Senegal - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Senegal is a country in West Africa, on the Atlantic Coast.

It has an area of 75,954 square miles (196,720 square kilometers).

Northern Senegal mostly consists of dry semi-desert.

There is fertile savanna bushland in southern Senegal.

Senegal has a tropical climate.

It rains in the summer, but sometimes there are droughts.

Part of the Sahel, a region of dry grassland that is at the southern end off the Sahara Desert, is located in Senegal.

The land in this region can only be used for grazing herd animals, such as cattle.

The Sahel is undergoing the process of desertification because of drought, the cutting down of trees for firewood and overgrazing.

12,534,000 people live in Senegal.

20% of the population lives in the capital, Dakar, which is also the country's most important port.

43% of the people of Senegal are Wolof, 15% are Serer, 14% are Peul, 9% are Toucouleur and 5% are Diola.

The official language is French. Other languages spoken include Wolof, Serer, Pulaar, Mandinka, Malinke, Diola and Soninke.

80% of the people are Sunni Muslim, 5% are Christian - mostly Roman Catholic - and 5% practice traditional religions.

Senegal's primary exports are peanuts, fish and phosphates.

The official currency of Senegal is the CFA franc, which equals 100 centimes.

Senegal has a presidential system of government.