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Senegal Packing List: What to Actually Bring in 2026

Most Senegal packing lists are copied from generic Africa guides. This one is specific: Dakar is a proper city with good pharmacies, the Harmattan makes January mornings genuinely cool, and one plug-adapter trap catches almost every UK traveller who's been to The Gambia before.

This guide covers a 10–14 day trip in the main November–May season.

Quick-answer box — the 10 non-negotiables

1. Yellow fever vaccination certificate (paper, not just digital)
2. Antimalarial medication (prescribed before you travel)
3. DEET-based mosquito repellent — 30% minimum
4. European round-pin plug adapter (Senegal uses C/E plugs — NOT UK type G)
5. Euros in cash — the CFA franc is pegged to the Euro; easier to exchange than pounds
6. Visa/Mastercard for Dakar ATMs
7. Light long-sleeved shirt and trousers for evenings and mosques
8. Fleece or light jumper for January–February Harmattan mornings
9. SPF 50 sunscreen (expensive and hard to find locally)
10. Rehydration salts and Imodium

The plug situation (critical for UK travellers from The Gambia)

If you've been to The Gambia, you're used to UK type G sockets — your chargers plug straight in, no adapter. Senegal is the opposite. The country uses European-style C and E round-pin plugs. Your UK chargers will not fit without an adapter, and your Gambia adapter is wrong shape. Buy a universal travel adapter before you go — they're hard to find quickly in Dakar at a sensible price.

Documents and money

• Passport with 6 months' validity
• Yellow fever certificate — officially required for entry
• Printed hotel bookings for the first night
• Travel insurance certificate with 24-hour emergency number
• Euros in cash — CFA is pegged to the Euro. Société Générale, BICIS and Ecobank ATMs in Dakar accept Visa/Mastercard reliably; smaller towns less so
• Visa/Mastercard — widely accepted in Dakar restaurants and mid-range hotels; plan on cash outside the capital
• A second card stored separately
• Photocopies of passport photo page, kept separate from originals

Do not bring Moroccan dirhams, West African Dalasi or other regional currencies — none exchange easily in Dakar.

Clothing

The rule in Senegal is the same as The Gambia: light, breathable, modest-friendly. Outside tourist hotels — especially in Dakar's Plateau, in mosques, and in inland towns — covering shoulders and knees is a courtesy that goes a long way.

The Harmattan months (December–February) add a specific requirement: bring something genuinely warm for mornings. At 17–19 °C before 9 am in Saint-Louis in January, a light cotton hoodie is not enough.

Men — 10 days

• 3–4 lightweight T-shirts
• 1 long-sleeved linen or cotton shirt
• 1 smart-casual shirt (Dakar has good restaurants)
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 1 pair of lightweight long trousers (essential for January mornings and mosque visits)
• Swimwear (2 pairs)
• Light fleece or merino jumper (December–February)
• Comfortable walking sandals
• Trainers or lightweight closed shoes for Dakar city days
• Flip-flops

Women — 10 days

• 4 lightweight tops
• 1 long-sleeved blouse or shirt
• 2 dresses or skirts (knee-length for non-tourist contexts)
• 1 smart-casual outfit for Dakar evenings
• 2 pairs of shorts or cropped trousers
• 1 maxi dress or sarong (beach cover-up and village visits)
• Light fleece or cardigan
• Light scarf (coverage, morning warmth, air-conditioning)
• Swimwear (2)
• Comfortable walking sandals
• Trainers or closed shoes for city days and upriver
• Flip-flops

What not to wear

• Camouflage patterns — illegal in many West African countries, treated with suspicion
• Revealing clothing off the beach — fine at Saly resorts; not fine on Dakar streets
• White or pale clothing — Dakar dust and red laterite roads mark it up fast

Sun, heat and bugs

Dakar sits at 14°N. Midday sun intensity is higher than the Mediterranean at any equivalent time of year.

• SPF 50 sunscreen — bring enough for the trip. European brands are available in Dakar pharmacies and supermarkets but expensive; imported options outside the capital are limited
• After-sun or aloe vera gel
• Lip balm with SPF
• Wide-brimmed hat — the coastal breeze masks how fast you burn
• Polarised sunglasses — essential for the Atlantic glare and any delta boat trip
• DEET 30% repellent — mosquitoes are present coast-wide; higher risk in Casamance and the wet season
• Anti-itch cream for bites

Medical kit

Consult a UK travel clinic 4–6 weeks before travel. [VERIFY: current NHS fitfortravel advice for Senegal]

Prescription:

• Antimalarials — Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) standard for tourist stays
• Personal medications in original packaging with prescription copy

Over-the-counter:

• Imodium (loperamide)
• Oral rehydration salts (Dioralyte) — more important than Imodium
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Antihistamines
• Plasters, surgical tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial hand gel

Vaccinations:

• Yellow fever (paper certificate required for entry)
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Tetanus booster if lapsed
• Hepatitis B for longer or more adventurous stays
• Rabies if travelling outside Dakar for extended periods

Dakar has good pharmacies; basics are available. Don't rely on finding specific brands in rural areas.

Tech and electronics

• Universal plug adapter — Senegal uses C/E round-pin (see above — UK plugs do not fit)
• Unlocked smartphone — Orange and Free SIMs available at the airport and city shops; register with your passport. XOF 3,000–5,000 (£4–7) for a usable data bundle
• Power bank 10,000 mAh — power cuts are less frequent in Dakar than Banjul, but occur in smaller towns and during storms
• Camera if you're serious — smartphone cameras manage Gorée and street photography; bird and wildlife work benefits from a proper lens
• Binoculars — 8x42 for birding, useful for any delta boat trip or Djoudj visit
• E-reader — airport and Dakar bookshops carry French titles; English books are rare outside tourist hotels

If you're visiting Saint-Louis or the delta

• Binoculars (8x42)
• Borrow or Demey Field Guide to Birds of Senegal and The Gambia — the standard reference
• Long trousers for dawn birding (mosquitoes; also cooler than expected)
• Waterproof layer if visiting during shoulder months (October, May)

What NOT to bring

• UK plug chargers without an adapter — will not fit Senegalese sockets
• Gambia Dalasi — not accepted in Senegal; exchange them before you cross
• Expensive jewellery or watches — unnecessary and attracts attention
• Drones — legal status varies; confiscation reported at Dakar airport [VERIFY]
• White expedition clothing — dust and laterite roads make it impractical

What to buy locally

• Bottled water (XOF 500–700 per 1.5L)
• SIM card with data bundle
• Batik and bazin fabric by the metre at HLM or Sandaga markets, Dakar
• Light boubou or kaftan
• Fresh mango, bissap or bouye drinks — better locally than anything you can pack

Season-specific additions

November–December (early season)

• Light fleece for mornings
• Sun protection — the harmattan haze gives false comfort; UV is still high

January–February (Harmattan peak)

• Proper fleece or merino — 17 °C mornings are genuine in Saint-Louis
• Lens cloth for camera and binoculars (Harmattan dust)

March–April (late dry)

• Maximum SPF, rash vest for any ocean swimming
• Fleeces unnecessary

May (festival / shoulder)

• Light rain jacket or packable poncho
• Extra sun protection — humidity climbs and you sweat more

FAQ

Do I need a visa for Senegal?

UK citizens currently enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Confirm on gov.uk before booking — this has changed before. [VERIFY]

Can I use UK pounds in Senegal?

Technically yes, at airport exchange desks, but at poor rates. Use Euros instead — the CFA franc is pegged to the Euro and you'll always get a fair conversion. Visa and Mastercard work at Dakar ATMs.

Is the water safe to drink?

No — drink bottled. Bottled water is widely available and cheap in Dakar; use it for drinking and teeth-brushing, especially in smaller towns.

What is the baggage restriction situation?

Standard international rules apply. If you're taking a domestic Air Senegal flight (e.g. to Cap Skirring or Saint-Louis), check their current baggage allowance — it can be lower. [VERIFY: Air Senegal current policy]

Packed? Read the full Senegal holidays guide for where to stay, what to eat and sample itineraries. Check the best time to visit Senegal if you haven't fixed your dates yet.