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Introduction to Senegal
created on:
2002-05-29
A pleasant atmosphere and friendly people are drawing more and more people to Senegal. The country also has a lot to offer. The metropolitan capital Dakar, the colonial style cities like St. Louis, wildlife in the national park of Niokolo Koba, and off course the real African life are among the things which make Senegal interesting.
Senegal is one of the former French colonial territories. It is situated in West-Africa, bordering with Mauritania in the north, Mali in the East and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in the South. The western border is formed by the Atlantic Ocean. One special feature can be described as unique and that is the situation of The Gambia, a former English colony, which is completely surrounded by Senegal.
Senegal is blessed with a few large rivers. The river Senegal, which has the same name as the country, flows through the North of the country. Other rivers include The Gambia, which flows through the East of Senegal where it quickly enters the country of The Gambia, and the Casamance river in the south of Senegal. All these rivers form an important source for the flora and fauna which can be seen in Senegal. Most of the country is rather flat but in the south, especially near the border of Guinea hills form a change in the landscape.
For animal lovers, Senegal is a place worth visiting, especially for birdwatchers. Being on the route to the south, most migrating birds use Senegal as an intermediate stop or a final destination. Summed up with the birds which live normally in Senegal, the Siné-Saloum Delta, North of The Gambia, the Parc National aux Oiseaux du Djoudj and Parc National de la Langue Barbarie, both near St. Louis, are among the best of the world. Senegal also has the Parc National du Niokolo Koba which is one of the biggest in West-Africa and forms the habitat for a great diversity of wildlife including gazelles, wharthogs and baboons.
The borders of current Senegal are drawn by the colonial powers who once ruled in Africa. However, before this period a great deal of different tribes lived in the area. Travelling through the country you can still see the differences in these tribes as the clothes, houses and languages can differ substantially.
The Casamance region, the part of Senegal South of The Gambia, is also known for its beauty. However, due to unrest in the region most tourists do not visit this part of Senegal.
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