Beach Resorts

* There are some fine beaches in Senegal and resort facilities have been developed in two main areas, the Casamance in the south on the area centred on Mbour, between Dakar and Joal. In these areas watersports facilities are plentiful.
+ CAP SKIRRING CASAMANCE

Savanna Cap Skirring (beach front)
+ MBOUR

Novotel Saly (beach front)

Hotel Royam (beach front)

* Tropical with a distinct rainy season from June to September. Humidity and temperatures are high, particularly on the coast.

* Rainfall is heavier in the south at 1000 to 1500 mm / 40 to 60 inches per year and decreases towards the north to 300 to 350 mm / 12 to 14 inches. The average annual rainfall in Dakar is 540 mm / 21 inches.

* The average annual maximum temperature is 28 Celsius / 82 Fahrenheit.

* Cruise ships do operate to West Africa from time to time, often calling at Dakar.

Cruise World
- West Africa: UK, Madeira, Dakar, Banjul, Mindelo (Cape Verde), Tenerife, La Coruna (Spain), UK.

* Currency: CFA Franc divided into 100 centimes.

* Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, Access, American Express and Diners Club are accepted in good hotels, restaurants and some stores, particularly in the capital.

* Banking Hours: 0800 to 1115 and 1430 to 1630 Monday to Friday.

* Currency Restrictions:
+ Local Currency: Import not restricted. Export within the French monetary area a maximum of 20,000 CFA; elsewhere up to 50,000 CFA in cash.
+ Foreign Currency: Import not restricted. Export permissible up to the amount imported and declared on arrival.

* Agriculture: Agriculture is the main occupation engaging 75% of the population: groundnuts, cotton, sugar, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, manioc, livestock, fishing.

* Mining: Phosphate, zirconium, titanium, iron ore, gold, oil, natural gas, salt.

* Manufacturing: Furniture, food processing, textiles, chemicals, cement, shoes, shipbuilding.

* Other: Tourism is of small but significant importance.

* Official name: Republic of Senegal (Republique de Senegal.

* Population: 7,500,000 (1991 estimate). Population density 35 per square kilometre / 21.8 per square mile.

* Situation: West Africa.

* Timezone: GMT.

* Area: 196,840 square kilometres / 75,980 square miles.

* Borders with: Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, The Gambia.

* Coasts: Atlantic Ocean.

* Capital: Dakar; population 1 million (1991 estimate); second largest port in West Africa.

* Major Towns: Thies, Kaolak, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor.

* Chief Port: Dakar.

* Religion: Islam (75%), local beliefs (20%).

* Rest Day: Sunday.

* Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz.

* Physical: Coastal strip featuring sand dunes, estuaries, mangrove swamps and mudbanks. Inland, low lying savannah leads to semi desert in the north and west. Most of the country is below 100 meters / 330 feet although there are 2 areas of hills, the Fouta Djallon in the south east and the Bambouk mountains on the Mali border. Africa's most westerly country.

* The first recorded history of Senegal begins in the 8th century when Ghana ruled part of Senegal. It stayed a part of the Ghanaian empire until the 11th century.

* The remainder of the country was ruled by the Tekrour empire beginning in the 9th century. It soon turned to Islam after the Almoravide raids from Morocco.

* The two kingdoms occupying what we now call Senegal became weaker, but a new kingdom 'the Djolof' arose during the 13th and 14th centuries. It was with the Djolof Kingdom that Europeans had first contact.

* In 1455 the Venetian, Cada Mosto, was employed by the Portuguese prince, Henry the Navigator, his job was to investigate and explore the West African coastline. 50 years later an explorer from Portugal spent four years investigating the country. The Portuguese then established a monopoly of trade with the Senegalese coastal kingdoms. These relations lasted until the 16th century when the British, French and Dutch replaced them.

* Britain, France and the Netherlands all wanted to get control of St Louis and Ile de Goree because these were strategic points where slaves bound for America could be collected.

* In 1659 St Louis was secured in French hands and a fort was built.

* When the slave trade ended, the French turned to cultivating cash crops which was very unsuccessful due to the hostility of the inhabitants.

* In the late 19th century, Senegal, was conquered by the French who created Dakar as the administrative centre and showpiece of France's empire, they constructed roads, railways, ports and universities.

* Blaise Diagne was the first black deputy, elected in 1914, but he soon lost local support due to his collaboration with the French interests in the colony.

* A new group of black politicians arose led by Lamine Gueye and Leopold Senghor they campaigned for the abolition of forced labour, improvement in standards of living and for the granting of French citizenship to the colony's subjects.

* In 1959 Senegal joined French Sudan to form the Federation of Mali, this was in the run up to independence.

* In 1960 independence came to the Federation, but then 2 months later, Senegal broke away from the Federation and declared itself independent as the Republic of Senegal, this was under the presidency of Leopold Senghor.

* From time to time after its independence violent demonstrations occurred due to the fact that not everybody was happy, but these were controllable.

* In the 1970's farmers refused to plant groundnuts because of drought and falling prices in the world market.

* Senghor resigned as president in the late 1980's, his replacement was Abdou Diouf.

* In 1984 there were further problems with the farmers when it was discovered that they were by-passing the fixed prices paid by the government and illegally exporting the groundnuts.

* In 1989 a relatively minor border incident between Senegal and Mauritania escalated into sustained rioting. Many deaths occurred and both countries expelled thousands of the other country's citizens. Diplomatic relations were not resumed until 1992.

* Separatists in the southern Casamace region became more active in the early 1990's and the civil disturbances practically destroyed the tourist industry which is centred on the Casamace.

* In 1993 elections Diouf won his third term of office as president. A truce was established in the Casamace. Tourism was starting to build again from 1994.

* Official: French.

Senegal

Visas

* All visitors must be in possession of an onward or return ticket.

* Countries whose nationals do not require a visa include:
+ Senegal.
+ Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, UK.
+ Diplomatic passport holders from Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
+ Merchant seamen joining a ship in Dakar.

* Countries whose nationals do require a visa include:
+ All except:
+ Senegal.
+ Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, UK.
+ Diplomatic passport holders from Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands.
+ Merchant seamen joining a ship in Dakar.

* Visas are issued at Senegalese Embassies.

VISA SERVICES

* Advice, information and full visa service from :

* Action Visas
for worldwide visa service, central London based:
phone # 0171 388 4498
fax # 0171 916 0671
from foreign contries:
phone # 44 171 388 4498
fax # 44 171 916 0671