Senegal Community Volunteers

Country Information

The Republic of Senegal is located in the westernmost part of Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. Senegal has over 700Km of beautiful beaches, rainforests, dry deserts and over 100 varieties of tropical plants and flowers.

Tropical Senegal is lauded for beauties both natural and urban. With it’s suave capital, Dakar - many travellers' favourite amongst the larger African cities - and it’s collection of internationally known musicians, Senegal brings in more visitors than any other country in the region. Much of Senegal’s land is lush, especially when compared to the deserts that surround it. Many of its visitors are package tourists soaking up the sunshine in upscale hotels, but the best of Senegal - a good wander through its streets and plains - is free.

Senegal has all it needs to ensure the successful development of its’ tourist sector. The sun shines almost all year round, it has historic museums, natural sites of great beauty and natural parks and reserves, which are rich in fauna and flora. The warm welcome of its people results in the increase in the number of tourists each year. Interested with the discovery of the internal richness of the country, tourists find themselves encountering real contact with its diverse cultures.

Dakar is the capital of Senegal, and is a modern city of more than 1.5 million people with beautiful contemporary buildings and some historical colonial houses. It is a vibrant city with active open-air markets, cafe terraces, a wide range of hotels, delicious food and a great nightlife. You can best discover Dakar by taking a walk along the ocean or the busy city streets. Art lovers will find an abundance of galleries, artists' studios, museums, and festivals, whilst shoppers will find it a paradise, exquisite crafts can be found in markets, on the streets, and in stores everywhere.

Geography
Senegal is fed by three rivers: the Senegal in the north, which forms the border with Mauritania; the Gambia in the middle, which is surrounded by Gambia but for its easternmost origins; and the Casamance in the south, which lends that region its name as well as its striking fertility. Desertification throughout the north of the country is an ever-increasing problem, only partially alleviated by the Manantalli Dam on the Senegal River. The country's lowest points are its Atlantic shores, while its highest lies in the Fouta Djallon foothills, which top out around 580m (1900ft).

General overview of Senegal
Like many African tribes, Senegal's main indigenous group, the Wolof, has a highly stratified society wherein status is determined by birth. At the top of the social heap are traditional noble and warrior families, followed by the farmers, traders and persons of caste - blacksmiths, leather workers, wood workers, weavers and griots (GREE-oh).

Griots are the lowest of the castes but are highly respected, as they are in charge of passing on the oral traditions and are usually the only ones who can recite a family or village history. They used to be the entertainers of the royal families; these days, if you're fortunate enough to hear a kora played, the player will almost certainly be from a griot family.

Slaves occupied the lowest rung of the social ladder, and although slavery is now long gone, many descendants of former slaves still work as tenant farmers for the masters of old.

Senegal’s History
Senegal's recorded history dates from the 8th century, when it was part of the empire of Ghana. As this empire waned, the Djolof kingdom arose and flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries, in the area between the Senegal River and modern-day Dakar

By the early 1500s, Portuguese traders had made contact with the coastal kingdoms, which was to last through the 16th century. The Portuguese were displaced by the British, French and Dutch who hoped to gain control of St-Louis and Île de Gorée, along with strategic points where slaves, bound for the Americas, could be collected. St-Louis was finally secured by the French in 1659.

By the end of the 19th century, France controlled all of Senegal, and Dakar was built as the administrative centre. Senegal sent a deputy to the French parliament as early as 1848, but it wasn't until 1914 that the first African deputy, Blaise Diagne, was elected. He was followed by a new generation of black politicians led by Lamine Gueye and Léopold Senghor.

Recent History
The March 2000 presidential elections were a close contest between President Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade. After a tense second round of voting, Wade emerged victorious and is now Senegal's new president. International observers declared the elections free and fair and it was refreshing to see a long-time African leader peacefully relinquish power at the will of the people.

President Wade promised an open, transparent government and hopes were high that he would tackle Senegal's many problems with a renewed vigour. However, Wade's progress has been disappointingly slow.

Population of Senegal
10,300,000

Time
Senegal is one hour ahead of GMT.

In Africa, time is not a priority like it is in much of the western world – there is a saying that Africa works to ‘Africa Time’, which basically means you must exercise a lot of patience! If a boat is due to leave at 12pm, don’t be surprised if it still hasn’t a couple of hours later… keep an open mind, and arrive in Africa ‘expecting the unexpected’.

Getting There

You will need to arrange to fly into Dakar Airport, in the capital of Senegal. From here you will be met by your project leader ready to begin your orientation.

Climate

Senegal's climate is pleasantly tropical, with Dakar ranking as one the coolest, breeziest spots in West Africa. The country's average daily temperatures range from 18°C (65°F) to 31°C (87°F). In the north and central parts, the wet season lasts from July to September, while in the Casamance it's about a month longer on either end. Rainfall averages range from 300mm (12in) in the north to as much as six times that in the south; Dakar gets over 600mm (24in) annually. The dry season (December to April) is hit by the hot, dry harmattan winds.

Climate chart for Dakar