Saint-Louis, Senegal

A World Heritage colonial island city at the mouth of the Senegal River, with the Faidherbe Bridge, colourful fishing pirogues and a national park full of migratory birds.

Saint-Louis lies in northwestern Senegal near the mouth of the Senegal River, about 260 km from the capital Dakar. Founded by the French in 1659 as the first European city in West Africa, it served as the capital of Senegal and French West Africa until 1902, and its old town on the Island of Saint-Louis was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2000. The city has three parts: the long, narrow island in the river is the colonial old town; to its west, the Langue de Barbarie spit is home to the fishing district of Guet N'Dar and Hydrobase beach; and to the east, the Faidherbe Bridge links the island to Sor on the mainland. The best time to visit is the dry season from November to May, with migratory birds flocking in from December to March, when you can see great white pelicans at Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. The Saint-Louis Jazz Festival takes place around May each year, so book accommodation early; July to October is the hot, humid rainy season. Getting there: from Dakar, it's about 4–5 hours by long-distance bus or private car, and ferries or domestic flights may also be available depending on the season. On the island you can get around on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, but trips to Djoudj, the Langue de Barbarie and the Lompoul Desert require a hired car. Allow 2–3 days: one day for the old town and fishing village, one day birdwatching at Djoudj, plus a night at a camp in the Lompoul Desert. The currency is the West African CFA franc, and small cash is widely used; always ask permission before photographing people.

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