Ngazobil (also called Ngasobil) is a village in Senegal, located on the Petite Côte, south of Dakar.

History

Since the 19th century, Ngazobil has housed a Catholic mission, one of the oldest in Senegal, established by François Libermann of Saverne, founder of the Congregation of The Holy Spirit. Louis-Philippe Walter stayed there in 1867. It was also in Ngazobil that future president Léopold Sédar Senghor did his schooling until 1922. Hyacinthe Thiandoum was trained there as well. Saint-Joseph Seminary was classified as a historical monument in 2003. Ngazobil is now a common site for pilgrimages.

Administration

Ngazobil is located in M'bour, Thiès.

Geography

The nearest towns are Pointe-Sarène, Ponto, Mbodiène, Joal-Fadiouth, Palmarin, and Djifer. The scenery of the village includes a limestone cliff, a sandy beach, and a 500-hectare forest park. The park shelters many animals, including guineafowl, partridges, boas, monitor lizards, monkeys, hedgehogs, porcupines, jackals, and hares. The Catholic mission itself owns a beach lined with coconut palm trees where some come to fish.