Tambacounda

Tambacounda is a city in the Tambacounda Region of southeastern Senegal. It is the main transport hub for Basse Casamance, Guinea and Mali. Tourism is not very developed, but Tambacounda is often a stopover town for travellers going to the Niokolo-Koba National Park. The city does have a few points of interest, such as the Central Market, the Quartier Dépôt or the Craft Village.

Understand

The city developed from a Mandinka encampment that was part of the kingdom of Boundou.

The Tambacounda region is famous for its rich djembe and dance culture and heritage. Some of the greatest djembe masters from Segu, Mali came to Tambacounda in the mid 1900s, bringing with them their history, knowledge, and secrets of the djembe.

The climate is of the Sahelian type and the heat can sometimes be overwhelming. The area has two seasons: the rainy season from June to October, characterized by heat, humidity and storms, and the sweltering, rainless dry season from November to May.

Get in

Tambacounda is 400 km southeast of Dakar.

The bus from the Malian border at Kidira takes three hours.

The city is on the line of the railway from Dakar to Niger and the national roads N1 and N7. It is also an important crossing point between Dakar and Casamance bypassing Gambia.

Tambacounda Airport (TUD ^IATA). The town's airport does not appear to be served by commercial flights. (updated May 2023)

Get around

See

The iron-framed railway station, the Hôtel de la Gare, and the building of the prefecture were registered on the list of Historic Monuments.

Do

Niokolo-Koba National Park is nearly.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Le Relais (Slightly out of town, direction Dakar), ☏ +221 339811000. Nice hotel with AC rooms set around a large swimming pool. Good restaurant and bar, very friendly service. Single rooms CFA 25,000 ($50) including a decent breakfast. Free internet access in all rooms.
Chez Dessert, 42 ave Senghor, ☏ +221 9811642. a long time budget place to stay. rooms with fans. CFA6000. (updated Jun 2015)

Go next

Niokolo-Koba – a UNESCO World Heritage site

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