Senegal

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not drink alcohol or wear revealing clothes in public during Friday prayers between 1pm and 3pm.

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.

You should also: 

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• be aware that fasting can cause tiredness, particularly during the late afternoon and early evening when traffic will also be heavier than usual
• be patient and show tolerance

There are severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs. People accused regularly spend lengthy periods on remand before being tried. The maximum sentence for trafficking is 20 years.

Prison conditions in Senegal are considerably poorer than in UK prisons. There may be problems such as overcrowding, lack of adequate meals, clean drinking water and electricity, and poor sanitation.

Only use reputable exchange bureaux to change your money. Dakar has ATMs that accept foreign bank cards, but there are few ATMs or bank facilities in the rest of the country. Withdrawal limits can be low, and ATMs regularly run out of money, including in Dakar.

Larger or more upmarket establishments that cater for tourists usually accept foreign credit cards. Mobile payment applications, such as Orange Money and Wave, are also widely used around the country.

Same-sex sexual acts are illegal in Senegal. The law is enforced and has led to arrests.  

On 30 March 2026, Senegal amended legislation increasing prison sentences for same-sex relations to 5–10 years and criminalise the “promotion, support or funding” of homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality.

Same-sex relationships are generally not tolerated in Senegalese society. There is a risk of discrimination or harassment against individuals thought to be part of the LGBT+ community or perceived to be supporting their rights.  

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.