Saint-Louis
Senegal · 4 m
Description
Saint-Louis was the first French settlement in West Africa and served as the capital of both Senegal and French West Africa. The old town sits on a narrow island in the Senegal river, joined to the mainland by the iron Faidherbe Bridge and to the fishing quarter of Guet Ndar by a second crossing. Balconied colonial houses in ochre and faded blue line a grid of streets, and the whole island carries UNESCO World Heritage status. Pirogues crowd the Langue de Barbarie sandspit, and the city's jazz festival is the best known in West Africa.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – March
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Island of Saint-Louis (UNESCO)
- Faidherbe Bridge
- Guet Ndar fishing quarter
- Colonial balconied houses
- Langue de Barbarie National Park
- Saint-Louis Jazz Festival (approx. May)
- Senegal river pirogue trips
- Photography museum & Rognat barracks
- Saint-Louis Cathedral
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (UNESCO)(Day trip)
- Saint-Louis Grande Mosquée
- Horse-drawn calèche rides
Getting there
- Airports:
- XLS
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry