President Bush's visit to Senegal today has got me thinking about going there at some point in the future. I gather that it is a relatively stabel country. Has anyone ever been there? What is there to do in Dakar for tourists? Is it safe? How are the hotels? How does one get there from the USA if Air Force One is not an option?

Thanks!

bump.

Thinking of stopping here on the way to JNB. Any advice would be appreciated.

We were looking at going here last December, but had to cancel.

Some of the main tourist sites:
Ile de Goree (slave museum)
Lac Rose (featured in the Amazing Race last year)
St. Louis (old colonial capital)
Djoudj national park (near St. Louis)

St. Louis is 3-4 hr taxi/bus ride each way from Dakar, so staying overnight or a few days is worthwhile

www.au-senegal.com has good tourist info

we spent a week in dakar a few years back and had a good time. we found a cheap rate at a really nice hotel (forget the name, but it was near the club med), and spent most of the day out exploring. the city is very safe. you can take a mutatu (rickety over-packed mini-bus) to just about anywhere for small change. or a taxi for a bit more.

it's a great town to practice your negotiating skills in the market, and ile de goree is a really moving experience. there's a great music and cultural scene in dakar. the Senegalese people we encountered were all incredibly friendly, though speaking french is a big help. to be clear though, this is not a beach resort town, and you have to be prepared to hustle or be hustled as a general rule.

the interior of the country is meant to be beautiful too.

I've been to Dakar three times now--twice over the past two summers. I go for work, but get a lot of fun time in. Like the others, I'd highly recommend St. Louis. I can't remember the name of the place I stayed there, but it was at the very southwest corner of the island and had large, quiet rooms, a nice restaurant/bar and courtyard pool.

As far as Dakar is concerned, I prefer to stay in the city but not downtown. This past summer I spent a month at the Hotel al Afifa downtown and found all the hustling around the hotel to be really tiring. For shorter stays, though, downtown might be nice given that so many restaurants and sites are within short walking distance. I'd especially recommend IFAN, the museum that focuses on culture and art from throughout the West African region, not just Senegal. Cafe du Rome nearby has wi-fi if you need it.

The other option, which I tend to prefer, is to stay a little past the University in Point E. You still get to be in Dakar rather than being isolated out near Club Med and the airport, but it's quieter and more residential than downtown. I stayed at the Auberge Marie Lucienne (one warning: the history of French colonization is readily apparent in the Parisian size rooms). There are some terrific restaurants and clubs closer to the university, which are only a short taxi-ride away. Just 4 U is a terrific music venue. I saw Cheik Lo there last year.

this is reallly useful info, ispflyer, thanks! do post the name of your hotel in st. louis if you think of it. this makes me want to return, especially if there were a chance to see cheikh lo live!

bump.

also considering a stopover in Dakar while enroute to JNB. Is the hustling a showstopper? We like the idea of being able to see a new country even for just a day.

Are there guides or anything like that? Where to stay if staying for just a day?

Is the hustling a showstopper?
no not at all... but i suppose it depends on your personality. basically, there's always room to bargain on most transactions, e.g. shopping, catching a taxi, etc. but i never felt harassed. it's far less fatiguing than other developing countries i've visited. regardless, it certainly doesn't warrant skipping out on a wonderful opportunity to visit an unfamiliar part of the world, but that's just my opinion.

no not at all... but i suppose it depends on your personality. basically, there's always room to bargain on most transactions, e.g. shopping, catching a taxi, etc. but i never felt harassed. it's far less fatiguing than other developing countries i've visited. regardless, it certainly doesn't warrant skipping out on a wonderful opportunity to visit an unfamiliar part of the world, but that's just my opinion.

I studied abroad in Dakar from Jan to May of this year and lived with a host family. If anyone has any questions about Dakar, send them my way.