Dakar City Guide - overview

After three centuries of French colonial rule, Senegal became independent in 1960. Before independence the city of Dakar was the capital of French West Africa, which included nine French-speaking states, and Dakar has been the capital of the independent Republic since then. The country retained strong ties with France and the French influence remains in the architecture of the city, where well preserved colonial buildings, the monumental government house and café terraces stand testimony to its history.

Situated on the tip of the Cap Vert Peninsula, the modern capital teems with life and boasts luxurious hotels, a wide range of restaurants, beaches and watersports, a casino and an active nightlife scene. It is also one of the busiest ports for cruise ships in Africa.

As the nearest African country to the United States, Senegal became the most important slave depot in West Africa and the island of Gorée, just two miles (3km) offshore, was the centre of the slave trade. For nearly four centuries thousands of men, women and children were kept locked in cells on the island, the 'Door of no Return', before being shipped to the Americas. Today Gorée is a UNESCO Historical Monument and visitors can experience the horrors of its past in 'La Maison des Enclaves' with its cells, shackles and the slave dealer's apartments, as well as at the many museums housed in former slave houses, and the forts built to protect the lucrative business.

Getting around: Buses and minibuses operate on the main routes linking Dakar to other principal cities and towns in Senegal. The most common form of transportation is the car rapide - colourfully painted vehicles that are often very crowded and sometimes unsafe. Taxis are also available and it is best to negotiate the fare before leaving. Car rental agencies operate from Dakar, but rates are often very high.