Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Public infrastructure and health services are limited outside the main cities.
Regional breakdown
Most travel to Senegal centres on Dakar, the coastal resort strip around Saly, and the cultural hubs of Saint-Louis and Gorée Island. The official advisories both treat these areas as lower risk, though street crime is a running theme in the capital. Dakar draws the most warnings for petty and violent crime. The official advisory guidance flags robberies along the Corniche d'Ouest, and official advisory guidance reports that burglary, assault and armed hotel robberies have become more common. Pickpocketing on markets and beaches is rising. Travellers are told to avoid quiet stretches of coastline after dark and to keep valuables out of sight in taxis. The Casamance region in the south carries a separate, higher warning. The official advisory guidance places Casamance at Level 2 due to armed banditry and landmines left from the long-running separatist conflict. US embassy staff are limited to main roads in daylight hours. The official advisory guidance adds concern about the border with Mali. Where the JNIM armed group has stepped up attacks in southern and western Mali close to Senegalese territory. Remote eastern border zones near Kidira and Kédougou also fall under kidnap-risk guidance for the wider Sahel.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance reissued its Senegal advisory on 1 December 2025, keeping the country at Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions. That is the lowest of four US levels. The only carve-out is Casamance, which stays at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution. The update kept the wording that Senegal is generally a workable destination for travellers. While repeating the Casamance landmine and banditry warnings and the Dakar street-crime notes. The official advisory guidance last updated its Senegal page on 24 March 2026. The most recent change added new guidance for LGBT+ travellers on the safety and security page, reflecting that same-sex relations are criminalised under Senegalese law. The official advisory guidance has not issued any blanket advice against travel to Senegal, and there is no ordered departure in place from either government. Both advisories now pay closer attention to the Mali border spillover, which is a shift from earlier versions that focused almost entirely on Casamance.
What travellers should know
Travel insurance that covers the whole itinerary is the first item both governments push. Medical facilities outside Dakar are limited, and evacuation cover matters if plans include Casamance, the Bassari country, or river trips in the Saloum Delta. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry from most countries, and routine vaccines should be current before departure. On the ground, the practical advice is consistent. Use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps in Dakar rather than hailing on the street at night. Keep a copy of the passport separate from the original. Drownings on Atlantic beaches are a recurring hazard flagged by official advisory guidance, with strong rip currents along the coast near Yoff and Ngor. Road travel after dark outside cities is discouraged by both advisories because of poor lighting, livestock, and unmarked hazards. Travellers heading to Casamance are told to stick to main roads, travel in daylight, and avoid walking off marked paths because of residual landmines. Anyone near the Mali or Mauritania borders should monitor local news and register with their embassy. LGBT+ travellers should read official advisory guidance's updated guidance before booking, given the legal context.