{"id":17734,"date":"2023-05-03T09:11:08","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T13:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exploringed.com\/?p=17734"},"modified":"2023-05-23T09:46:34","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T13:46:34","slug":"senegal-social-cohesion-diverse-landscapes-and-colonial-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exploringed.com\/senegal-social-cohesion-diverse-landscapes-and-colonial-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Senegal \u2013 Social Cohesion, Diverse Landscapes and Colonial Buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Senegal has a population of 16 million and is about the size of Nebraska or Belarus. It\u2019s over 95% Muslim, but mostly Sufi denominations of Sunnism. The mosques and traditions are very tolerant and promote social harmony, as a result it\u2019s one of the most stable countries in Africa, with three peaceful political transitions since independence in 1960. The first president was a Christian and many Europeans live there full or part of the year. This cohesion has kept extremists at bay, even though they are menacing many neighboring countries.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> There\u2019s a great number of attractions for a visitor such as beaches with colorful fishing boats returning from or preparing to go into the Atlantic. Or a stroll by the charming colonial buildings of Saint-Louis which was the capital of the French colony of Senegal from 1673 until 1902 and French West Africa from 1895 until 1902. Or watching the surfers at Ngor Island. In fact, Senegal has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites (only South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco and Tunisia have more in Africa). Everyone I\u2019ve spoken to who has visited has nothing but superlatives to say about their experience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Senegal is south of Mauritania, north of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau and east of Mali. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t The capital Dakar is the furthest point west on continental Africa and further west than Ireland. A first time visit to Senegal should include Gambia, as it\u2019s completely surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t This was an opportunity for my wife Khadija and I to visit the country and see our friend Giovanie who was stationed in Dakar.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t I hadn\u2019t been to West Africa in a decade and felt it was time to return. In this trip in November and December 2021, we also visited Mauritania and Gambia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t We spent ten days in Senegal and felt we got a good understanding of the culture and saw many of the highlights. We didn\u2019t see the country south of Gambia and some attractions in the regions we traveled; to do so would\u2019ve taken another two weeks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t It\u2019s a safe country but here, as everywhere you travel, employ basic safety precautions and use common sense to avoid problems. For example, be careful late at night or in deserted streets and beaches.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Senegal, for Americans and others, is affordable although the cost of a rental apartment or a cappuccino in the expat area of Almadies in Dakar is similar to coastal cities in the U.S.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t In Saint-Louis, we stayed at the Siki Hotel<\/a>, located in a completely restored colonial building in the heart of the city. It had a charming courtyard, a very good restaurant and excellent views from the terrace.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t While staying in the village of Somone on the Petite Cote, we stayed in Africa 6 Plage Hotel<\/a>, which we found was a good value.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> If you need to be close to the airport, the city of Thies is nearby. We stayed one night in the recently opened R\u00e9sidences Blue<\/a> which was clean and provided breakfast.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> In Dakar, we didn\u2019t need a hotel as we stayed with Giovanie.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tWhere is Senegal?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Why We Went to Senegal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
How Long to Spend in Senegal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Is Senegal Safe?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Is Senegal Expensive?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Where to Stay in Senegal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t