Gap Year Programs in Senegal

Blessed with ocean front, baobab trees, plains, and rainforest, Senegal is very diverse. There are many locations where you can spend your gap year. Here are two popular gap year locations in Senegal.

Dakar. Located on the Atlantic coast, Dakar is the largest city and capital of Senegal. Although it’s generally hot, it’s cooled by sea breezes throughout the year. Dakar is one of West Africa’s most vibrant cities with pulsing mbalax music, nightclubs, mosques, museums, markets, monuments, and beaches. 

However, if you just want to escape the crowds and noise while on your gap year in Senegal, there are a couple quiet islands just a short ferry ride offshore. On Ile de Gorée (a UNESCO World Heritage site), kick back and enjoy fish mafé (groundnut stew) and local beer. Afterward, explore the ruined colonial buildings and the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), a sober reminder of the slave trade. 

Saint Louis. Locals and travelers alike say that it’s hard not to fall in love with this city. Located to the north of Dakar, Saint Louis is West Africa’s first French settlement and Senegal’s former capital city. It was founded in the 17th century on an island in the mouth of the Senegal river. Since 2002, the city’s colonial history and architecture has been preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site—no wonder gap year programs like Global Citizen Year in Senegal make a point to visit here.

Highlights of the city include national parks, beaches, quays, Faidherbe Bridge, and the colorful pirogues of the fishing village of Guet Ndar. Saint Louis is the place for culture. During Christmas time, there are fanal (giant paper lanterns) processions at night. The city also hosts many music festivals, including the Saint Louis Jazz Festival. Every year, there’s also a regatta or race of the pirogues in Guet Ndar.

There are many things to do and places to explore while on gap year programs in Senegal. Here are three of the most popular activities you can try in this West African country. 

Volunteering. Volunteering in Senegal is a recipe for a meaningful gap year. Opportunities include medicine and healthcare, human rights, and sports coaching. However, one of the most popular ways to volunteer is to teach English. If you have strong English language skills and a passion for engaging with others, you can volunteer to teach even if you don’t have previous teaching experience or a TEFL certificate. As a volunteer teacher, you can help plan and teach lessons with local English teachers. Gappers also use this opportunity to teach their students about their home country and culture. 

Language immersion. Because Senegal is a former French colony, French is still considered the official language—why not embark on a journey of the tongue (and the mind) and improve your gap year French?! Spend some time with a Senegalese host family to improve your conversation skills and fluency in a totally immersive language environment. You’ll also get the chance to learn Wolof, the country’s most commonly spoken language. 

Adventure travel. Senegal is home to many national parks, including one of the world’s largest pelican breeding grounds. You can work with local groups to replant mangrove trees. Explore Fathala Wildlife Reserve, over 6000 hectares of protected forest, where you can see zebras, rhinos, elephants, and the rarest antelopes in the world. The beaches of Senegal are also out of this world for surfers, so bring your board! 

Some programs, like Global Citizen Year, in Senegal do their best to offer multiple experiences to participants. Some French classes, some internship and work experience, and a lot of travel and fun. Find a gap year program in Senegal that will help you accomplish your goals.

Costs. Senegal can be pretty affordable or downright pricey, depending on your budget. The local currency is called the CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) franc (XOF). You can find many ATMs in Dakar and other cities, but you will need cash if you travel to rural areas. Budget gappers can live on $40-$50/day. On average, three square meals cost $15/day. When it comes to transport, expect to spend $10 a day catching rides on sept places (seven-seater taxis). If you need more help planning and funding your trip to Senegal, check out FundMyTravel—a place where friends and family can help financially support your gap year!

Accommodations. Accommodations are easy to find in Senegal and budget rooms often cost $20/day. If you’re doing a formal gap year program in Senegal, this will likely be coordinated for you (you lucky dog!). Although there are many hotels, hostels, and bed and breakfasts in Senegal, one of the best ways to experience the local culture and really meet the locals is to stay with a host family. Do it! It might sound a little scary, but a gap year is all about pushing your comfort zone, right?!

Visas. If you plan on staying a gap year in Senegal (or any period more than 90 days), you will need a visa. You can either get a tourist visa or a working holiday visa. Please double-check your country’s individual visa requirements for Senegal in our GoAbroad embassy directory.

Safety. Even though Senegal has an incredible reputation for hospitality, it is also known for scams and street crime. Pick pocketing is very common in Dakar and other urban areas, so keep your money safe, and don’t wear too much expensive jewelry or flaunt flashy gear. Women should not walk the streets alone at night. When in doubt, check with the locals. Ask your local host family or your program leaders how to be safe and what areas and activities to avoid.

Make no mistake. Gappers officially rock. You are on the path less traveled, one that will serve you well in the future. When you take a year off to travel meaningfully, you open yourself up to adventure! Not only will you gain incredible experiences and stories, you will learn what it’s really like to be part of the global community and to adapt to a totally foreign way of life. You’ll become independent and more trusting of others. You’ll also learn a new language and a new way of seeing the world. How’s that for a “year off”?! *snickers*

After a year of exploration, you may discover what you’re really passionate about, whether it’s photography, writing, wildlife conservation, education, or human rights. Not only that, a gap year is the perfect way to beef up that resume with solid international experience. Last but not least, a year abroad is the perfect opportunity to make lifelong friends in cultures you may have never even dreamed about!

Because Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country, you have to respect the culture. Men and women, please wear conservative clothing (no shorts and low cut tops!) and avoid getting drunk and kissing in public. Homosexuality is also illegal in Senegal, so any gap year members of the LGBT community should take this very seriously.

Are you ready to take the adventure of a lifetime? For potential adventurers, a gap year in Senegal provides the perfect opportunity to engage with a fascinating West African country and culture. Forget your white savior complex and instead surrender yourself and your preconceptions. Explore with childlike wonder and learn what it really means to be part of the human race on your gap year in Senegal.

Keep reading! Here are 6 reasons you should take a gap year before college.