Hunting in Senegal is more than just a pursuit; it’s an immersion into an extraordinary world of natural beauty, cultural richness, and ancient legends.
This West African gem offers hunters not only a diverse array of game but also an opportunity to experience the deep connection between the land, its people, and its myths.
One of Senegal’s most famous legends tells the story of the Mother of the World. After creating mankind and filling the Earth with its wonders, she noticed that some regions were less lush and vibrant, with Africa being particularly sparse in greenery. To remedy this, she took a handful of trees from her basket and cast them down to the barren earth. However, in her haste, the trees landed upside-down, with their roots reaching skyward. Thus, the iconic baobabs—known as the “upside-down trees”—came to define the Senegalese landscape.
This enchanting story is just a glimpse into the magic of Senegal. For hunters, it is a land of unparalleled adventure, where the savannah, wetlands, and wooded landscapes teem with wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
The Unique Beauty of Hunting in Senegal
A Landscape Like No Other
Senegal’s diverse geography makes it a haven for hunting enthusiasts. The flat plains of the Sahel blend seamlessly with expansive savannahs and wetlands, creating a variety of habitats that attract numerous species of game. Towering baobabs stand sentinel across the land, their silhouettes a reminder of the country’s ancient heritage.
Hunting in Senegal means traversing open fields dotted with acacias, navigating through dense wooded areas, or quietly stalking game along the riverbanks of the Saloum Delta. Each terrain presents its own challenges and rewards, offering a dynamic and exhilarating hunting experience.
An Abundance of Wildlife
Senegal is renowned for its rich biodiversity, and its game populations reflect this abundance. Hunters can encounter species such as:
- Francolins and guinea fowl, whose quick movements and sharp instincts provide an exciting challenge.
- Ducks, found in the country’s wetlands during their migratory season, offering waterfowl enthusiasts thrilling opportunities.
- Savannah game like warthogs and antelopes, which roam the open plains and wooded areas, demanding patience and precision.
- Sandgrouse, whose sudden flights test the reflexes of even the most experienced hunters.
The country’s government works in collaboration with hunting operators to maintain sustainable practices, ensuring that game populations remain healthy and hunting opportunities continue to thrive.
The Magic of Senegal’s Baobabs
No visit to Senegal is complete without experiencing its iconic baobabs, which are much more than just trees. Known as the “trees of life,” they symbolize resilience and survival in a land where the elements can be harsh. With trunks that can grow up to 25 meters in circumference and live for thousands of years, baobabs are as much a part of Senegalese identity as the wildlife itself.
These majestic trees often serve as natural landmarks during hunts, guiding you through the vast landscapes. In Senegalese culture, baobabs are revered, often associated with myths and spiritual significance. Hunters frequently pause beneath their shade, reflecting on the balance between human activity and nature’s generosity.
Cultural Encounters in the Land of Legends
Hunting in Senegal is not just about the pursuit of game—it’s also an opportunity to connect with the vibrant culture and warm hospitality of its people. The Wolof, Serer, and other ethnic groups who call Senegal home are deeply connected to their land and traditions. Visitors often find themselves welcomed into local villages, where stories are shared over traditional meals, and the rhythmic beats of Senegalese music echo into the night.
Exploring Senegalese culture adds depth to the hunting experience. From sampling local dishes like thiéboudienne (a flavorful fish and rice dish) to learning about traditional hunting methods passed down through generations, every moment enriches the journey.
Why Choose Senegal for Hunting?
Senegal provides an unparalleled hunting experience thanks to its diverse terrains and abundant game species, offering hunts that are unique and adaptable to different skill levels and preferences. Beyond the thrill of the hunt, Senegal invites visitors to immerse themselves in its rich cultural tapestry, blending the pursuit of game with the exploration of local traditions and way of life. This combination transforms hunting into a holistic adventure that goes beyond sport.
Moreover, Senegal is committed to sustainability and conservation, emphasizing responsible hunting practices that ensure wildlife populations remain stable and protected for future generations. For international hunters, the country’s proximity to Europe and its well-developed hospitality infrastructure make it an easily accessible and comfortable destination, perfectly suited to creating an unforgettable experience.
Preparing for Your Adventure
Before embarking on a hunting trip to Senegal, it’s essential to prepare for the unique environment:
- Gear Up for the Climate: The dry season offers the best hunting opportunities, but the heat can be intense. Lightweight, breathable clothing and sun protection are must-haves.
- Firearm Logistics: Ensure that all necessary permits are in place for bringing your firearm into Senegal. Alternatively, check with your hunting lodge for firearm rental options.
- Vaccinations and Health Precautions: Consult a travel clinic for recommended vaccinations and tips on staying healthy in the tropics.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Familiarize yourself with local customs and traditions to ensure a respectful and enriching experience.
Making Memories in Senegal
As the sun sets over the Senegalese savannah, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, you’ll find yourself immersed in a moment of pure magic. The calls of francolins echo in the distance, the silhouette of a baobab stands tall against the horizon, and the satisfaction of a day well spent settles over you.
Hunting in Senegal isn’t just about the game—it’s about the connection to a land of legends, the camaraderie of fellow hunters, and the stories you’ll carry home. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or new to the sport, Senegal promises an experience that will leave you longing to return.
So, why wait? Begin your journey to this remarkable land, where adventure, culture, and nature converge in perfect harmony.
Luca’s hunting trip to Senegal awakened his great spirit of adventure
“After a few hours of flight from Italy, you arrive in Dakar. Located on the Cape Verde Peninsula, it brings to life distant moments in time with its colonial air and the vestiges of the French presence: the beautiful building of the chamber of commerce, the railway station, the “deco” buildings, and the tree-lined boulevards that once must have been orderly.
I know well that it could be something better (not much actually) but I always choose the Hotel Lagoon 2 because it overlooks the sea right in front of the island of Gorée, the island of slaves, just two kilometers from the coast with its narrow streets, a small fortress and the famous “Maison des eclaves”, the house of the slaves, on whose stairs some millions of unfortunates sold as workforce in the various colonies passed.
Next to the hotel, always overlooking the ocean, there is the Lagoon 1 restaurant, famous for its fish dishes to be served with excellent French wines.
At seven the off-road vehicle that will take us to Kedougou arrives, on the border with Guinea, on the Gambia River, where our friend Djibril Dioum is waiting for us in his reserve of 100,000 hectares bordering the Niokolo Koba National Park.
You could take a small airliner from the capital to Tambacunda, just to shorten the journey by car, but we prefer the four wheels to the wings of the local airline …
Late at night, after a stop in Kaolak for a decent pizza, we arrive at the camp where a sleepy yet festive Djibril welcomes us: “Demain on vapartir a six heures”!
The next morning, the expanses of tall yellow grass welcome us in unbearable heat as early as six in the morning, but the first flights of “double spoor francolin” make us digest even the high temperature.
After the first settling pans, we begin to enter the day and embody a few dozen of these incredible flyers. A couple of rare rock partridges – poule de roches – little bigger than a quail also fall.
After lunch and a rest comforted by the air conditioning of the cottage, we leave for the lake that will be the scene of waiting for the turtledoves and the “ganga” (sand grouse).
As soon as I arrive, I am the actor of a singular experience that will remain alive in the backpack of memories: I am attacked by a huge python, more than four meters long, which hurls itself towards me, blowing and showing its teeth with its mouth wide open.
Thanks to a certain habit of charging an animal, I do not lose heart and let my 12-gauge over-under thunder which sends the number 8 pellets into the monster’s jaws, knocking it down.
The “legitimate defense” witnessed by the park ranger prevented me from incurring penalties since the python is a protected animal.
Arriving at the lake, a huge flock of turtle doves at the water makes us burn a considerable number of cartridges between sensational errors (you know, the very fast flight of the pigeons contemplates them and excellent shots, until the moment in which the “ganga” become masters of the sky and replace the “streptopelia“.
Their smoother and regular flight allows us to make fewer mistakes and to obtain an excellent game bag.
Another couple of days of bird hunting, then off to the “grand gibier” area where hundreds of warthogs compete for territory with ” leguibeharnachè” (harnessed bushbuck), the roan, which here they call koba, the buffalo of savannah, smaller than the Cape one but just as aggressive, the red hartebeest (bubal) and the small duikers typical of West Africa.
It will be here that I will be able to obtain “le grand pére de tous le phaco” as my “pisteur” defined the old warthog conquered with a nice action on the track.
We follow the numerous tracks of warthogs, Madì, the tracker, in front and I just behind.
Suddenly my guide stops and points to a herd of pigs, females and some young swine, which I do not pay attention to with a certain disappointment of the tracker.
Madì accept this and continues the search until he stiffens and whispers: “a big boy over there …”
I see it a hundred meters away, a gray spot that stands out on the ocher earth dried by the sun: it is snuffling and not aware of our presence.
I lean on the stick prepared for me by the pisteur early in the morning after having remove bark from a small tree and I let go of the shot of 378.
A dust cloud and high-pitched screams make me understand that I have hit the target, which however I see fleeing towards the thick bush… That was not so great.
We reach the place where the warthog was hit and some traces of blood show us the direction taken by the wounded. After a few hundred meters I see the animal crouched under a bush. I check the wind and get closer.
The grandfather of all warthogs starts again and from a short distance, I hit him with the 270-grain bullet: the first shot had hit him in the back, but it was enough to slow his escape.
At the weight it will be one hundred kilograms, a real monster for the species, and its fangs are now showing off in my memory room.
At the meeting point, where friends have also unloaded their prey, we cool off with the excellent “Gazelle” beer, amidst the tales of hunting and laughter.
Every evening, when the hunt was over, before returning to the camp, it was compulsory to go to the forestry offices to have the yellow hunting license stamped.
A wonderful experience of mixed hunting, with feathers and big game, in a magnificent setting even if warm (35/40 degrees), watched over by the baobabs with their welcoming, long arms and warmly welcomed by the population.
The last hug to Djibril (who would come to visit us in Italy a few years later) before departure, a last lap in Dakar with a soundtrack by Youssou N ‘Dour, and a goodbye to the horrible monument to African rebirth in the Al Madies neighborhood. A bientôt Senegal! “
Senegal is the ideal place to experience an exciting mixed hunting experience, thanks to the very rich wildlife that pushes hunters beyond their limits and fascinates them thanks to the spirit of adventure that characterizes it!
Montefeltro Staff, Luca Bogarelli
“Luca Bogarelli loves hunting and nature, experiencing both in a comprehensive manner. Adding to this, his passion for travel has led him over the years to explore places, people, and unique wildlife around the world.
A self-described ‘traveler with a rifle’, Luca has gathered hunting experiences across nearly the entire African continent, as well as in Asia, America, and Europe, in all the countries of hunting interest.”
