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     Senegal Fact File
Capital: Dakar 
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W 
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule 
Area:
total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km 
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly Roman Catholic) 
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka 
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.1%
male: 43%
female: 23.2% (1995 est.) 
 
 
Getting There

AIR: Senegal’s national airline is Air Senegal (DS). Other airlines serving Senegal include Air Afrique, Air France, Alitalia , Iberia, TAP (Air Portugal), SN Brussel Airlines and South African Airways.

Approximate flight times: From Dakar to Paris is five hours 30 minutes, to London is seven hours 35 minutes and to New York is eight hours 10 minutes.

International airports: Dakar (DKR) (Leopold Sedar Senghor) is 17km (10.5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). Regular coach and bus services go to and from Dakar. Metered taxis are available. Airport facilities include duty free shop, bar/restaurant, bank/bureau de change, post office and car hire. There are two other operating airports in Cap Skirring and Saint Louis.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: There are regular sailings from the Canary Islands, France, Morocco, Spain and several South American and West African ports. The main port is Dakar.

RAIL: There are two passenger trains (one Senegalese and one Malian) with restaurant and sleeping cars, running from Bamako, Mali, twice a week. The journey can take 30 to 36 hours. It is advisable to travel on the Senegalese train (well up to Western standards), rather than the Malian train (very basic indeed).

ROAD: Roads from Mauritania are tarred and in good condition; the best place to cross the border is at Rosso. Roads from Guinea-Bissau are not yet tarred; there is a border crossing at São Domingo. There is a route from Senegal to Mali via Tambacounda. There is access across the Sahara by a 5500km (2120 mile) road that runs from Algeria via Mali. The trans-Gambian highway crosses the River Gambia by ferry. There is a good network of buses and taxis running across the major borders.