HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style
    Travel >> Holiday Travel >  >> Travel Notes

Vibrant First Impressions of Senegal: A Award-Winning Photographer's Dakar Journey

Vibrant First Impressions of Senegal: A Award-Winning Photographer s Dakar Journey

On a recent trip to Senegal, Panamanian photographer and Fathom 24 Best Travel Photographer 2016 Sofia Verzbolovskis captured the bright colors, unique architecture, and friendly faces of Dakar.

DAKAR, Senegal – It had been seven years. The last time I was in West Africa, it was 2009 and I had spent a couple months in Ghana. I went with a non-profit organization that my boyfriend works for, called Le Korsa — it supports institutions and individuals working in the fields of agriculture, education, healthcare, and the arts. We stayed in Dakar for a few days, so I had a chance to explore the city. I went to Gorée Island, Ngor, and walked around the streets and markets. I was immediately fascinated by the city and felt right at home. The people are absolutely incredible — generous, warm, and inviting. The vibrant colors and patterns, the smells of fish and the ocean, the calls to prayer five times a day, the congested traffic, and everything in between form a beautiful, cacophonous city.

After a couple of days, we traveled to Tambacounda, a region southeast of Dakar. I spent time photographing the Sinthian community for Le Korsa. Although faced with a complete language barrier (they don't speak any French and I don't speak a word of Pulaar), it didn't matter at all. We connected immediately.

These photos capture my first impressions of Senegal — what caught my eye, my daily experiences, my walks, and the amazing people I came across.

SEE MORE OF SOFIA'S WORK

Portfolio  
Instagram 

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Namibia Called. She's Ready for Her Close-Up
Unearthing a Gem: Tunis, Tunisia
A Piece of Paradise on Africa's Northern Coast


Travel Notes
  • -

    Hello and welcome to our inaugural blog post! Were dedicated to keeping you connected to the Outer Banks year-round with exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and introductions to the vibrant locals of the OBX. Our seasoned experts—the OBXperts—deliver firsthand accounts and insider knowledge to transport you to this unique coastline. As the true heartbeat of the Outer Banks, they share captivating stories of our rich history and the elemental rhythm of life on the sandbar. Wind, water, and sand—

  • Discovering Nantucket: A First-Timer s Solo Weekend Adventure

    Becky Cheang, Fathoms gregarious intern extraordinaire, decided to spend a weekend alone on the sleepy island of Nantucket. So what happened? She talked to strangers, took gorgeous pictures, and broke into at least one church. Heres the album.NANTUCKET – Growing up in Singapore, I only heard Nantucket mentioned twice — once, in a limerick about the man who kept all his cash in a bucket. Then again in Moby Dick, which I

  • Top 5 Must-Do Experiences in Senegal

    1. See African art The Senegal capital of Dakar (Shutterstock) The capital of Dakar juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, marking the most western point in Africa. Théodore Monod Museum of African Art, in the south of the city, displays 9,000 exhibits across two buildings. The oldest, built in the 1930s, is dedicated to ancient African art, such as masks, traditional dress, drums and agricultu