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Although I've never boked a holiday on the island, I gather it is possible. Alternatively one can spend an afternoon strolling along the bougainvillaea-lined streets cooled by the gentle ocean breezes. From the highest part of the island, one has a magnificient view of the Atlantic. The Aga Khan and the President of Senegal both own homes on Gorée Island.
The picture on the right shows a typical Senegalese woman going about her day to day business, with baby on board. The Senegalese are some of the nicest people in the world, and the women can be ranked as some of the most elegant.
The island is very accessible. The Chaloupe (ferry) make up to a dozen trips each day from Dakar, between 6.15 a.m to 11 p.m. costing around CFA 3000 the local
and takes only 20 minutes. Visitors are requested to respect the customs of the island and be mindful of the dress code.
Ruins on Gorée. 
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Apart from the international cuisine in the international hotels the food is quite good. Yassa and tiéboudienne = (chey-bou-jen), rice cooked in a fish and vegatable sauce, are two of the most popular local dishes.
Islam 96%.
Indigenous belief 6%
Christian 2%
As this is a muslim country, please respect the culture and dress modestly.
It is however advisable to take precautions by getting the necessary vaccination against the following. Vaccination certificates that may be required are:
| SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS | CERTIFICATES REQUIRED | |
| Yellow fever | Yes | 1 |
| Cholera | Yes | 1 |
| Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A |
| Malaria | 4 | N/A |
For more information on health matters you could do worse than the: Guide. Then hit the facts for the traveller button.
Visas are not required for British Citizens. However; because global politics change so rapidly in these troubled times, it is advisable for everyone to enquire either at the Consular section of the Embassy or the travel agent about visas as soon as the decision to go on holiday is made.
On my first visit, I was able to wonder around the island freely without any hassel. I was very impressed by the absence of vendors pressuring me to buy souvenirs I don't want or people hassling for money. There was a kind of dignity and calm about the islanders. On my next visit about a year or so later, sadly the hassel factor had arrived - one of the down-sides of tourism.
The wild side
Credits: Picture of Senegalese Woman with baby on her back is from Beautiful island, sorrowful past. The rest of the photographs are by the author. Because of the nature of this subject, the author cannot guarantee the total accuracy or completeness of the information on these pages.
Without my tutor Margaret Chadwick, the, beyond-the-call-of-duty support from the staff in the ILT centres of Vauxhall and Brixton, of Lambeth College and special guidance from Tuem, this web site would not exist.
If you wish to make comments on this page, please feel free to email me at chisyrai@tiscali.co.uk
Copyright © 2004 by JJB.