I was able to see all the sights I wanted to in Dakar despite being on a lost luggage challenge and without my notorious backpacking brace of Osprey and MindShift. I managed to do some textbook sightseeing while basing myself at N’Gor beach in Dakar at the start in Maison Abaka and thereafter at Hotel Baraka downtown. From here, I toured not only the Pink Lake, but all the key sights in the city that interested me. All this in the middle of a lunatic journey to Gambia and back where I started stroking live wild crocodiles. There is always time for a textbook top ten though…
Thiossane Nightclub
Thiossane is a nightclub owned by none other than Youssou N’Dour, Dakar’s most famous son and the first ever Senegalese person I had heard of in my lifetime, thanks to his duet hit single in 1994 with Neneh Cherry, 7 seconds away. It was a shame then, after my night out watching bellydancing, that Thiossane Nightclub was shut on my only Saturday night in downtown Dakar. I went back in the day time, but it seemed to be closed for refurbishment. I saw the famous venue only from the outside. I liked how it was in a raw and local area. No swanky bull excrement here.
Thiossane Nightclub without Youssou N’Dour
An advert for a Youssou N’Dour gig
Atlantic Mosque (Mosque of the Divinity)
This impressive Mosque not only has a brilliant view but is a good looking building itself. It sits right on the Atlantic Ocean. I visited on a gorgeous clear day. Despite the fact that the Grand Mosque is bigger and more important to the people, the Atlantic Mosque is my personal favourite and if you only see one Mosque in Dakar, head out to this one.
The Atlantic Mosque (Mosque of the Divinity) in Dakar, Senegal
It can be hard to get to on public transport, but my local driver was able to take me here as part of a self organised city tour.
Atlantic Mosque
Grand Mosque
In the heart of the downtown, sits the prominent Grand Mosque. I got here by flight using Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul. The Turkish and Senegalese have a good relationship, and the Turks helped fund the building of this structure.
The Grand Mosque in Dakar, Senegal sits in a prominent courtyard and I headed there to hear the Call to Prayer.
Medina
It brought me a reminder of my time whackpacking the Middle East and Tunisia as these Medinas are basically like an old town which are mostly used as market stalls. Dakar’s is the birthplace of Youssou N’Dour and you can wind your way through it, taking in its charms. Be aware of pickpockets and scammers, as ever.
Senegalese souvenirs
Independence Square
The Place de L’Independence is the Independence Square. The Governor’s Office and Chamber of Commerce sit here, but really it’s just a large rectangular park with roads on either side.
Independence Square
Independence Square
Independence Square
Palais Presidentiel
Sadly I have no photos of the Palais Presidentiel as the guards outside monitor it strictly and they don’t even allow photos from a distance – they’ll see you. It’s on Avenue Leopold Senghor street (and at the bottom of Boulevard de la Republique) and you can at least admire the Palace from the front of the gates next to the soldiers, who are in impeccable attire.
Gardens near the Presidential Palace
Boulevard of the Republic which leads down to the Palace
Léopold Sédar Senghor National Stadium
For me a visit here was a highlight. Dakar’s most supported football team, ASC Jeanne D’Arc, play at the 60,000 capacity all-seater/bencher Léopold Sédar Senghor national stadium. It’s situated near Pattie D’Oie, on Route de Yoff, about 6 km north of the city centre. As I also visited Gambia’s national football stadium on this trip, it means that I have now seen 100 different national football stadiums on my journeys through 116 recognized countries.
Léopold Sédar Senghor National Stadium
Léopold Sédar Senghor National Stadium
Senegal made the Quarter Finals in the 1994 World Cup and they had players such as El Hadji Diouf and Papa Bouba Diop.
Plage N’Gor
Senegal is famous for its beaches. Tourists and local go swimming, play football, go surfing and even deep sea diving in the waters by the gorgeous beaches. I spent my first two days in the country by the Plage N’Gor, which is a beautiful tranquil beach.
Monument du Millenaire
This Millennium Monument is another fine structure and a sign of the future and good times here in Dakar. Again you can easily get here with a driver and just hop out take your photos and admire the views out to sea. They are supposedly building a huge monument soon not far from here.
Monument du Millenaire
African Renaissance Monument
The most interesting thing about the African Renaissance Monument is that it was built by the North Koreans! It is one of two odd hills in Dakar, often referred to as “Dakar’s breasts”. I saw this one about 10 times while driving round the city yet not once did I feel the need to stop and dander up there, paying the price to see it for real. Still, it’s one of two breasts – a lighthouse sits atop the other one.
African Renaissance Monument
Jonny Blair is a self confessed traveling nomad who founded and blogs at Don’t Stop Living. He sees every day as an adventure. Since leaving behind his home town of Bangor in Northern Ireland ten years ago he has traveled to all seven continents, working his way through various jobs and funding it all with hard work and an appetite for travel. Don’t Stop Living, a lifestyle of travel’ contains over 1,000 stories and tips from his journeys round the globe. He wants to show others how easy it is to travel the world, give them some ideas and encourage them to do the same but most of all he aims to constantly live a lifestyle of travel. He is currently based in Hong Kong and on Twitter @jonnyblair.
