Most trips to Senegal start in Dakar, with a ferry to Gorée Island, and continue to the colonial island town of Saint-Louis in the north, the beaches of the Petite Côte, the mangroves of the Sine-Saloum Delta and, further south, the Casamance around Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring. International flights land at Blaise Diagne airport, about an hour from central Dakar. Senegal is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so European plans charge their own roaming rates there.
Key facts for Senegal
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Orange (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 17; fire and rescue 18; SAMU ambulance 1515
- Embassies: in Dakar
Dakar
Coverage is strong across Dakar, from the Plateau to Almadies and Ngor. Robberies, some of them armed, and bag-snatching have become more common, so avoid walking alone after dark and keep valuables in the hotel safe. At the airport, ignore drivers who pretend to know you: pre-arrange your transfer and ask for ID. Political demonstrations are frequent and can turn violent or block the airport road, and foreigners have been prosecuted for joining unapproved protests.
Saint-Louis, the Petite Côte and the Sine-Saloum
Saint-Louis, Saly and the villages of the Petite Côte have good coverage, but in the Sine-Saloum Delta the signal comes and goes between the islands, where many lodges are reached by boat. Roads can flood between June and September, and driving at night is risky on poorly lit roads.
The Casamance and the borders
The Casamance has its own airport at Cap Skirring and ferries from Dakar to Ziguinchor. Clashes still occur in parts of the region, although the risk is lower in the main tourist areas, so stay alert and check the latest advice. The UK also urges particular care in remote areas near the borders with Mauritania and Mali, including the far east around Kédougou.
Laws to know
Drug offences carry severe penalties, often with long periods on remand. Same-sex relations are illegal, and a 2026 amendment raised prison sentences and criminalised their promotion or support.
Paying
The currency is the West African CFA franc. Cash machines that take foreign cards are mostly in Dakar, where they can also run out of notes, and withdrawal limits are often low. Mobile money apps such as Orange Money and Wave are used everywhere, larger hotels take cards, and you should change cash only at reputable bureaux, as fake notes circulate.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up at home connects when you land at Blaise Diagne, ready to order your transfer, and your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes. An Africa plan also covers The Gambia and Cape Verde.
Senegalese prepaid SIMs from Orange and the other local operators are sold at the airport and in shops, and must be registered with your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Senegal
- Dial 17 for the police, 18 for the fire brigade, which also responds to medical emergencies, and 1515 for the SAMU ambulance service.
- Embassies are in Dakar. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Senegal, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in French, Senegal's official language, ready to show on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Senegal
Does my EU plan work in Senegal?
No. Senegal is outside Roam Like at Home, so your operator's roaming rates apply.
Can I pay by phone in Senegal?
Locals pay with mobile money apps, but as a visitor you will mostly use cash, with cards in larger hotels.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Senegal?
Orange, with 4G and 5G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
17 for the police, 18 for the fire brigade and 1515 for the SAMU ambulance service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, pre-book your airport transfer, carry enough CFA francs outside Dakar, keep away from demonstrations, check the advice before heading to the Casamance, and save 17 and 18.
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