Dakar Vacations, Dakar Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Dakar Vacation Guide

Dakar is the bustling capital city of Senegal and a major destination or connection point for travelers to West Africa with its international airport, Dakar-Yoff-Léopold Sédar Senghor International. It is a major port city located on the Cape Verde Peninsula which makes it an important site for trade and commerce.

Some of Dakar's attractions include the Dakar Grand Mosque, Gorée Island with its historical museum and memorial of the slave trade in previous centuries, the IFAN Museum of West African culture, clifftop walks and beautiful beaches, major markets such as the fish market, and Hann Park which is a nature reserve and home to the Senegal Zoo.

Dakar is also often considered the home of sabar, the traditional Wolof drums played simultaneously with stick and hand. There are many clubs or tanebeers dedicated to sabar dances, popular for its powerful, explosive style. Mbalax, a very popular and energetic style of Senegalese music, is very similar to the sound of traditional sabar and is the staple of clubs throughout the city. Some of Dakar's famous musical artists include Youssou N'Dour who has his own nightclub called Thiossane there, Thione Seck who is one of Senegal's favorite mbalax stars, Lamine Toure and Baaba Maal. Other artists such as Cheikh Lô and Thione Diop began their music careers in Dakar. It is a notable city for all of its musical talents.