Senegal - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: West Africa
Local Time: GMT
Capital City: Dakar
Population: 10 million
Area: 197,000 square km, 122,415 square miles.
Language(s): French, many local languages
Dialling Code: 221
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit or French licence required
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: CFA Franc (Euro 1 = 655 CFA Franc)
Notes: CFA: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000
Coins: CFA: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500,

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Major credit cards are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0800-1115 & 1430-1630 Mon-Fri
Office: 0800-1230 & 1300-1600 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0800-1200 & 1430-1800 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 10 Tamkarit (Islamic New Year), Jan 19 Tamkharit (Ashoura), Mar 20 Prophet Mohammad's Birthday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, Apr 4 Independence Day, May 1 Labour Day, May 1 Ascension, 12 Whit Monday, Aug 15 Assumption, Oct 2 End of Ramadam, Nov 1 All Saints Day, Dec 9 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice), Dec 25 Christmas Day
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints: Business is usually conducted in French. Few, if any, executives speak English. Muslim conventions apply. It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Visits during Ramadan should be avoided. Smoking is restricted in many public buildings. The minimum drinking age is 20 years

Tipping: A service charge is normally added to the bill. Tips are not customary for taxis

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from endemic areas.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, meningitis*, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month

Risks: Malaria exists all year throughout the country. There is less risk from Jan-Jun in central western regions. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for a minimum of 3 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Senegal
2) For stays up to 3 months Nationals of United Kingdom
3) Nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo
4) For stays up to 3 months by nationals of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, & United States

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey by the same service or transferring to another service provided holding confirmed onward tickets

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets

Climate

Tropical climate with a single rainy season from Jun-Sep in the north and Jun-Oct in the south, rainfall increasing in amount from north to south. Temperatures are fairly high year round although there is a cooler season between Dec-Apr when rainfall is uncommon. Humidity is higher on the coast and lower inland where temperatures fall lower at night

Clothing

Lightweights or tropical throughout the year with rainwear for the wet season

Charts for Dakar

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 26 27 27 27 29 31 31 31 32 32 30 27 Min Temp (C) 18 17 18 18 20 23 24 24 24 24 23 19 Humidity am (%) 71 80 87 86 86 85 84 87 88 86 80 70 Humidity pm (%) 45 45 51 55 59 62 66 74 72 65 50 46 Rainfall (mm) 0 0 0 0 0 18 89 254 132 38 3 8

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

Embassy
Embassy of Senegal
39 Marloes Road
London, W8 6LA
tel: +44 20 7938 4048, 7937 7237
fax: +44 20 7938 2546
e-mail: senegalembassy@hotmail.co.uk
website: www.senegalembassy.co.uk
hours: 0900-1700 (Mon-Fri), 1030-1300 (Mon-Fri) consular section