Things to do in Dakar, Best Things to do in Dakar

Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and the westernmost city of Africa. It has a long history and counts nowadays 1 500 000 inhabitants. Also, not a very big city comparing to other African metropolis, like Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Cape Town.

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But a very nice one city is Dakar for sure. In some neighborhoods Dakar still keeps the flavour of the colonial times, in other the genuine smell and flavor of the African way of life. You can visit in Dakar the outskirts of Saint Louis (former capital of the French West Africa) and Medina (African life at its best).

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Dakar, due to its excellent position, developed itself to one of the biggest and most important African harbors. Visiting the harbor is quite an experience which you may not miss while visiting Dakar, because is huge, impressive and interesting.

Dakar lies on the peninsula of Capo Verde and was long time a discussion matter between Portugal, French, Holland and France. Not far are to find the Portuguese islands of Capo Verde. And right in the face of Dakar is the Island of Goree, a place which was a sort of turning point for the slave trade between Africa and South and North America. During 500 years, until the slavery abolition, it is thought that 60 000 000 people have been sent through the Island of Goree to Americas. Nowadays is a museums and the toubabs (whites) are welcomed and waited there.

Long time Senegal has entered the conscience of the Europeans as a very exotic destination, next to the paradise on Earth. The Paris Dakar Rally kept this approach, but also added the real dimension of the poverty in Africa. Today, unfortunately, the rally Paris Dakar has been moved to Argentina, which is curious and outrageous. The explanation is the threatening of terrorist attacks, specially in Mauritania.

National sport in Senegal became soccer. These Africans have natural skills, and they use these skills. There are many major soccer stars in America and Europe whose roots are African. This is a thing to do in Senegal if you are the sport guy: playing soccer. And there are also other possibilities for sports in Senegal: swimming and surfing on the Dakar beaches, exploring the rainforest or visiting the Dakar Zoo in Hann park ( there are no major differences).

Dakar was a very beloved city within the French Empire, similar to Hanoi and Beirut. Today you can still find in Dakar stories and artifacts of those times. Or you can visit the impressive IFAN Museum of western African art.
There are plenty of things to do and to see in Dakar, so please hurry up!