Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Senegal
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Aggressive street vendor accusation
Aggressive vendors follow non-locals for blocks and accuse them of racism if they refuse to buy. Ignore them and keep walking.
Two-person pickpocketing
One person grabs your leg as a distraction while their partner picks your pocket. Wear trousers with buttoned or snapped pockets and keep your shirt untucked to cover them.
Fake guide robbery
Strangers claim to have met you before or offer to guide you to lead you to a remote location for robbery. Decline all unsolicited offers of guidance.
Street stall cash theft
Vendors grab cash from your hand during bargaining and claim it as their own. Do not hold cash in your hand while negotiating prices.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Mandatory identification
Police perform vehicle stops and check for identification. Carry your passport or a copy at all times to avoid being taken to the station or solicited for a bribe.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Diphtheria in Sub-Saharan Africa
- • Global Polio
- • Global Measles
Tap water safe to drink: No — bottled/filtered only
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Polio, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Senegal require a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Visitors must hold passports that are valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Senegal cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Several terrorist groups operate in neighbouring Mali, including Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP). Whilst the regions most affected by terrorist activity are central and northern Mali, JNIM has increasingly conducted attacks in southern and western Mali near to the Senegalese border.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Senegal. The law is enforced and has led to arrests. On 30 March 2026, Senegal amended legislation increasing prison sentences for same-sex relations to 5–10 years and criminalise the “promotion, support or funding” of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality. Same-sex relationships are generally not tolerated in Senegalese society. There is a risk of discrimination or harassment against individuals thought to be part of the LGBT+ community or perceived to be supporting their rights. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
- Shared Rivers , Shared Responsibilities : The Case for Water Treaties2026-09-04
- Everton is a broken club again and the owners are to blame2026-09-04
- Mr . MAM CHERNO JALLOW ASSUMED OFFICE AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GIABA | Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) 2026-09-03
- Kuwait Says Air Defenses Intercept Missile , Drone Attacks2026-09-03
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Senegal functions as a relatively safe entry point for travelers accustomed to structured environments. While the country lacks the polished infrastructure of Europe, money effectively purchases convenience and safety. Violent crime is not a primary concern for visitors within Senegal itself. However, the situation changes drastically at the border; crossing overland into Guinea-Bissau introduces genuine dangers, specifically the risk of armed robbery and the reality of non-existent or unreliable transport infrastructure. Travelers should weigh the comfort of Senegal against the legitimate security threats present in neighboring regions, where the lack of established systems makes the journey significantly more hazardous.
“From what I hear, it's fairly safe and money can buy convenience/safety to some extent.
— r/travel
“And what I hear is that infrastructure barely exists, armed robbery is a real risk, and transport is not fully reliable.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / D / E / K · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 17 / ambulance: 18 / fire: 1515
Cash vs. Card
The currency of the country is the West African CFA franc, denoted CFA (ISO currency code: XOF). It's also used by seven other West African countries. It is interchangeable at par with the Central African CFA franc (XAF), which is used by six countries. Both currencies are fixed at a rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09