What to do in Dakar: A Day Tour
Dakar is an incredible city. There is delicious food, endless history, and plenty of sights to see. I was in Dakar for a work conference (yay, the first since the pandemic!), but I luckily had a day to explore the city and I hope you do too!
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Is Dakar Safe?
Yes! I felt really safe walking by myself in Dakar while staying in the Les Almadies neighborhood during my week-long work trip. I walked out to the main street for visiting the grocery store and shops, as well as toward ocean-view restaurants. While walking, I had my phone out to look up directions and felt that no one was going to rob me of it (a very different experience than in Joburg). Additionally, no random people came up and tried to talk to me to get me to buy something on the normal roads.
Of course, you should exercise caution in crowds and keep your valuables close at markets.
Should you go on a guided tour of Dakar?
If you’re limited on time and you don’t speak French well, I highly recommend a tour with Go 4 Senegal. Omar, who runs Go 4 Senegal, is easily Senegal’s leading English tour guide. At each location we went to, someone would tell me I was with the best tour guide in the city.
Omar has been a guide for over 20 years. He knows the ins and outs of the city and its people. How does this help? Well, first you get all the info you need to know about Dakar and more. And secondly, you’ll likely skip over lines and get some special treatment at entrances because Omar knows the guards and ticketing agents.
Additionally, getting around Dakar with a private car is much easier than trying to negotiate each destination’s fare with a taxi driver.
I found Go 4 Senegal, which also goes by Senegal Odyssey Tours, through Viator/Trip Advisor and booked my tour through Viator, a Trip Advisor company. I use their services frequently and trust them. Additionally, I like that you can choose to do a “pay later” option in many cases. Book your tour here. I paid USD 160 for this private tour.
Tours? No, thanks, I want to go around by myself.
That’s okay! I don’t usually go on tours either, but I didn’t want to argue in French with taxi drivers all day and carry a lot of cash for activities. I also wanted to see everything in just one day because that is all the time I had.
To get around the city, you could ask your hotel or host for a driver recommendation for the day and get a set rate. Visit the stops below at your own pace.
The Dakar Day Tour with Go 4 Senegal
The Go 4 Senegal tour is all-inclusive. Your ride (pick up through drop off), entry fees, and lunch are included. I really liked this because I didn’t need to carry a lot of cash with me.
Omar is the best English-speaking guide in Dakar (and probably Senegal), which makes Go 4 Senegal a perfect option for those who want a personalized and private tour experience of the city. He knows exactly what to do in Dakar. You can let Omar know in advance about what sites off the beaten path you want to do.
It’s a wonderful way to see Dakar and learn about its history, culture, and people. You see everything from beautiful beaches to markets, museums, and mosques. I highly recommend Go 4 Senegal if you’re looking for a quality day trip experience in Dakar!
The beach is a popular spot for people to run, workout, and play soccer!
The tour starts with you being picked up in Omar’s car at your hotel or Airbnb. Omar takes you around the city to see all the major sites. Depending on how many people you book for, you may get a driver and a larger car.
African Renaissance Monument
My first stop on the tour was the African Renaissance Monument. It was designed by the Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby after an idea presented by then-President Abdoulaye Wade. Omar will tell you that the statue points to a glorious future in the Americas… It seems unusual to build a statue telling people that they should immigrate.
The African Renaissance Monument is the largest statue in Africa. Construction prep-work began in 2006 and it was completed in 2010 on Senegal’s “National Day” on April 4 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence from France.
The 49 m (161 ft) tall bronze statue is situated on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles. It was built by Mansudae Overseas Projects, a company from North Korea. The statue stands 15 stories high and you can get a panoramic view of the city at the top. Tickets cost 6,000fcfc. I didn’t think this was necessary to do.
Controversy
Although iconic, the statue is quite controversial. It costs USD 25 million to build. In a country that is 47% below the poverty line, many continue to think that the monument is a waste of money. On the tour, you’ll find out how the government paid the North Korean company when they ran out of funds…
Oddly enough, the president at the time also claimed intellectual property rights on the statue and demanded that 30% of all revenue from the monument go into his personal purse. It even worked for a while…
Additionally, in a country that is majority Muslim, the scantily clad man and woman aren’t appreciated either.
The Dakar University
Next up, I visited the university. This was a drive-by sort of stop. We drove around the university while Omar shared its history.
I learned that public university education is free here (yay) but that students must wait 2 years after high school to get off the waiting list (boo). Unemployment is 40% and most of the country is under the age of 35. However, literacy in the country is also only 50%. Unfortunately, many students don’t see the point of going to high school and others drop out of college frequently because they don’t see how education will get them a job due to the high unemployment.
Fish Market & Souvenir Market
We continued our journey to Dakar’s largest fish market. At 11am though, it was calm as the fishermen were all out at sea. It gave me the perfect opportunity to take some boat photos. Worth noting, Omar is an excellent photographer!
Right by the Fish Market is a souvenir market for Senegalese (and other African) items. Bargain for everything! I liked that the market was crowded and that the stall owners didn’t do too much of the classic “come here/see my shop” etc. I bought a dress, a hat, a fanny pack, and some sandals. Honestly, I could have bought so much more but I was trying to keep myself in check! Many of the items were unique to Senegal, rather than being the generic wooden and sandstone animals that you may be used to if you’ve traveled around Africa a lot. I spent about 30,000fcfa at the market. A dress may cost you around 15,000fca and wooden artifacts can cost around 10,000cfc.
Drive-by stops
These were some of the stops that we drove by. It’s hard to fit everything in one day. If you’re interested in going inside, Omar can arrange this for you, but you may have to compromise on something else.
The Mosque of the Divinity
To get this view you literally must stop on edge of a traffic circle. Be careful if you’re doing this on your own.
The Cathedral
The Presidential Palace
The Railway Station
The first train station was built in 1885 and began renovation in 2016 and was completed in 2022. The station is beautiful and retains its colonial heritage. There are only 6 cars in operation, but it’s already a popular means of transit in and out of the town (on a single line).
Villages des Arts
Spend 1 hour at the must-see Villages Des Arts, which hosts 50 painters, sculptors, and mixed media artists from around Senegal. Bring cash!
Gorée Island
People will tell you that you haven’t been to Dakar unless you’ve visited Gorée Island.
- The port is located here.
- The boat ticket costs 5,200fcf for visitors and 1500fcf for residents.
- You need to pay 1,000fcfc on the island as tourist tax at a hut on the left when you arrive at the island.
All this is included if you’re on a tour with Go 4 Senegal.
Note: Bring your passport! I didn’t bring mine but luckily there wasn’t anyone at the entry point for the port when we arrived. There were a lot of school children, so this could have been why their attention was diverted.
The boat ride over is beautiful. Arrive 40 minutes before you plan to take the ferry and sit near the front of the waiting area. Head to the top level of the boat when it arrives. The ride will take around 30 minutes.
A walking tour of Gorée Island with a guide will reveal many more cultural treasures and stories about this fascinating place, but you can also do this on your own. The island is so tiny, you can see it all in 2 hours.
The History of Gorée Island
Gorée Island is the smallest and most colorful island in Senegal with a long history of slavery. The island is known for the Door of No Return in the House of Slaves Museum, representing the last stop of slaves before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.
Gorée Island was a minor port and site of European settlement along the coast. Because there was no drinking water source on the island, it was not settled before the arrival of Europeans. It was also easy to defend. The Portuguese were the first to establish a presence on Gorée in 1450, where they built a small stone chapel and used the land as a cemetery.
The island’s location made it a significant site for the slave trade from at least the 17th century when Dutch slave traders established a trading post on the island. The current town was founded by the Dutch in 1617, who named it Goedereede (meaning good port/harbor).
There are several cute photo spots on the island that Omar will take you to. Here is a sneak peek of what to expect!
A Walking Tour of Gorée Island
Gorée has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978. There are building restrictions on the island to preserve its history. The Old Town contains around 100 buildings that are classified as monuments histories by Senegal’s Institute for the Protection of National Heritage.
You’ll pass by the catholic church.
This baobab tree is over 500 years old.
Omar will take you to watch a demonstration of sand art in the making.
This cannon was built (and then destroyed when they left) by the French. There are some interesting artists here as well. One stall sells recycled art and tiny baobabs!
You’ll pass by so much more as well. There are many homes and historical stories I wouldn’t have known about without a guide like Omar. Gorée Island packs a punch! Book your tour here.
House of Slaves
- Hours: 10:30am- 12pm, reopens 2:30pm-6pm. Wednesday, it reopens at 3pm.
- Cost: tourists 1500cfc and residents 500fcfa
The House of Slaves Museum on the island is dedicated to memorializing its history. You’ll visit the museum on your tour. It takes about 15 minutes to walk through with Omar describing the history and conditions of the slaves held here.
It is believed that some 20 million slaves passed through Gorée between the 15th and 19th centuries after being captured by European traders in West Africa and sold at auction on the island. Many of these people were sold to Americans, who used them to work on plantations. Slavery was abolished in 1848.
The door of no return was really crowded so this was as close as I wanted to get.
Baobab Alley and the Market
A big tip from Omar: on the boat, you may get asked by stall owners to go visit their stalls when you reach the island. Don’t be polite and say yes. Apparently, they will drag you and your guide away from the historical sites and create a big fuss… I suggest saying “No, I’m not here to shop” or “We won’t have time to visit you”.
That said, if you have time feel free to walk around. Apparently, the items are pricier at this market than in town.
The Beach on Gorée Island
The beach is a popular spot for weekenders from Dakar. It’s located near the port, so you can’t miss it. If you are lucky to spend the full day at Gorée Island, pack your swimsuit.
Lunch
If you’re on a tour with Omar, your lunch is included at his favorite spot on the island. I was fed up with pulling fish bones out of my fish dishes all week (though it was totally worth it) and so I was very happy to hear that there were fish kebabs on the menu. Omar also ordered fresh shrimp with a tomato sauce as an appetizer for us. Don’t skip out on the fresh bissap juice.
I hadn’t had a single bad dish in Dakar and so I’m sure the same is true of Gorée. There are several restaurants by the port entry so just choose one that suits you.
How much cash should you bring on your tour?
I brought along around 40,000fcfa for shopping. Because the Go 4 Senegal tour is all-inclusive, if you don’t want to shop, there is no need to bring any cash with you.
Say hi to Omar from me!
Am I missing anything you want to know about what to do in Dakar? Let me know in the comments.