The Casamance is known for its lush forest landscapes, valley bordered by palms, and wet rice fields. Casamance is the region located south of the Gambia River and is distinguished from other regions by high seasonal rainfall, a well-developed drainage system, ferralitic soils, and relatively dense and diverse vegetation. It is home to a number of ethnic groups and is separated physically from the rest of Senegal by the Gambia.

Low-lying and scorching, with some hills to the southeast, the wealth of the Casamance relies mostly on rice cultivation and tourism. It also has outstanding beaches along its shoreline, mostly at Cap Skirring.

The Jola are the main ethnic group in the Casamance, though they are economically deprived as a whole in Senegal. Their financial condition has contributed to a pro-independence movement for autonomy of the Casamance. The Casamance Conflict has, at times, led to aggressive confrontations with Senegalese forces and killings for decades at the end of the twentieth century.