West Africa's Premier Travel Company
Building schools, protecting rainforests, having a sustainable positive impact locally.
Senegal Tours
Senegal
Population – 16,755,431
Language – French
Currency – WA CFA
Time Zone – GMT
Capital – Dakar
Located on the most western point of Africa with its warm, colourful, diverse culture, intriguing history and welcoming locals collectively making Senegal the ideal location for a West African adventure.
This former French colony oozes the exotic as we walk the vibrant markets, narrow streets, and ancient slow-paced colonial towns to the backdrop of wonderful melodies of local musicians. Sandwiched between the rolling waves of the Atlantic and the encroaching sands of the Sahara Senegal offers exceptional experiences in culture, history wildlife and birding. Senegal gained independence from France on the 4th April 1960 and is made up of 20 ethnic groups with the largest population being Wolof followed by Fula, Serer and Mandinka almost all emphatically Muslim. Taking a city tour of Dakar to visit the museums, monuments and historical sites of interest along with a visit to learn the dark colonial past of the slave trade whilst touring Goree Island a UNESCO World heritage site makes for an interesting and emotional experience. Timing your visit to take in some of the fantastic music and art festivals in Dakar or heading off the beaten track venturing to the north on a cultural expedition, the options here are endless. If nature is your thing then you’re in luck as Senegal boasts some of the best birdwatching in this region, couple this with some excellent National Parks to explore, the only question is, do you have enough time to fit it all in.
Zoom in to see where your trip will take you in Senegal
Our tours of Senegal operate year-round, however the dry season here in Senegal is from November to April which is the most popular time to travel. Travelling during the rainy season is fine and should not affect your trip, however some National Parks will be closed during this period.
Senegal Tours
Discover Senegal with Ashanti African Tours
Our Price Promise
If you receive cheaper quotes from other legitimate companies, we will try to match or improve the price for the exact same tour package offered.
Senegal Tours
Award-winning Local Guides
Our passion is to create the best overall experience for our guests during their time touring with us.
One of the key components to achieving this is the local expert guide assigned to lead your tour. Here at Ashanti we are lucky to have highly educated, passionate, personable, fun, friendly and professional local award-winning guides working with us on a full-time basis. Local guides with personal connections to the locations you visit, opens doors and experiences that add so much more to your overall experience during your time with us. Our team are excited to welcome you to West Africa.
For more information on our Award-winning Local Tour Guides
Discover Senegal
Senegal Heritage and Historical Tours
Dakar is a wonderful city to start our historical and heritage journey of discovery with excellent hotels, restaurants and a great buzz and vibe of the big city.
Heading out to discover the IFAN museum one of the oldest in West Africa for an important glimpse into this region’s history and taking an excursion to see one of the most important religious buildings in Senegal the Dakar Grande Mosque is intriguing to say the least. Goree Island off the coast of Dakar was one of the largest slave trading centres on the African coast from the 15th to 19th century. The contrast between the grim slave dungeons and the elegant colonial houses of the slave traders on the Island, today serve as a stark reminder and silent memorial of the human exploitation and suffering. Heading further afield to the former capital St Louis and its charming old colonial architecture, taking in some of the many festivals of art, music and heritage that include the world-famous St Louis Jazz Festival. There is just so much to do in Senegal and our tours can be customized to focus on additional areas of interest and venture to all corners of this wonderful land.
For more information, itineraries and prices for our Senegal Heritage and Historical Tours.
Our small group all-inclusive scheduled tours operate year-round, alternatively we can design private customized tours for individuals, couples, families, small or large groups
Explore Senegal
Senegal Cultural Tours
We hope you are ready to immerse yourselves into the rich, colourful, diverse cultures we encounter during our Senegal cultural tours.
Local markets, ancient craft villages, city walking tours taking in the charming back streets and fading architecture of the colonial past in these exotic towns and cities. Heading out to the former capital St Louis past the Pink Lake to meet the Fulani people harvesting salt and experiencing the world famous Paris to Dakar Rally as we cross sand dunes in 4×4’s on our way to meet a traditional Wolof community. St Louis itself is possibly Senegal’s most charming town, we continue to the Holy city of Touba and meet the Mourid community to see their beautiful Mosque that seems to rise from the desert as we approach. Kaolack is a must visit and its local markets a great place to buy traditional fabrics and if you enjoy nature then a ride along the Saloum River enjoying the amazing birdlife is an amazing excursion. Crossing the Saloum Delta to Joal Fadiouth the hometown of Senegal’s first President Leopold Sedard Sedar a wonderful indigenous community adds a bit of history to our cultural adventure. Our tours can be customized to incorporate additional areas of interest and to visit all locations here in Senegal.
For more information, itineraries and prices for our Senegal Cultural Tours
Experience Senegal
Senegal Birding and Nature Tours
An exceptional birding destination with so many West African and Sahelian specialities on offer here that are not seen anywhere else on other birding tours.
Senegal is one of the safest African countries with a good infrastructure and birding network, our expert local guides are the best in Senegal and know all birds by song/call and the locations for each species. Main targets during our tours include Egyptian Plover, White-crested Tiger Heron, White-backed Night Heron, Fox Kestrel, Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle, Scissor-tailed Kite, African Finfoot, Quail Plover, Black Crowned Crane, Savile’s and Arabian Bustards, Four Banded Sandgrouse, Dorst’s Cisticola, Sun Lark, Mali and black-faced Firefinches amongst many other quality species. Our tours are customized for individuals, couples, and small groups focusing on your main target species or we can offer one of our Best of Senegal standard itineraries taking in all the best birding hotspots. Contact us for up to date itineraries and prices.
For more information, itineraries and prices for our Senegal Birding and Nature Tours
Booking a tour with us makes you an important part of our positive impact projects, having the option to visit and meet the locals benefitting from your booking is also a special moment for many of our participants
Senegal Travel
Customized Tailor-made Senegal Tours
Ashanti’s strength is designing customized tailor-made tours incorporating any areas of interest you may have.
If you are an researcher, educational institution, solo traveller, couple, family, friends, small or large group or even a travel agent arranging a private group then allow our experienced team to design that perfect trip focused on the exact areas important to you. Organizing specific cultural and historical excursions, voluntary work, research trips, specific wildlife tours or incorporating personal locations of interest, nothing is beyond our capabilities as this is an area, we are highly experienced in. Having so many local guides experts in such a wide range of areas enables us to offer a varied tour portfolio. Tours of any duration and to fit all budgets ensuring the perfect combination for you.
For more information, itineraries and prices for our Customized Tailor-made Senegal Tours
Senegal Tours
Multi Country Tours
Due to its geographical location within West Africa and the excellent network of flights, ferries and roads connecting this region, Senegal offers an ideal opportunity to experience more of West Africa during our multi country tours.
Passing stunning landscapes, enjoying exceptional nature and different habitats from the Sahelian deserts, white sand beaches to the tropical rainforest and experiencing over 100 varied ethnic groups immersing ourselves into their diverse cultures and traditions is an opportunity of a lifetime. Cross the border into Gambia during one of our cultural or birding tours, trace the slave route connecting Goree Island with Cape Coast and Elmina in Ghana during our heritage and historical tours or get off the beaten track visiting the Batammariba people of Koutammakou an area of outstanding beauty and historical significance which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site In Northern Togo. Walk with elephants in West Africa’s premier wildlife park in Pendjari Benin, the options are endless, and our experienced team can customize multi country West African tours ensuring you have the ultimate experience during your time here.
For more information, itineraries and prices for our Multi Country Tours
Exceptional West African travel experiences that have a real sustainable impact in the locations and communities we visit
Travel Tips For Senegal
Senegal Visas
If you are European citizen or from the following countries UK, US, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Vatican City and most (not all) African nationals then you do not require a visa to enter Senegal, however you need to return home within 90 days of arrival and have a valid return ticket when entering Senegal.
For information and links to all Senegal Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions for visa applications and other services please follow this link – www.embassies.info/senegal
In the unlikely event there is no Senegal Embassy or consulate in your home country to enable you to obtain a visa, please check – www.ivisa.com – to see if your country qualifies for an e-visa if your country does not qualify then it may be possible to obtain a visa at the airport and borders of Senegal, please check this before booking your holiday and be aware this method will be more expensive.
Senegal Weather and Climate
The climate in Senegal is hot year-round with an average temperature of approximately 30°C and becomes more humid during the main rainy season which is from June to October. Senegal’s main dry season and the most popular time for visitors is from November to April. Seasonal changes are different from those of North America and Europe, due to its proximity to the Equator and Senegal’s temperature is reasonably consistent. From December to mid-January, the Harmattan winds blow from the Sahara Desert, which can cause very dry and hazy conditions, but this has little or no effect on visitors.Guest Houses and Homestays
On some of our more adventurous Eco, Wildlife, Voluntary, Educational and Cultural tours in the more remote areas, local guesthouses are used and in some unique cases village homestays. Although these are more basic than hotels in larger communities, they are comfortable, clean, and safe. Staying in these types of accommodations brings us into closer and more intimate contact with the locals, their ways of life and fascinatingly, their wonderful unity.Equipment and Clothing
Due to the wide variety of tours we offer, this information will be forwarded upon confirmation of your booking in your pre-trip information pack.
Tipping
All our company drivers, assistants and expert local guides are employed on full time contracts with Ashanti African Tours and receive a basic salary and daily bonus when on tour. Ashanti African Tours also have a company policy to tip all local site guides and hotel staff. Therefore, if any of our clients would like to tip any of our guides, site guides, drivers, or staff at hotels we use, it is at the client’s own discretion.
Spending Money
The amount of spending money you will need is determined by the type of tour you have booked with us. The majority of our standard scheduled and customized tours are all-inclusive, so you only need to budget for the following: snacks, soft (not mineral water as this is always included) and alcoholic drinks and items of a personal nature. If you have booked a budget tour, then some aspects of the tour may not be included in the tour price and you will receive this information during your enquiry process.
Building schools, protecting rainforest, having a sustainable positive impact locally
Ashanti would like to think most international travellers coming to West Africa care about the locations they visit and about having a positive impact during their time here. Booking with a responsible travel company goes a long way to achieving this. Many companies state they benefit locals and conservation when they do extraordinarily little and are more focused on their profit margins. Ashanti are West Africa’s leading travel company putting their profits back into building schools, protecting wildlife, rainforest, biodiversity and connecting communities to the conservation of their environment through community development initiatives connected to eco-tourism. Click to learn more about where our profits go.
Travel Insurance
You must ensure that you have adequate personal insurance cover for your trip. It is a compulsory requirement for all our trips in Senegal and other African destinations and it is your responsibility to take out a suitable policy. You will not officially join our tours until evidence of your insurance has been provided to our office. This must include personal accident, medical expenses, and repatriation to your country of origin. We also strongly recommend that your policy covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Please note that free insurance cover offered by some credit cards does not cover repatriation expenses.Hotel Accommodation
As most of our tours are customized tailor-made tours then your budget will determine the standard of accommodation at each location. Senegal has a limited selection of hotels however there is a choice of Luxury 5- and 4-star establishments, most are mid-range 2 to 3 star and there is a wide selection of clean and basic budget hotels. Our experienced tour planners will identify the best hotel to fit your budget in the right location. If you have booked onto one of our scheduled Senegal tours, then we usually use quality mid-range hotels when available and all with private en suite facilities and air-conditioning. In some remote locations where these hotels are not available, we will use the best standard alternative.Camping
On occasions during some of our more adventurous expeditions in more remote areas, we will camp. This is not for the duration of your entire tour, but for a couple of days where accommodation is unavailable. Camping is usually on a shared basis, but single occupancy tents are available when requested. Our experienced camping team are on hand to make the experience special. All meals are cooked by our team and are usually a mixture of ample and delicious Western and salivating authentic local dishes eaten around an open fire, the local way for a memorable evening.Immunisations and Vaccinations
ou need to consult your doctor or travel clinic six to eight weeks prior to departure for extensive up to date information on foreign travel to Africa.
Below is a guideline only:
Polio
Tetanus
Typhoid
Anti-malaria tablets (consult your chemist)
Hepatitis A
Meningitis
Yellow fever (you must carry a valid certificate with your passport)
Responsible Tourism
When you travel with Ashanti African Tours you can be assured that all trips are ethical and sustainable, as we put the environment and the communities at the heart of all that we do. As such, this policy draws on the criteria set out by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and tries to recognise many of the principles within the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. All Ashanti African Tours trips aim to have a positive impact on the countries, communities, and environments we visit. Our policy of operating low-impact, ethical tours allows us to create authentic, cultural connections, which not only enhances the traveller experience, but also creates economic opportunity and social development, whilst preserving local cultures for future generations. For full detailed information on our company responsible travel policy please visit the Ethical Travel page of our website.
We Offset Your Trips Carbon Footprint
We plant 3 indigenous forest tree species for every person that travels with us. The main aim for this project is carbon offsetting – guests choosing to travel with us would offset their flights to/from West Africa by more than 15 times if the trees live to their expected lifespan. This is based on projected carbon dioxide generated on a return flight for the average guest (approximately 900kg/1980 lbs). The average tropical tree can absorb approximately 48lbs of carbon per year (when mature) and in West Africa it takes 30-50 years for a tropical tree species to grow to maturity, with an average life expectancy of 200-300 years. If the trees we plant for each guest are continued to be protected, then we are confident that we will be making a big difference in carbon offsetting: 3 trees planted would each absorb approximately 10,080 lbs of carbon, totalling 30,240 lbs/13,745 kg for all 3 trees (per guest).