Senegal Reseguide

• • Greetings are essential and never rushed. Senegalese exchange lengthy greetings asking about family, health, and work before any business. Skipping this is considered rude. In Wolof, expect a back-and-forth of 'Nanga def?' / 'Maa ngi fi rekk.'
• • Eat with the right hand only. Meals like the national dish thieboudienne are often shared from a communal platter, and the host or elders may push the best pieces of fish or meat toward guests as a sign of hospitality.
• • Teranga, the Wolof concept of hospitality and generosity, is the cornerstone of social life. Guests are warmly welcomed, fed, and looked after; refusing offered food or tea can cause offense.
• • Attaya, the ritual of brewing and sharing strong sweet mint green tea in three rounds, is a social institution. Each of the three glasses has meaning (bitter like death, mild like life, sweet like love) and the process is meant to be unhurried.
• • Respect for elders and religious figures (marabouts) runs deep. Use both hands or the right hand when giving or receiving, lower your gaze slightly with elders, and avoid public displays of affection.
• • Always ask permission before photographing people, especially women, the elderly, and at religious sites. Some may request a small fee, and many devout Muslims prefer not to be photographed.

Senegal is a majority-Muslim country with a relatively relaxed but modest dress culture, especially outside Dakar's cosmopolitan zones. Cover shoulders and knees; women should avoid very short or tight clothing in rural areas and when visiting mosques (a headscarf and covered arms/legs are required to enter, and non-Muslims often cannot enter the prayer hall). Lightweight, breathable fabrics suit the hot climate. Senegalese themselves often dress strikingly well in colorful boubous and tailored outfits; looking neat is appreciated. Beachwear is fine at resorts and tourist beaches but should not be worn in towns.

Senegal is roughly 95% Muslim, with influential Sufi brotherhoods (notably the Mouride and Tijaniyya) and a respected Christian minority (about 5%); the country is known for its religious tolerance and coexistence. Dress modestly near mosques and remove shoes before entering; non-Muslims are often not permitted into the prayer halls of working mosques (though the Grande Mosquée de Touba and others may permit respectful, covered visitors at certain times). During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight out of respect. Do not touch the Quran or interrupt people at prayer, and treat marabouts and religious gatherings such as the Grand Magal with deference.