senegal

area
population
capital
head of state
official language
currency
exchange rate

(source: lonely planet)

274,100 sq km
11.9 million
ouagadougou
blaise comparoe
french
west african cfa
check out oanda.com
for current exchange rates

this information comes from a visit to the country in april 2002. things might have changed since then. these are my personal impressions and it's well possible that other travellers will not share my views.

from nouakchott, mauritania, two days

getting in and out

from mauritania: rosso is a hell hole. it·s difficult to avoid to be ripped off. if you choose an ·guide· to get your formalities done, be careful thant he doesn·t take off with your stuff! it·s cheaper to get a car/bike insurance in nouakchott. you don·t need a carnet de passage, but they·ll issue a ·passavant· for a couple of days. you·ll have to extend it before it runs out, failing to do so is expensive.

to/from gambia: the pist to gambia (banjul) is in good condition try to be early enough to make the ferry to banjul when going to gambia.

entering from eastern gambia, you won·t find a senegalese borderpost. get your formalities done in the next bigger town (for example tambacounda).

to guinea through kedougou: check out with the police in kedegou before going for the border. they might ask you for a fee, but will not insist. the piste to the actual border is in good condition.

places to stay

in st. luis you might try camping djor, le ocean. it·s located on a beautiful beach. it·s cheap to pitch a tent but the rooms are on the costly side. cross both bridges in st. luis and go south for 4 km.

the zebra bar, just south of st. luis is a great place to stay. there is a lot of wildlife, especially birds. it·s quite far off the main road, the piste is ok.

dakar: dive school le oceaneum, on cornice west, just behind the presidential palace has room. talk to the owner to split the price· in half· he·s a lebanease, very happy to reduce prices if it means to get a few more customers.

other

issa has a little streetside repair shop near the village artesanal. the shop might look awful, but he·s a very good mechanic. ask at the l·oceaneum dive school for his exact address.

there is also cap sud motorbike repair shop, has a good reputation. look it up in yellow pages.

the in senegal love cadeau, especially between rosso and st. luis. the highest fine in senegal is cfa 3·000. don·t pay more, if the detect a on your vehicule, or if the ·saw· you driving too fast.