The country has two seasons, the rainy and dry seasons. The best time to travel to Senegal is during the dry season, which runs from October to April. This is when temperatures are more relaxed, and there is less rainfall. The harmattan winds, which blow in from the Sahara Desert, also start to blow around this time. These winds can make conditions hot, dry, and dusty. However, they typically taper off by April when temperatures begin to climb again.

The renowned Saint Louis Jazz Festival is taking place in May.

Do as the locals do

From Banjul, take the ferry for 25 Dalasi to Barra. Once in Barra, take a shared cab for another 30 minutes to the border in Amdallai, where the Gambian immigration office is located. You can walk about 1 km to the Senegalese immigration office in Karang or take a motorcycle cab to the border.

Although the hustle and bustle when the ferry arrives might suggest otherwise, the border crossing is swift and uncomplicated. Once you get your stamp in Karang, you can start looking for the gare routière, where so-called sept-places (cars converted to seven-seaters) wait until they are full to take off for Dakar. The approximately 6-hour drive cost 6000 CFA + another 2000 CFA for my backpack.

How to get from Dakar’s airport to the city center

The ride from the airport to downtown by cab costs around 20,000 CFA depending on how well you can negotiate.

Dakar’s express buses: From the airport to Yoff

The most comfortable way to get to Yoff. You can also get back to the airport from the bus station. The ride costs 6,000 CFA and takes around 45min.

The people of Senegal are known for their hospitality, which they call “teranga” in Wolof. It means ‘hospitality’ or Generousness’, and it’s a core principle of life there! So if you’re ever lucky enough to visit this beautiful African country, then be sure not to miss out on experiencing the culture by enjoying some delicious food with friendly locals who will show nothing but kindness!

Although it is illegal, cannabis is widely used in Senegal, as in many countries. Smoking together is part of the culture of some Senegalese. It seemed pretty normal to share and consume the herb, even in clubs. We wondered if that’s the reason some clubs don’t have a roof, and the sky shines right over you. It didn’t bother us. There was a relaxed and amiable atmosphere.

Muslim, African, chaotic. Nevertheless, Dakar is the perfect African city to travel alone as a woman. You will quickly realize that you can easily get around like a woman on your own. Although I stayed in HLM5, a neighborhood where tourists are generally far away, we didn’t feel like strangers. I belonged just because I was there. It was an indescribably lovely feeling to be welcomed like that. Even in the dark, you could move through the streets without worries if it gets too late, better in the company of locals.

Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city in the Old World and on the African mainland. Dakar is a major administrative center, home to numerous national government offices and departments, and the official residence of the President of Senegal. The city of Dakar has an estimated population of over two million people, while its metropolitan area contains close to five million inhabitants. Dakar is named after the Cape Verdean island of Gorée, once a major slave-trading center. The island was known as “Ceuta” (pronounced Say-oota) by early Portuguese explorers before the Lebou people gave it its current name.

Dakar’s urban areas could not be more different.

The bustling Plateau Dakar invites hikes along the rocky coast after shopping. In the hip arrondissement of Almadies, cultures mix, and many French expatriates and Senegalese meet in restaurants, bars, and clubs. Especially along the Plage de Mamelles, there is often something going on. In the arrondissement of Almadies, you will also find the districts of Yoff and Ngor, from where you can also cross over to the surfer island Ile de Ngor.

If, on the other hand, you want to immerse yourself in genuine Senegalese culture, a trip to Grand Dakar is worthwhile. The district awaits you with traditional markets and the largest mosque in West Africa, and in the evening, you can party to casual reggae music and typical Senegalese beats.

The water is not potable, so bring your Lifestraw Pro.

Sunscreen: Protect marine life by wearing reef-friendly sunscreen.

Trash: Bring your Lifestraw Pro to keep your water cold, and avoid buying bottled water. A foldable food container and cutlery will go a long way, too!

Photography: People around Lac Rose and Île de Gorée are susceptible to photography, so be extra sensitive.