This is the Senegal chapter from Lonely Planet's West Africa guidebook.

The busy streets, vibrant markets and glittering nightlife of dizzying Dakar will easily draw you into the capital's rhythm. Need a break from the sensory overload? There's always the meditative calm of historical Île de Gorée or the golden sands of Yoff and N'Gor.

• take a pirogue ride through the mangroves of the Siné-Saloum Delta
• maps
• admire architecturally beautiful Saint-Louis, West Africa's first French settlement
• transport & directory
• kick back in Cap Skiring, which greets the Atlantic with Senegal's finest beaches
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Dakar, Cap Vert Peninsula, Île de Gorée, Îles de la Madeleine, Lac Rose, Rufisque, Keur Moussa Monastery, Kayar, Petite Côte, Toubab Dialao & Ndayane, Réserve de Bandia & Accrobaobab, Popenguine, La Somone & Ngaparou, Saly, Mbour, Nianing, Joal-Fadiout, The Siné-Saloum Delta, Palmarin, Ndangane & Mar Lodj, Fimela & Simal, Foundiougne, Sokone, Toubakouta & Bamboung, Parc National du Delta du Saloum, Central & Northern Senegal, Thiès, Touba, Kaolack, Desert de Lompoul, Saint-Louis & around, Senegal River Route, Eastern Senegal, Tambacounda, Wassadou & Mako, Parc National du Niokolo-Koba, Bassari Country, Casamance, Ziguinchor, Basse Casamance, Casamance Nord, Haute Casamance.