Senegal Attractions

Ziguinchor

At first glance, Ziguinchor may not seem like anything special, but those who stay here grow to love it despite the influx of tourists during the winter months. Being one of Senegal's cheapest cities and only having about 100,000 inhabitants, makes it easy on your feet and your wallet.

The Marché St-Maur is worth a visit if you're looking for food or knickknacks. A block south is the Centre Artisanal, where numerous venders sell a variety of area crafts. Many of the area's hotels can organise a pirogue (canoe) ride to the villages of Affiniam and Djilapao or the Île des Oiseaux.

Dakar

Some people say Dakar doesn't represent the 'real' Africa, but they're wrong. It is a big, crowded, dirty, raw, chaotic, ambitious, in-your-face and utterly exciting city, and if you're after a glimpse of the urban future of Africa, this is as real as it gets.

The cosmopolitan atmosphere, temperate climate, rocking range of bars and nightclubs, fascinating mix of African, French colonial and modern architecture and culture, and especially the range and quality of restaurants, make it well worth making Dakar's acquaintance.