Senegal, a small West African country, has a rich history with various empires and European colonization. It gained independence in 1960 and has since become a popular tourist destination with beautiful beaches and national parks. Flights and ground journeys are available for travel.
Senegal is a small country in West Africa. It covers 76,000 square miles (196,700 square km), making it somewhat larger than the state of Washington. It shares borders with Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Mali, fully encompasses the nation of The Gambia, and has coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean.
People have inhabited the region for millennia, but for most of that time they were organized in small tribal structures. The first major power to control Senegal was the Ghana Empire, in the 8th century. By the 11th century, Islam had made its way into the area, spreading rapidly as the Ghana Empire fell. The Mali Empire took control of the country in the power vacuum left by the Ghana Empire.
In the 14th century, the Jolof Empire arose in Senegal, serving as a vassal state of the Mali Empire. The Jolof Empire consolidated power and grew in the 16th century, before being broken by secession and raids by neighboring kingdoms.
Europeans had first arrived in Senegal in the late 15th century but limited their activities to coastal trade for many years. As the slave trade boomed in the 16th century, the country became more important to Europeans, who began building forts along the coast. It remained relatively independent until the mid-19th century, when the French expanded their holding into the interior, taking control of what is now Senegal.
French control continued until 1960, when Senegal and French Sudan united and declared independence as the Mali Federation. The federation was short-lived, and when it disbanded later that year, Senegal declared independence as a single nation. Two years later the president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, consolidated power, ruling the country autocratically until his retirement in 1980, when he handed over power to his chosen successor, Abdou Diouf.
The country joined The Gambia in a federation in 1982 but disbanded again in 1989 after none of their planned integrations materialized. Under Abdou Diouf, the country liberalized dramatically, moving towards more democratic processes and increasing relations with neighboring countries and the West. Free and open elections were held in 2000 and Diouf was defeated by Abdoulaye Wade.
The country is one of West Africa’s most popular tourist destinations, and for good reason. With beautiful beaches, a charming city and some beautiful national parks, it’s hard to go wrong. Cap Skiring’s beaches are what make Senegal so popular with visitors, and it’s easy to see why, with golden sand and beautiful water, and an infrastructure that is both developed and relaxed, this is one of the most beautiful places in the country. Africa. Niokolo-Koba and des Oiseaux du Djoudj National Parks are also great sites to visit, with the annual bird migrations and pristine forest among the highlights.
Flights arrive regularly into the country from several European hubs, as well as from New York. Ground journeys are available from most neighboring countries, although in most cases they are long and the roads are in poor condition, making regional budget airlines an attractive alternative.
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