Senegal — Currency & Money

The West African CFA franc (XOF) is pegged to the euro at 655.957. Cash still dominates daily life, but mobile money — Wave and Orange Money — is ubiquitous in Dakar and increasingly accepted by taxis and small vendors. ATMs are reliable in Dakar and Saly, thinner on the ground in Casamance; cards work at upscale hotels and restaurants only.

Tipping is modest: round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% at better restaurants, and small notes for hotel staff. Watch for the standard note-switch move when paying taxis at night — state the denomination as you hand it over.