Major city · Senegal
Tambacounda
One night as a stopover between Dakar and Niokolo-Koba or Casamance; not a destination on its own.
Tambacounda is the transport hub of southeastern Senegal, 400 km from Dakar, and the gateway to Niokolo-Koba National Park. The town itself has a market, a craft village and a historic railway station, but most travellers pass through for one night. The heat is intense, especially March–June, and tourism infrastructure is basic.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- XOF
- Best months
- November–February
- avoid March–June (extreme heat), July–October (rainy season)
- Airport
- TUD
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- West Africa ↗Carry an original yellow fever vaccination certificate on any West African trip: several countries on the coast road demand it of every arrival, and the rest demand it after you have passed through a neighbour.
- West Africa ↗Cross land borders and drive between cities in daylight only; plan each crossing as a full travel day with cash for fees and passport copies for checkpoints.
- Senegal ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Senegalese government sources before booking.
- Senegal ↗Dress modestly in towns and at religious sites: shoulders and knees covered.
- Senegal ↗Check your government's advice before travelling to parts of the Casamance region in the south.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Tambacounda17 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tambacounda, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF), shared with seven other West African states and pegged to the euro (655.957 XOF = €1 (≈ US$2)).Senegal-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Free and Expresso sell SIMs at the airport and shops; passport registration required.Senegal-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap for visitors.Senegal-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% where no service is added.Senegal-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/E/K. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Senegal-wide
- SafetyTambacounda is generally safe, but petty theft can occur in the market.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; squat toilets and buckets on the road.Senegal-wide
- Emergency numbers17 police · 18 fire · 1515 SAMU (ambulance) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday lunchtime prayers slow business; Tabaski, Korité and the Magal close most shops; many coastal lodges close Jul–Oct.Senegal-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckTUD Tambacounda Airport (No commercial flights (check)).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable; taxis-ville (shared) cost about 500–1,000 XOF for a ride.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (Nescafé or local)XOF 500–1,000
- BeerBeer (Flag or Gazelle)XOF 1,000–1,500
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within townXOF 500–1,000
- Budget bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomXOF 10,000
- Mid-range bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomXOF 15,000
- High-end bedBasic guesthouse room, a night, per roomXOF 25,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget XOF 20,000 · Mid XOF 35,000 · High XOF 50,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TUD Tambacounda Airport (No commercial flights (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Feb
Best
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Mar
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Apr
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
May
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Jun
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Nov
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Dec
Best
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)), coolest Jan (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Aug (12 rain days), driest Jan (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Tambacounda: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
Feb
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Mar
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Apr
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
May
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
2 rd
Jun
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
6 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Oct
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
4 rd
Nov
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Dec
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable; taxis-ville (shared) cost about 500–1,000 XOF for a ride. For Niokolo-Koba you need a private car or a tour vehicle.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Niokolo-Koba National Park
goDoor to door: About 2 h round trip to the nearest gate
Private car or tour vehicle, about 1 h to the park entrance
A full-day trip; best November–May. Bring water and food.
Kédougou
overnightDoor to door: About 4–5 h
Bus or sept-place, about 3–4 h
Too far for a day trip; spend 2–3 nights in Kédougou.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the N1 highway (Dakar direction)
Main hotels like Le Relais are here; a short taxi ride from the centre.
Town centre
Basic guesthouses near the market and station; noisier but walkable.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- XOF 15,000–25,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- XOF 25,000–40,000 excl. bed
- High
- XOF 40,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel room with AC (e.g. Le Relais)1 × 1 night × XOF 35,000 | XOF 35,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × XOF 35,000 | XOF 70,000 |
| Sept-place from Dakar to Tambacounda2 × XOF 10,000 · check | XOF 20,000 |
| Taxi from Tambacounda to Niokolo-Koba entrance1 × XOF 30,000 · check | XOF 30,000 |
| Meal at a local restaurant2 × XOF 5,000 | XOF 10,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | XOF 16,500 |
| Trip total≈ XOF 90,800 per person per day, bed included | XOF 181,500 |
2026 estimate in XOF; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (Nescafé or local) | XOF 500–1,000 |
| Thieboudienne (rice and fish) | XOF 2,000–4,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | XOF 500–1,000 |
| Beer (Flag or Gazelle) | XOF 1,000–1,500 |
| Taxi ride within town | XOF 500–1,000 |
| Sept-place to Kédougou | XOF 7,000–10,000 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Heat: carry water and a hat; the sun is brutal from 11:00–16:00.Heat: carry water and a hat; the sun is brutal from 11:00 AM–4:00 PM.
- Mosquitoes: present year-round, worse in the rainy season; sleep under a net.
- Last buses to Dakar and Kédougou leave by mid-afternoon; confirm departure times locally.
- The airport has no scheduled flights; do not plan to fly in or out.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
- SAMU (ambulance)
- 1515
Pocket card
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TambacoundaTambacounda
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police17
- Fire18
- SAMU (ambulance)1515
Embassy
Most embassies are in Dakar; there is no consulate in Tambacounda.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Dakar → Tambacounda by sept-place: about XOF 10,000, about 6 h (check)
- Tambacounda → Niokolo-Koba entrance: about XOF 30,000 by taxi, about 1 h (check)
- Tambacounda → Kédougou by sept-place: about XOF 8,000, about 3–4 h (check)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bohn-zhoor)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-see)
- Combien ? — How much? (kohm-byen)
- Je ne comprends pas — I don't understand (zhuh nuh kohm-prahn pah)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo sohn lay twah-let)
- Au secours ! — Help! (oh suh-koor)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tambacounda. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: November–February · avoid March–June (extreme heat), July–October (rainy season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Niokolo-Koba National Park, the railway station and the market.
- Eat pages with last orders for the main restaurants.
- Verified transfer times to Kédougou and Bakel.
Sources
Ask about Tambacounda
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