Difference between revisions of "Senegal"

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Revision as of 11:55, 6 September 2011

Flag of Senegal Senegal
Information
Language: French
Capital: Dakar
Population: 11,750,000
Currency: CFA Franc
Hitchability: <rating country='sn' />
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots
<map lat='14.8' lng='-14' zoom='6' view='0' />
Street scene in Senegal

Senegal is a country in Western Africa. It is the most developed country in West Africa and has the best road network; most major roads are now paved. On those major roads, hitchhiking is very easily doable - there is a high number of private vehicles and the Senegalese are sympathetic towards the cause. Also there is a big expat French community which helps things. Drivers are very friendly and often you might find yourself invited to spend the night if evening is coming close. If you leave the main roads, things get a lot harder - be prepared to either wait or walk lots; most of your lifts will be short hops and most traffic will be taxies. Speaking a little bit of Wolof, which is the unofficial national language, will increase your popularity and your chances greatly. To leave the towns, there is only one way (with the possible exception of Dakar): Get to the end of the city by foot or mototaxi and hitch from there. When hitchhiking in Lower Casamance, be aware of the ongoing armed conflict there, it might be unwise to walk between towns on your own or even to accept ride offers of strangers. Check the situation before you set out.

Cities connected by major roads

Border Crossings

Towards Mali
Towards Mauritania

The main border crossing between Senegal and Mauritania is Rosso, which is famous for its hustlers. After making it to Rosso (possibly you'll have to walk the short way from the road to Richard Toll because there's not that much at Rosso) you'll get your exit stamp, exchange money and then cross on the ferry to the Mauritanian side (free for foot passengers). If you want to hitch, ignore the numerous offers for taxis you will receive and walk out of town (around 1km) where (as of March 2011) there is a rotting donkey next to which hitching seems sensible. There is a second road further to the West going through the Diama national park. This is a dirt road with little traffic, most of which is coming from Mauritania anyway (overlanders wanting to avoid the hassle of Rosso).

Towards Guinea-Bissau

If you have time and a bit of luck, hitching towards the border at Mpack from Ziguinchor is possible. Walk out of Ziguinchor towards the border and stick out your thumb to see what happens.

Towards Guinea

Hitching towards Guinea is a very hard task. From Kedgougou, only 4x4s with very determined drivers are able to make it to Mali-ville (usually one every couple of days), and even though there is a new paved road being built from Upper Casamance to Koundara, it will be some time until it will be viable for most cars.

Towards The Gambia

It's very easy to hitchhike towards/into The Gambia from the north due to the high traffic of Europeans going to sell their cars down there.

Applications-office.png This article is a stub. This means that the information available to us is obviously insufficient. In these places little information is available or the description is severely outdated. If you have been there, whether hitchhiking, for travel or as part of an organized tour − be sure to extend this article!