Health
Reference info only. Senegal is low-altitude; heat, sun and dehydration are bigger practical issues than altitude. Use safe food/water habits, avoid untreated freshwater because of schistosomiasis risk, and prevent insect bites: malaria occurs countrywide, and dengue, chikungunya, Zika and other bite-borne illnesses are reported. Heat and dust/harmattan can irritate breathing.
Vaccinations
Consult a doctor or travel clinic at least a month before travel. Be current on routine vaccines such as MMR, polio, Tdap, flu, COVID-19 and varicella. CDC lists hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid as recommended for many travelers; yellow fever vaccine is recommended for travelers aged 9 months or older. Senegal requires a yellow-fever certificate if arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country, including long transits over 12 hours; direct U.S. arrivals are not required by entry rules. Ask about meningococcal vaccine for dry-season travel in meningitis-belt areas, rabies risk, and malaria prevention medicine.
eSIM / connectivity
Connectivity is good in Dakar and main towns, thinner in rural parks and Casamance interiors. Main mobile networks are Orange/Sonatel, Yas Senegal (formerly Free/Tigo) and Expresso. Local prepaid SIMs are common and usually require ID registration. eSIM is usable through international travel eSIM providers, including Orange Travel-style regional offers, but local carrier eSIM tourist plans are not consistently advertised; confirm device compatibility before relying on eSIM only.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-20).