The Gambia & Senegal - West-Central, Northern & Eastern Senegal (Chapter)

This is the West-Central Senegal, Northern Senegal and Eastern Senegal chapters from Lonely Planet's The Gambia & Senegal guidebook.

The West-Central is Senegal's religious and economic core, typified by Touba's giant mosque and the huge covered market in Kaolack. In Northern Senegal, wander the colonial streets of Saint-Louis' well preserved old town, or while away some time in the crumbling French fort at Podor on the Senegal River. Whilst in Eastern Senegal, explore the mountainous Bassari lands, with their steep waterfalls and green hillsides, they are a hiker's paradise where the Bassari and Bedik peoples still follow their animist traditions.

• maps
• join the most relaxed party at the Palais des Arts in Thiès, the best live stage outside Dakar
• walk to a jazz beat through the colonial old town of Saint-Louis
• accommodation
• restaurants
• watch warthogs chill in termite mounds and dream of lions at Parc National de Niokolo-Koba

Coverage includes: Thiès, Désert de Lompoul, Koba, Diourbel, Touba & Mbaké, Kaolack, Saint-Louis & around, Senegal River Route, Makhana, Rosso-Senegal, Richard Toll, Podor, Matam & Ouro Sogui, Bakel, Tambacounda, Wassadou & Mako, Parc National de Niokolo-Koba, Bassari Country.