# Rao Arrondissement, Saint Louis Department, Saint-Louis Region > Source: https://wherepedia.org/senegal/saint-louis/saint-louis/rao/ Arrondissement · Saint Louis Department # Rao Rao is an arrondissement of Senegal in Saint Louis Department, Saint-Louis Region. It covers **800.6 km²**. 220 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 412 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 801km² - 412mapped services - 8 mtypical elevation ## Where is Rao? Rao lies in [Saint Louis Department](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/saint-louis/saint-louis/), [Saint-Louis Region](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/saint-louis/), [Senegal](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/). It borders 3 other arrondissements: [Keur Momar Sarr](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/louga/louga/keur-momar-sarr/), [Ndiaye Ngènt](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/saint-louis/dagana/ndiaye-ngent/) and [Sakal](https://wherepedia.org/senegal/louga/louga/sakal/). By area it is the 68th largest of 124 arrondissements in Senegal. The centre of Rao is about 186 km in a straight line from Dakar, the capital. It is about 17 km from Saint-Louis, the main town of Saint Louis Department. The centre point is at 15.9837° N, 16.3338° W. Source: [Government of Senegal, 2009 (updated by OCHA/ROWCA) 04 august 2018 via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-sen). ## Things to see in and around Rao OpenStreetMap lists 14 named sights in Rao: 4 museums; 3 memorials; 2 viewpoints; 2 nature reserves; 1 attraction; 1 monument; 1 gallery. - IFAN · museum - Musée de l'Aéropostale Jean Mermoz · museum - Musée de la Photographie · museum - musée CRDS ex IFAN · museum - Bureau du Parc de la Langue de Barbarie · nature reserve - Réserve spéciale de faune de Guembeul · nature reserve - Littoral du Gandiolais · viewpoint - Port de pêche · viewpoint - Centre Culturel Le Chateau · attraction - Chez Gaël · gallery - Entrée de la Réserve Spéciale de Faune de Gueumbeul · monument - La Grue à vapeur de vingt tonnes · memorial - Monument aux morts · memorial - Pacôme · memorial Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Rao - Time zoneUTC+0, no daylight saving · Africa/Dakar - CurrencyFranc (XOF) - Country calling code+221 - LanguagesFrench, Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka - Plug typesType C, E, K · 230 V - Driving sideRight - Postcode format5 digits (#####) ### Nearest airports - Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) · Dakar166 km - Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport (NKC) · Nouakchott262 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Jun (about 13.1 hours, sunrise around 06:33) and shortest in Dec (about 11.2 hours, sunrise around 07:24, sunset around 18:35). Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Rao Open gazetteers list **220 villages, towns and localities** in Rao. The largest with a recorded population: Saint-Louis (254,171) and Pal (8,133). Settlements here lie between about 0 m and 26 m above sea level (median 8 m). - Balacos - Bas N’Dar Toute - Baïti Dièye - Bekhare - Beysous - Bidiam - Birane Gaye - Bop Thior - Bop Tior - Boudiouck - Bountou Ndour - Boyti - Cité S.A.E.D. - Cité Vauvert - Corniche - Dakar-Bango - Dakhar-Bango - Darou - Darou Mboumbaye - Darou Mbumbaye - Diama Thiaguel - Diama Toubé - Diamaguene - Diaminar - Diassap - Diawlingé - Dieuleuk - Dieulé Mbam - Diougop - Diougop Peul - Diouk - Doun - Eau Claire - Fal Dioung - Fas Dièye - Fass - Fass Ngom - Gandon - Gantour - Gati-Tèf - Gokh Mbath - Gonio - Gouye Rene - Gouye Rène - Gouye Touré - Goxumbaac - Guembeul - Guet Ndar - Gueumbeul - Gueumbeung - Guèthie - Guéngué - Hydrobase - Iba Bala - Iba Balla - Kalassane - Keur Amadou Ndiaye - Keur Bara - Keur Barka - Keur Bernard - Keur G. Diagne - Keur Martin - Keur Modou Ndiaye - Keur Saidou Sow - Keur Seya - Khar Yallah - Khatali I - Khatet Gaye - Khati 1 - Khelkom Diaw - Khelkom Diop - Khetèt Gaye - Khor - Khor Cabane - Khor Usine - Khélkom Diop - Lampsar - Leybar Boye - Leïbar - Léona - Maka - MakaToubé - Makhana - Massar - Mbakhana - Mbakhas - Mbakhas wolof - Mbambara - Mbarak - Mbarigo - Mbatias Dièye - Mbaye Mbaye - Mbaye Mbaye Ouolof - Mbaye Mbaye Peul - Mbaye Mbaye Tout - Mbaye Mbaye Wolof - Mbindi - Mboulouk - Mboundi - Mboye - Menguègne Boye - Menguègne Peul - Menguèye - Mouit - Mpal - Médina - Médina Mbaye - Mérina Bara - Mérina Sal - Ndakhar - Ndakhar Peul - Ndar Tout - Ndar Toute - Ndebene Gandiole - Ndeuguèt - Ndiakher - Ndiakhere - Ndiakhip 1 - Ndiakhip 2 - Ndiakhip I - Ndiakhip II - Ndialakhar - Ndialakhar Peulh - Ndiallakhar Peul - Ndiallakhar Wolof - Ndiallakhâr Peul - Ndiaossir Dièye - Ndiaoudoun - Ndiawdoun - Ndieulé Mbam - Ndiobène - Ndiobène Takhmbeut - Ndiobène Toubé Peul - Ndiobène Toubé Wolof - Ndiol - Ndioloffène Nord - Ndioloffène Sud - Ndiolofène - Ndiop - Ndioub Nâne Ouolof - Ndioub Nâne Peul - Ndious Dièye - Ndiouss Dièye - Ndiébène Gandiol - Ndiébène Toubé - Ndiédène - Ndoye - Ndoye Ouolof - Ndoye Peul - Ndoye Wolof - Ngaina Lebou - Ngalel - Ngallèle Sud - Ngalléle Nord - Ngaye Ngaye - Ngaïna - Ngaïna Lébou - Nguelakh Wolof - Nguidiolakh - Nguiguélakh - Nguéthiouro - Niaret - Nord - Pal - Pankèt Sar - Paye - Pelour 1 - Pelour 2 - Pelour I - Pelour II - Pethiely - Pikine - Pikine 3 - Poundioum - Rakhmane - Rakhmane Sal - Rao - Rao Peul - Ricotte - Rikot - Saint-Louis - Sanar - Sanar Peul - Santhiaba - Semel - Sintiou Thirmoye - Sor - Sor-Marméal - Sor-Nord - Sor-Ouest Diowling - Sud - Takhbeut - Takhembeut - Takhmbeut Peul - Tal Baklé - Tal Diop - Tassinère - Teud Biti - Teud Biti Ndogal - Teumb - Tiar Moussé Diop - Tiayère - Tongon - Touba Guène - Toug Ouolof - Toug Peul - Us - Village H - Village L - Village N - Village O - Yade Keur Abou Ba - Yade Ouolof - Yade Peul - Yamane - Yamane Sog - Yassagne - Yokoulène - Île Nord - Île Sud Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright). ## Landscape and landmarks of Rao Named natural and historic features inside Rao, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 4 rivers and streams; 1 lake. - Djeuss - Khant - Lampsar - Senegal River - Sénégal Fleuve ### Coast and islands 6 islands; 3 headlands. - Bop Nquior - Pointe Sud - Pointe aux Chameaux - Île de Babagueye - Île de Diouk - Île de Roup - Île de Safal - Île de Salsal - Île de Sor ### Forests and nature 2 forest reserves; 1 nature reserve; 1 park. - Forêt de Pal - Forêt de Rao - Guembeul Nature Reserve - Parc Nationalde la Langue de Barbarie ### Getting around 1 airport; 1 airfield; 1 bridge. - Pont Faidherbe - Saint Louis Ousmane Masseck Ndiaye - Saint-Louis Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/). Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Rao and the best time to visit Using the climate of Saint Louis Department, the warmest month is Oct (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jan (22 °C). About 380 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Aug (123 mm) and the driest May (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to May**. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Month Average °C Rain mm Jan 22 3 Feb 23 9 Mar 25 38 Apr 25 2 May 27 0 Jun 28 10 Jul 29 65 Aug 29 123 Sep 29 109 Oct 29 20 Nov 27 1 Dec 24 0 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Rao Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital centre de sante de mpal · Rao 9.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.91910&mlon=-16.27027#map=17/15.91910/-16.27027) Bank CNCAS Edk · Rao 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=16.05998&mlon=-16.41653#map=17/16.05998/-16.41653) ATM GAB ECOBANK UFR · Rao 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=16.06216&mlon=-16.42172#map=17/16.06216/-16.42172) Petrol pump Shell · Rao 9.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.91875&mlon=-16.27382#map=17/15.91875/-16.27382) Hotel Hôtel du Bonne Voisinage · Rao 8.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.92278&mlon=-16.38495#map=17/15.92278/-16.38495) Mall Centre Commercial · Rao 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=16.02494&mlon=-16.49605#map=17/16.02494/-16.49605) School École primaire de Keur Amadou Ndiaye · Rao 5.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.93383&mlon=-16.32916#map=17/15.93383/-16.32916) College CEA-MITIC · Rao 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=16.05599&mlon=-16.42658#map=17/16.05599/-16.42658) Police station Poste de Police de l'UGB · Rao 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=16.06051&mlon=-16.42167#map=17/16.06051/-16.42167) Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Rao Places mapped inside Rao in open map data, by type. - Hospitals14 - Banks25 - ATMs1 - Petrol pumps34 - Hotels55 - Shopping malls2 - Schools120 - Colleges and universities30 - Pharmacies41 - Restaurants76 - Police stations12 - Dental clinics2 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Quick answers - Where is Rao?In Saint Louis Department, Saint-Louis Region, Senegal - What borders Rao?Keur Momar Sarr, Ndiaye Ngènt and Sakal - What is there to see in Rao?Bureau du Parc de la Langue de Barbarie, Centre Culturel Le Chateau, Chez Gaël, Entrée de la Réserve Spéciale de Faune de Gueumbeul - What time zone is Rao in?UTC+0 - What currency is used in Rao?Franc (XOF) - What language is spoken in Rao?French, Wolof, Pulaar (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Rao?220 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Rao?Settlements lie between 0 m and 26 m - What is the best time to visit Rao?November to May - Where is the nearest hospital to Rao?centre de sante de mpal, about 9.9 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to Rao?CNCAS Edk, about 12 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to Rao?GAB ECOBANK UFR, about 13 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to Rao?Shell, about 9.7 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in Rao?14 mapped - How many banks are in Rao?25 mapped - How many ATMs are in Rao?1 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Rao?34 mapped - What is the P-code of Rao?SN100301 (OCHA common operational dataset)