Some weeks ago, I visited Dakar for 10 days and I stayed for 10 days in other regions in Senegal.
How to get in:
There are several european airlines going to Dakar. The airport is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Ngor and Almadies districts (that's the places you probably want to stay anyway). No visa needed for US or EU citizens.
About Dakar:
No other city between Casablanca and Abidjan competes with Dakar in terms of infrastructure. There are good roads, a ferry port, a railway that is actually in use, although most passengers use a minibus or a taxi. There are many french supermarkets and even a (small) western-style mall. I was in other countries on that continent that do not provide all of that (except the minibus).
But don't misunderstand this: Dakar is a horrendous shithole.
Even Manila will offer you 100 times more amenities than the senegalese capital.
Most cars on the roads are Peugeot and Renault makes from the 1980's (read: no catalytic converter), and those vehicles are very poorly maintained. There's a lot of smoke coming from them and dust is everywhere due to its location near the Sahel zone. Air pollution is much much worse than in SEA or EE.
Culture:
95% of the senegalese are muslims. Most of them are tolerant people but they're still conservative, even in the capital. The same could be said about the women, sadly. The men can be a real pain in the ass - lots of self proclaimed tourist guides and other shady dudes who want to sell you stuff. Not to mention the notorious talibés - pertinacious children begging for money. True hospitality is not to be experienced here - locals see you as a walking ATM.
Language:
In Dakar, most girls speak french (the only official language), but the predominantly spoken local language is the Wolof, an annoying language. When you hear locals talk, you may think they're arguing. I only spoke french with the ladies. My guess is that only one out of three girls speak any english. Therefore, going to Senegal without french skills is not unlike visiting Russia without speaking any russian. You'll have to let go the majority of girls and the stunners as well.
Nightlife:
Not much to do, and overpriced in my opinion. Every experienced traveler has seen better. Nightlife is concentrated at the Almadies area, not far from the airport. There are some good nightclubs such as Barramundi, Five, Buzz and others. Cover charge can be as much as in western Europe, and I witnessed a to-see-and-be-seen vibe with people going out in bigger groups. For African standards, nightlife here is nothing special.
I only went to clubs with friends and therefore didn't game the girls. I probably didn't miss much - girls at big sitting tables with bottle service aren't my target anyway.
Some clubs are totally overcrowded and you cannot move at all, unless you have table service.
Outside of clubs are at times hundreds of senegalese dudes, hanging around with no intent to go inside one of those clubs. Lots of beggar children too, so watch your wallet.
Value for money:
Fail. Public transport is inefficient, even the locals use taxis, which cost more than in any Asian metropolis. Basic hotel rooms are usually at 40-50 Euros, upscale hotels start at 200 Euros. A small beer in a club in the Almadies is 5€ or more. Man I missed SEA!
Girls:
Tall and slim. Six feet tall girls are not uncommon.
Unfortunately, some are materialistic and have a "I'm not a hoe but give me 20€ for transport" approach. Not many girls have a fun personality.
Easiness I'd rate a solid 3.5 / 5. Some women required persistence and at least immediate game. Two girls I met played mindless games for an hour before they'd give up LTR.
For dates, I took girls to a bar or to a place with live music. During daytime, an invite for lunch at a simple snack bar didn't do me any harm. Bear in mind that Senegal is a man's world. The men have horrendous game and use lines such as "Nice tits, gimme your number." Don't be one of those guys. Girls here indeed value a nice guy, even more than in SEA or EE. An invite for lunch is absolutely okay as long as you have an exit strategy that directly leads to your place.
Things to do:
Not much to see or to do. Dakar is not a fun place. The best experience I got at a local market, which of course includes hassles galore. The beaches at at upscale hotels are okay but not free; the other beaches are dirty. With so few options, Gorée island is a must see, but it is riddled with aggressive souvenir vendors.
There are few neighborhoods in Dakar you want to visit, and even fewer places outside Dakar. 95% of the action in Senegal is in Dakar.
Nature:
Almost no interesting wild animals in Senegal unless you like birds, turtles and straying goats.
North of Dakar, at the Grande Cote, are sandy beaches and a small dune desert.
The villages offer no charms - rubbish everywhere.
Summary:
I've been to several African countries and Senegal is the most boring one. There can still be some thrills for an African newbie though. In addition, Dakar is expensive for a third world country, and offers little in return.
If you decide to visit this country, you need be aware that you end up paying more than in Thailand. You won't find as many english speakers as in the Philippines or Hong Kong. The local dudes will play on your nerves and the girls won't be as easy as in most SEA. Malaria, yellow fewer and air pollution are potential risks. Infrastructure is good for this region, but poor for anyone living in the west or SEA. Last but not least you probably won't be able to meet a fellow RVF member in here.
If you have any questions, I'll be glad to help.
- Selembao
How to get in:
There are several european airlines going to Dakar. The airport is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from Ngor and Almadies districts (that's the places you probably want to stay anyway). No visa needed for US or EU citizens.
About Dakar:
No other city between Casablanca and Abidjan competes with Dakar in terms of infrastructure. There are good roads, a ferry port, a railway that is actually in use, although most passengers use a minibus or a taxi. There are many french supermarkets and even a (small) western-style mall. I was in other countries on that continent that do not provide all of that (except the minibus).
But don't misunderstand this: Dakar is a horrendous shithole.
Even Manila will offer you 100 times more amenities than the senegalese capital.
Most cars on the roads are Peugeot and Renault makes from the 1980's (read: no catalytic converter), and those vehicles are very poorly maintained. There's a lot of smoke coming from them and dust is everywhere due to its location near the Sahel zone. Air pollution is much much worse than in SEA or EE.
Culture:
95% of the senegalese are muslims. Most of them are tolerant people but they're still conservative, even in the capital. The same could be said about the women, sadly. The men can be a real pain in the ass - lots of self proclaimed tourist guides and other shady dudes who want to sell you stuff. Not to mention the notorious talibés - pertinacious children begging for money. True hospitality is not to be experienced here - locals see you as a walking ATM.
Language:
In Dakar, most girls speak french (the only official language), but the predominantly spoken local language is the Wolof, an annoying language. When you hear locals talk, you may think they're arguing. I only spoke french with the ladies. My guess is that only one out of three girls speak any english. Therefore, going to Senegal without french skills is not unlike visiting Russia without speaking any russian. You'll have to let go the majority of girls and the stunners as well.
Nightlife:
Not much to do, and overpriced in my opinion. Every experienced traveler has seen better. Nightlife is concentrated at the Almadies area, not far from the airport. There are some good nightclubs such as Barramundi, Five, Buzz and others. Cover charge can be as much as in western Europe, and I witnessed a to-see-and-be-seen vibe with people going out in bigger groups. For African standards, nightlife here is nothing special.
I only went to clubs with friends and therefore didn't game the girls. I probably didn't miss much - girls at big sitting tables with bottle service aren't my target anyway.
Some clubs are totally overcrowded and you cannot move at all, unless you have table service.
Outside of clubs are at times hundreds of senegalese dudes, hanging around with no intent to go inside one of those clubs. Lots of beggar children too, so watch your wallet.
Value for money:
Fail. Public transport is inefficient, even the locals use taxis, which cost more than in any Asian metropolis. Basic hotel rooms are usually at 40-50 Euros, upscale hotels start at 200 Euros. A small beer in a club in the Almadies is 5€ or more. Man I missed SEA!
Girls:
Tall and slim. Six feet tall girls are not uncommon.
Unfortunately, some are materialistic and have a "I'm not a hoe but give me 20€ for transport" approach. Not many girls have a fun personality.
Easiness I'd rate a solid 3.5 / 5. Some women required persistence and at least immediate game. Two girls I met played mindless games for an hour before they'd give up LTR.
For dates, I took girls to a bar or to a place with live music. During daytime, an invite for lunch at a simple snack bar didn't do me any harm. Bear in mind that Senegal is a man's world. The men have horrendous game and use lines such as "Nice tits, gimme your number." Don't be one of those guys. Girls here indeed value a nice guy, even more than in SEA or EE. An invite for lunch is absolutely okay as long as you have an exit strategy that directly leads to your place.
Things to do:
Not much to see or to do. Dakar is not a fun place. The best experience I got at a local market, which of course includes hassles galore. The beaches at at upscale hotels are okay but not free; the other beaches are dirty. With so few options, Gorée island is a must see, but it is riddled with aggressive souvenir vendors.
There are few neighborhoods in Dakar you want to visit, and even fewer places outside Dakar. 95% of the action in Senegal is in Dakar.
Nature:
Almost no interesting wild animals in Senegal unless you like birds, turtles and straying goats.
North of Dakar, at the Grande Cote, are sandy beaches and a small dune desert.
The villages offer no charms - rubbish everywhere.
Summary:
I've been to several African countries and Senegal is the most boring one. There can still be some thrills for an African newbie though. In addition, Dakar is expensive for a third world country, and offers little in return.
If you decide to visit this country, you need be aware that you end up paying more than in Thailand. You won't find as many english speakers as in the Philippines or Hong Kong. The local dudes will play on your nerves and the girls won't be as easy as in most SEA. Malaria, yellow fewer and air pollution are potential risks. Infrastructure is good for this region, but poor for anyone living in the west or SEA. Last but not least you probably won't be able to meet a fellow RVF member in here.
If you have any questions, I'll be glad to help.
- Selembao
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