Central Senegal

Central Senegal is a region in Senegal.

Cities

• 1 Foundiougne — known for the fishing north of the town, in particular shrimp fishing
• 2 Kaolack — known for its huge covered market
• 3 Mar Lodj — a quiet, rural island community
• 4 Palmarin — has beautiful beaches
• 5 Sokone — a tranquil town on the Southeastern Sine-Saloum Delta amid the mangroves.
• 6 Touba — destination for the Grand Magal, an annual religious pilgrimage observed by Mouride Brotherhood, one of the four Islamic Sufi orders (tariqa) in Senegal
• 7 Toubakouta —

Get in and around

Kaolack is the transport hub of the country. You can get to any point in Senegal in a day's travel, including Dakar, Thies, St. Louis, Tamba, Kolda and the Casamance.

Most people get around Senegal by sept-places (7-seat cars), but there are buses that pass through here heading from Bamako to Dakar and vice versa. There are also minicars which tend to leave only when full but are a cheaper option.

See

Kaolack has one of the biggest covered markets in West Africa. In its "gris-gris" market, vendors sell everything from skins to shells for the local charm makers. The stone circles at Wanar near Kaolack is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mar Lodj is an island in the Saloum delta where you can experience rural Senegalese life and a traditional wrestling match.

The Great Mosque of Touba is one of the largest mosques in Africa, with a capacity of 7,000.

Do

In Foundiougne, you can take a canoe trip to discover the mangroves, the birds and the islands of Saloum. There is also good fishing.

The Parc National du Delta du Saloum near Palmarin protects a patchwork delta consisting of mangrove channels, salt flats, grass lands and forest. Explore the mangrove channels by kayak, or take a fishing excursion.

In Sokone, you can take a pirogue to the islands and their communities.

Drink

Drink palm wine on the beach in Palmarin.