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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Senegal

16 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Senegal

Updated August 31, 2022

Unusual Attractions in Senegal

Rufisque, Senegal

Lake Retba

This deceptively salty lake looks like blushing pink lemonade.

Dakar, Senegal

House of Slaves

Despite a fraught and controversial history this African island holds a powerful monument to the tragedy of the slave trade.

Dakar, Senegal

The Great Green Wall of Africa

Over 4,700 miles of trees being planted to hold back the desert.

Dakar, Senegal

African Renaissance Monument

This giant statue is the product of a mixture of corruption, Stalinist architecture, and North Korean manpower.

Dakar, Senegal

IFAN Museum of African Arts

Dakar is home to one of the oldest African art institutions in West Africa.

Dakar, Senegal

Bantyii Dibiterie

A smoky doorway in Dakar leads to one of the city’s great communal eating experiences.

Mbour, Senegal

Fadiouth Shell Island

An island made out of shells, including a cemetery.

Ndieulé Mbam, Senegal

Langue de Barbarie

A tree seems to grow from the ocean floor on this strange strip of sand slowly being overtaken by the sea.

See All 16 Things To Do in Senegal

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Senegal

Dakar, Senegal

Bantyii Dibiterie

A smoky doorway in Dakar leads to one of the city’s great communal eating experiences.

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Stories About Senegal

The Reluctant Saint Who Watches Over Senegal as Street Art

Amadou Bamba stood for freedom from imperialism, and now means much more.

by David A. Taylor

Why Are Farmers in Senegal Creating Gardens That Look Like Crop Circles?

A new project emphasizes practical designs that may stave off desertification.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

From Indonesia to Ingonish, Some Bones Won't Stay Buried

As seas and storms erode coastlines, cemeteries are giving up their dead.

by Jennifer S. Holland

October 28, 2019

The Muslims Who Don't Fast During Ramadan

Members of Baye Fall eat, cook, and deliver food in grand processions.

by Katie Jane Fernelius

The True Origin of The Gambia's Bizarre Borders

According to an apocryphal story, British ships defined the country by shooting cannonballs off the sides of their ships.

by Sarah Laskow

January 20, 2017

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