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written by Lottie Gross
updated 22.10.2018
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written by Lottie Gross
updated 22.10.2018
Say Senegal or mention West Africa and misinformed mutterings of ebola start to spread quicker than the virus itself. Sitting on the western shoulder of Africa, Senegal is frequently overlooked by travellers – but for little good reason.
While the excellent birding and beaching in The Gambia – the country that slices Senegal’s coastline in two – attract thousands of tourists on organised tours and package holidays, Senegal simmers in the African sun with stretches of often-empty beaches (around 500km of them, in fact), with few tourists to be seen.
And it’s not just about the coastline. There are near-untouched deserts, steamy cities and some fascinating islands with captivating stories to tell. So if you’ve got no idea what to expect, let us tell you a few things you didn’t know about Senegal...
Senegalese coastline © Lottie Gross 2015
Lodge de Lompoul © Lottie Gross 2015
Three hours north of the capital, the small village of Lompoul sits on the edge of a desert of the same name. This smattering of huts and concrete and corrugated iron structures is a gateway to a strangely empty patch of yellow sand dunes in the middle of the forested landscape that backs the Senegalese coastline.
Leave your vehicle in Lompoul and jump into the camp’s 4x4 truck to traverse the steeply undulating, foliage-clad dunes – an exhilarating adventure in itself – before arriving at your luxury tent to spend a night in the wild.
Dreaming of a stargazing adventure? Don't miss our guide to the best places to stargaze in the world.
The lake is a hive of activity all year round: men dig for salt under the water and women in brightly-coloured dresses carry buckets full of it on their heads from the waters to the metres-high mounds on the shore.
The Pink Lake © Lottie Gross 2015
Ile de Fadiouth – © Lottie Gross 2015
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written by Lottie Gross
updated 22.10.2018
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