Senegal Travel Guide: Self-Guided City Walks

Looking for things to do in Senegal? This West African country combines an Atlantic coastline, sandy Sahelian plains, historic kingdoms, living musical traditions and a strong culture of hospitality. From the capital, Dakar, to the rivers and landscapes farther south and inland, Senegal offers several ways to understand the country’s geography and history. Neywo has a free audio guide for Senegal, with 35 narrated places in one city and two walking tours.

What to see and do in Senegal

Discover Senegal through its Atlantic setting

Senegal lies on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Rolling sandy plains of the western Sahel extend inland towards foothills in the southeast, while the Senegal River forms much of the country’s northern border. The Gambia River and Casamance River also shape the landscape.

One of the most unusual features of the map is The Gambia, a narrow country following the Gambia River that Senegal almost surrounds. It separates Casamance in the south from the rest of Senegal. Much of Senegal’s population lives near the coast, including in Dakar, the capital and largest city.

The country’s climate follows a clear seasonal rhythm. Hot harmattan winds blow during the dry season, while the rains arrive in the middle of the year. The coast is cooler than the interior, temperatures rise farther inland, and rainfall increases towards the south.

Explore Dakar, Senegal’s capital

Dakar sits on the Atlantic coast and is Senegal’s capital and largest city. It is also the country’s main destination on Neywo, with 35 narrated places and two walking tours.

The city brings together several of the themes that define Senegal: the Atlantic setting, colonial and modern history, artistic life, and the country’s cultural institutions. Among the narrated places are Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, the IFAN Museum of African Arts, the Museum of Black Civilizations and Galerie Arte.

For travellers searching for Dakar, Senegal, the capital is a natural starting point for discovering the country. It offers a concentrated introduction to Senegal’s history, art and public life before you travel farther afield.

Trace the country’s long history

Senegal has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Its history includes the kingdoms of Takrur and Namandiru, as well as the Jolof Empire. Portuguese traders landed on the coast in the middle of the 15th century, followed by traders representing other countries, including France.

Senegal later became part of French West Africa. The modern state emerged with independence in 1960. Senegal and French Sudan briefly formed the Mali Federation, which became independent from France, but political difficulties soon brought the federation to an end. Senegal then proclaimed its own independence.

Léopold Sédar Senghor became the country’s first president. In 1981, he retired from politics and transferred power to his chosen successor, Abdou Diouf. Since its foundation, Senegal has been recognized as one of the more stable countries on the African continent. Today, it is a republic with an elected presidency, and Dakar remains its capital.

Listen to Senegal’s languages and stories

More than 30 languages are spoken in Senegal. French is the official language, while Wolof is the most widely spoken and serves as a shared language alongside French. Arabic and Pulaar are also important in particular communities.

Storytelling is central to Senegalese culture. Griots have preserved West African history through words and music for thousands of years. Their profession is passed from generation to generation, with years of training in genealogy, history and music. In this tradition, memory is not simply stored in books: it remains alive in the spoken voice.

This connection between language, history and music is one of the most distinctive ways to understand Senegal. It also helps explain why a narrated walk can add context to the places you visit.

Experience Senegalese music

Senegal is known across Africa for mbalax. The genre has roots in the Serer percussive tradition called Njuup, and artists including Youssou N’Dour and Omar Pene have helped popularize it.

Drums are particularly important. Sabar drumming is associated with celebrations such as weddings, while the tama is used among a wider range of ethnic groups. Music is not separate from daily and communal life: it appears in celebrations and carries cultural traditions from one generation to the next.

Understand teranga, the culture of hospitality

Hospitality is a source of national pride in Senegal. The Wolof word for it is teranga, a term so closely associated with the country that Senegal’s national football team is known as the Lions of Teranga.

Teranga is one of the key ideas to keep in mind while travelling through Senegal. Alongside the country’s rivers, coast and seasonal winds, it gives Senegal a strong cultural identity that connects everyday life with national history.

Explore Senegal with Neywo

Download Neywo to explore Senegal with a free audio guide. The app includes two walking tours in Dakar, with 35 narrated places in total. Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, so you can discover the city while walking and listen to the history and culture of each stop as it unfolds.