacy can
be seen in the islands museum, Les Maisons Des Esclaves.
You can reach Ile de Goree from Dakar by ferry; one leaves
every two hours for about US $4. There are no cars on the
island and accommodation is available, just ask at any of
the bars lining the small port. There is an old colonial fort
at the far end of the island called Le Castel, which
has fantastic views; you can even get a drumming lesson here.
South Coast
Cap Skiring
You will find some of Senegal's finest beaches in Cap Skiring,
along with the tourist spots. A typical beach resort, don't
expect to see much of Africa here. Accommodation is available
if you wish to stop off and spend some time soaking up the
sun. Campements are fairly cheap and rooms are available in
the bars in the village.
South East
National Parks
There is a selection of nature reserves in Senegal, the best
and most accessible being Parc National de Niokolo-Koba.
You are in with a good chance of seeing elephants, lion, leopards,
and even more likely to catch the hippos, crocodiles, monkeys
and buffalo, among other species. You must be in a vehicle
inside the park, and you should aim to visit between December
and May to avoid the rains. Niokolo-Koba lies in the southeastern
part of the country.
Other parks include Parc National Aux Oiseaux de Djoudj,
and Parc National Langue de Barbarie for their variety
of bird life, and Parc National de Basse in Casamance, if
the fighting breaks long enough to make a trip possible.
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