The West African nation bordered by Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest, the Republic of Senegal packs quite a few surprises up its sleeve.
Often overlooked from tourism perspective, Senegal actually has plenty to offer. From sun-kissed beaches and seashell islands to happening art scene and thrilling adventure sports, this vibrant country has it all.
If this has piqued your curiosity, here are a few things about Senegal you would love to know!
Legend has it that in the 16th century when Portuguese explorers landed Senegal’s coast, they heard some local fishermen saying “sunu gaal” that literally translates into “these are our boats”.
The Portuguese mistook it as “Senegal” and the country has been named so ever since.
Senegal has been colonized by Portugal, Britain, and France. French colonization was the longest – it began back in the 15th century and they left the country in August 1960.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, Senegal became the hub of international trade for three major commodities – ivory, gold, and slaves.
In 1982, Senegal briefly merged with the Gambia to form what they called the “Senegambia Confederation”. However, apart from the merger of names, nothing else changed much between the two countries.
In entire West Africa, Senegal is the only country that has never suffered a coup d'état. This means that the Senegalese government has never faced any military attempt of a hostile takeover in its history.
Senegal has also never participated in any wars with its neighbors … ever. Looking at West African history, that’s really peaceful!
Dakar, Senegal’s capital, lies on the most westerly point in Africa. In other words, if you’re in Africa, Dakar is the last place on the continent to see the sun rise and set.
Lac Rose that lies to the north of Senegal’s Cap Vert Peninsula is the country’s famous pink lake. The pink hue of the water is not due to any chemical spill, but because of the lake’s unusually high salt content.
Fadiouth island in Senegal is one of the most original and ambitious recycling projects of recent times. This island has been made from millions of mollusc shells, which are found everywhere from houses, pathways, and even graveyards.
The Lompoul desert in Senegal is known for its sand dunes and is a major tourist attraction. Since 2009, a music festival named "Festival du Sahel" has been taking place in the desert, attracting many tourists.
Red Lion and Baobab Tree are the two national symbols of Senegal. However, it is very unfortunate that the population of red lions is on a decline in the country.
Wrestling is Senegal’s national sport. In olden days, it was an exercise done during war preparations.
The main industries in Senegal are fishing, mining, agriculture, fertilizer production, and petroleum refining. Its main exports comprise fish, peanuts, phosphates, petroleum products and cotton.
In Senegal, you can find sheep everywhere. These humble animals are of great spiritual significance in the country and are believed to bring about good fortune.
In 2022, Senegal will host the Youth Olympic Games. With that, it will become the first African country ever to host the Olympics.