The central market at Saly is the best place to shop for souvenirs and to experience something closer to everyday Senegalese life than the resort strip provides. Wooden carvings, leather goods, fabrics, and Wolof jewellery fill the stalls, and vendors are eager to bargain. Patience and a sense of humour will get you a better price than any fixed offer.
The market is busiest in the morning and calms down in the heat of the afternoon. Textile stalls stock printed wax fabrics in the bold West African patterns that make good, lightweight gifts. The craft section is largely aimed at tourists, but a walk through the food stalls at the back of the market gives a more honest picture of what people in the area actually eat and buy.