Senegal Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 15
Home Country: senegal
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:54 am Post subject: SHOPPING IN SENEGAL / SENEGAL SHOPPING GUIDE |
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SHOPPING IN SENEGAL
Visitors to Senegal must go to some of the many colourful markets. They are abundant with a range of bargins from food to handmade crafts and electronics. Most markets and centres sell traditional fabric, embroidery and costume, pottery, necklaces of clay beads and costume jewellery of wood or various seeds. At Soumbe-dionne, on the Corniche de Fann, is a craft village where the visitor can watch craftspeople at work and buy their handicrafts. Purchases include woodcarving in the form of African gaming boards, masks and statues; musical instruments; and metalwork, including copper pendants, bowls and statuettes.
Shopping hours
Generally Mon-Sat 0830-1230 and 1530-1930. Some shops open Sunday morning, others are closed Monday.
Banking hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1430-1600.
Currency
CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (XOF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XOF10,000, 5000, 2000 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of XOF500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Senegal is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.
Credit & debit cards
American Express is the most widely accepted, although Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa have limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Commissions are added for the use of credit cards. There are ATMs in Dakar.
Traveller's cheques
Traveller's cheques are easy to cash in Dakar. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take them in Euros.
Currency restrictions
Import of local currency is unlimited; import of foreign currency is unlimited but subject to declaration. Export of local currency is restricted to XOF20,000. Export of foreign currency is limited to XOF50,000; for amounts exceeding this, the declaration issued on arrival must be presented. |
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