It is a vibrant city with active open air markets, cafe terraces, and a wide range of hotels, delicious food and a great night life.

You can discover Dakar by taking a walk along the ocean or the busy city streets. Art lovers will find an abundance of galleries, artists studios, museums, and festivals.

A shopper paradise and exquisite crafts can be found in markets, on the streets and in stores everywhere.

For the sport enthusiast, this city by the beach offers all water sports and golf, tennis, biking, and more.

Places to visit include some of the following. The presidential palace. Facing the ocean, it is in the middle of a very beautiful garden. The museum is dedicated to the West African arts and traditions. The picturesque covered market of Sandaga with its neo Sudanese architecture is great. The town hall, built up in 1914, the railway station, the very animated port and also the pier for Goree Island. The Great Mosque is one of most beautiful religious buildings in Africa.

Certainly Dakar has some worrying aspects. Most large shops and banks have at least two security guards looming in front of them and government buildings are guarded by soldiers sporting not inconsiderable firepower, but underneath this fierce exterior Dakar feel fine.

The weather is perfect for those who love the sun and heat. Most of the year is very pleasant, manageable heat. From July to October the weather is tropical: extremely hot and humid with some rain. From November to April, the humidity lets up allowing for dry rain free heat. The humidity then cranks up again in May and June, as rainy season approaches.

Music has always been an integral part of the culture of Senegal and is widely respected in the world beyond the countries borders. The music has very deep roots in folk tradition with the musicians using different instruments, percussion instruments. It has a distinct rustic touch and flavour. Contemporary Senegalese music can be divided into two broad categories traditional and modern with pop stars using traditional sounds and rhythms to make their music the most famous in Africa.

In Dakar its peaceful, pleasant and not remotely crowded. Its this close combination of frenetic city centre and sleepy suburb that marks Dakar apart from most busy cities. Although there isnt a great deal here to occupy the tourists, however its pleasant enough.