The Atlas Obscura Guide To Senegal

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

Updated July 30, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Senegal

Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose

Rufisque, Senegal

Lake Retba

This deceptively salty lake looks like blushing pink lemonade.

House of Slaves

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.

A satellite view of the Sahara

Dakar, Senegal

The Great Green Wall of Africa

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

African Renaissance Monument

Dakar, Senegal

African Renaissance Monument

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

The grill is always going at Bantyii.

Dakar, Senegal

Bantyii Dibiterie

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

Wall of masks

Dakar, Senegal

IFAN Museum of African Arts

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

Mbour, Senegal

Fadiouth Shell Island

An island made out of shells, including a cemetery.

See All 17 Things To Do in Senegal

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Senegal

The grill is always going at Bantyii.

Dakar, Senegal

Bantyii Dibiterie

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

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Senegal

Museums 4

Nature 3

Islands 2

Colonialism 2

Animals 2

Architecture 2

Monuments 2

Parks 2

Slavery 2

Water 2

Abandoned 2

Natural Wonders 2

Unesco 1

Geology 1

Bunkers 1

Statues 1

Bridges 1

Cemeteries 1

National Parks 1

Birds 1

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Stories About Senegal

Pape Diop, shown here working in Dakar in 2018, was one of the most prolific street artists of Bamba images.

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, Atlas Obscura

An aerial view of a newly built tolou keur garden in Boki Diawe, within the Great Green Wall area, in Matam region, Senegal.

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, Atlas Obscura

Once upon a time there was a cemetery here, in Tangier, Virginia.

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, Atlas Obscura

October 28, 2019

Baye Fall women cook the touffé chicken to be gifted to fellow Muslims at the Grand Mosque.

The Muslims Who Don't Fast During Ramadan

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

by Katie Jane Fernelius, Atlas Obscura

The Gambia River at Janjanbureh, in the eastern part of the country.

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, Atlas Obscura

January 20, 2017