SenegalSenegal is situated on the western bulge of Africa and has borders with Mauritania to the north and northeast, Mali to the east, Guinea and Guinea Bissau to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It surrounds Gambia on three sides. The northern part of the Senegal coast is made up of dunes and to the south are muddy estuaries. Behind the coast is a sandy plain, which extends north to the floodplain of the Senegal River....More Information on Senegal. Full country name: Republic of SenegalArea: 196,190 sq km Population:10.3 million Capital City:Dakar (pop 2 million) People:Wolof (36%), Fula (17%), Sérèr (17%), Toucouleur (9%), Diola (9%), Mandinka (9%), European and Lebanese(1%) Language:French, Wolof, Mandingo Religion: 92% Islam, 6% indigenous beliefs, 2% Christian Government: republic under multi-party democratic rule Head of State: President Aboulaye Wade Head of Government: Prime Minister Macky Sall History of SenegalArchaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times. Islam established itself in the Senegal River valley in the 11th century; 95% of Senegalese today are Muslims. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the area came under the influence of the Mandingo empires to the east; the Jolof Empire of Senegal also was founded during this time. In January 1959, Senegal and the French Soudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960...More on Senegal History Overview of Senegal's EconomyGDP: US$15.6 billion Also Read: A short note on Economy of Senegal Political System of Senegal- Government
of Senegal Climate, Vegetation and FaunaSenegal has marked contrasts in climate. The coastal region, except in Casamance, is equable, with low rainfall and high humidity. Inland, the climate is drier, ranging to the semi-desert of the Sahel region in the east. The wet season is from June to September, rather shorter in the north and longer in the south, especially near the coast. The rainfall varies from less than 20 inches in the north to 80 inches in Casamance. In eastern and central Senegal, water is often scarce in the dry season. The country suffers from occasional droughts, such as that of 1968-73. The Senegal River fell to one-third of its average annual flow in 1972-73, and in 1972 failed to flood for the first time in more than 60 years. Temperatures vary according to the season, with an average range of approximately 24° - 38°C (75° - 100°F), the highest being in the northeast. Envoirnment: French is the official national language. The locals speak Wolof, French, Pulaar, Jola and Mandinka. Education: 33.1% of the population over 15 years can
read and write. French and Malagasy are the two languages taught in
schools. Culture: Music has always been an integral part of
the culture of Senegal...more. People of Senegal: About 51% of Senegal’s population is rural. In rural areas, density varies from about 77...more. Facts for the TravelerVisas: Visas are required for all
foreigners, except nationals of Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Africa, the UK and the US, who may
visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
Health risks: Malaria, bilharzia (schistosomiasis), cholera Time: GMT/UTC Electricity: 110/240V Weights & measures: Metric Also Read: Money & Costs |Transportation in Senegal | Public holidays in Senegal | Events Of Senegal When to GoThe best time to travel to Senegal is between November and March when the weather is cooler and drier than other times of the year. The hazard, this time of the year lies in the swirling clouds of dust and the sand/dust storms that are blown in on the Harmattan winds coming from the Sahara desert. From November to April, flocks of migratory birds arrive in Senegal, making it the best time for keen bird watchers and serious ornithologists. If it’s a beach holiday you’re looking at, then too February to April are the months for a visit to Senegal’s coast as the waters are clear and just perfect for swimming and scuba diving. May to November are the months of extreme wet with the weather at its warmest and most humid and the roads virtually impassable at most places, so don’t plan a trip then, unless you absolutely have to. Also Read: Getting Around in Senegal | Getting There & Away What to See in SenegalOther Tourist Attractions in Senegal more...Senegal National Parks What to do in SenegalSenegal has some good places to eat and drink in and great nightlife – the best in West Africa, so claim the locals. All the major cities and tourist destinations have good bars and the most popular item on the menu is the local beer, Gazelle. Senegalese food is reputed to be the best in the region with a distinctive taste of ingredients found only in the region. Chicken, seafood and fish are the mainstays of the local cuisine served in many restaurants in Dakar. Restaurants in the capital also serve French, Italian, West Indian and Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. Provincial rest houses serve less sophisticated but delicious variations of the local food modified to suit foreign palates. There are bars in some hotels and clubs where alcohol is served despite Islamic restrictions. There are several nightclubs and music venues in Dakar where Senegalese, Afro-American and West Indian beats fill the night air as well as two casinos on the route to N’Gor. There are many cinemas showing the latest of French films. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by Bantu tribes during a series of migrations. The southern part of the country was named Matabeleland after the Ndebele tribe who occupied the area in the early 1800’s under a loose confederation of Ndebele-speaking tribes headed by the Khumalo tribe under [...]
Countries in Africa
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Religion in Africa
Africans profess a wide variety of religious beliefs, with Christianity and Islam being the most widespread. Approximately 40% of all Africans are Christians and another 40% Muslims. Roughly 20% of Africans primarily follow indigenous African religions. A small number of Africans also have beliefs from the Judaic tradition, such as the Beta Israel [...]
Culture of Africa
Africa has a number of overlapping cultures. The most conventional distinction is that between sub-Saharan Africa and the northern countries from Egypt to Morocco, who largely associate themselves with Arabic culture. In this comparison, the nations to the south of the Sahara are considered to consist of many cultural areas, in particular [...]
Demographics of Africa
Africans may be grouped according to whether they live north or south of the Sahara Desert; these groups are called North Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans, respectively. Afro-Asiatic speaking peoples predominate in North Africa, while Sub-Saharan Africa is dominated by a number of disparate populations grouped according to their diverse languages–Niger-Congo predominantly in West [...]
Economy of Africa
Africa is the world’s poorest inhabited continent: the United Nations’ Human Development Report 2003 (of 175 countries) found that positions 151 (Gambia) to 175 (Sierra Leone) were taken up entirely by African nations.
It has had (and in some ways is still having) a shaky and uncertain transition from colonialism, with increases in corruption [...]
Politics in Africa
Colonial Africa
Colonialism had a destabilizing effect on what had been a number of ethnic groups that is still being felt in African politics. Prior to European influence, national borders were not much of a concern, with Africans generally following the practice of other areas of the world, such as the Arabian peninsula, where [...]
History of Africa
Africa is home to the oldest inhabited territory on earth, with the human race originating from this continent. During the mid 20th century, anthropologists discovered many fossils and evidence of human occupation perhaps as early as 7 million years ago. The famous Leakey family, with ties to both Britain and Africa, discovered fossil [...]
Geography of Africa
Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the main mass of the Earth’s surface. It includes within its remarkably regular outline an area, of c. 30,360,288 km² (11,722,173 mi²), including the islands.
Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the [...]
Etymology of Africa
The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra - “land of the Afri” (plural, or “Afer” singular) - for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.
The Afri were a tribe - possibly Berber [...]
Travel Mantra: Africa Destination Guide
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