Originator of the famous west African dish jollof, Senegal is a must-visit African country. From its rich culture, history, and delicious foods, I can confidently say Senegal was by far my favorite solo trip of 2023. The World Population Review named Senegal the sixth-safest country in Africa and I truly felt safe my entire six-day stay in the capital city of Dakar. From surfing, camel rides, to sunsets on the beach this was a jam-packed, adventurous trip.
Flight:
A major travel tip I have learned is that the time of year plays a major role in the price of your flight. I flew nonstop from JFK airport in New York City to Dakar, Senegal on Air Senegal airways for a total price of $775 in mid-October. Although I originally wanted to travel during my birthday month of July, where flights were starting at $1600 round trip, I could not pass up this steal for a trip to the other side of the world.
Hotel Accommodations:
I booked my stay at Hotel Jardin Savana, a beautiful resort style hotel in Dakar which included accommodations for airport pickup. I loved the beachfront view, complimentary breakfast, and on-site restaurant serving local dishes.
I stayed for a total of four nights which totaled 356,000 West African Francs or $592.73 US dollars. The resort was located just a few short miles from downtown and several tourist attractions. The staff was very welcoming and spoke both English and French.
Itinerary Day 1
I arrived in Dakar on a Monday and had activities planned for every day of the week, which I would not recommend since I was exhausted by Wednesday. My first day was all about exploring the city. I was fortunate in that my Senegalese coworker back in home in Philadelphia asked her brother to be my tour guide for the day. He picked me up first thing in the morning and we headed to the Black Civilization Museum. This museum covered history throughout the African diaspora featuring well known Black figures from sports to politics. My favorite exhibit was the wall of Black women leaders across the globe. Seeing women like myself hold high political positions was such an inspiration. This was a museum filled with not only art but one that showcased the impact of Black culture on society.
For lunch we headed to the Sandaga Market. Sandaga Market is a large downtown market filled with everything you could think of. I asked my tour guide to take me to a spot I found on Tiktok called Banti Yi located at the market. This place was definitely a unique experience where we sat on packed benches and had our meals grilled in front of us. I enjoyed great street food, with a variety of choices such as chicken, lamb, and beef on a roll.
I wanted to continue trying the street food and grabbed the local Senegalese dish, Yassa Poulet. The dish consists of your choice of meat over rice and topped with caramelized onions and a delicious gravy based sauce seasoned with a variety of spices. I honestly ate this dish every day during my stay in Dakar and loved every bite. Out of all the cities and countries I traveled to, Dakar, Senegal has the best food with New Orleans, Louisiana as a close second.
Our next popular attraction was the African Renaissance monument. A true landmark of the capital city, this monument represents African liberation. The ticket comes with a tour guide while inside of the monument, which is a museum of history filled with artifacts gifted from all over the world. There is an elevator inside the monument though the statue itself sits at the top of 180 steps to the entrance door. From the top of the statue you can see the entire city of Dakar and the Atlantic ocean.
After a busy day at the market, museum, and monument, I headed to another tourist attraction of Lac Rose. Lac Rose attracts visitors from all over the world to see Lake Retba, also known as the Pink Lake of Senegal. I was a little disappointed when my new tour guide told me the lake was no longer pink and just looked like a regular lake. I booked a drone photo shoot through instagram with @flyartsenegal who became my new tour guide for the rest of the afternoon. I saw his work and was very impressed. I supported local vendors by purchasing handmade jewelry at the lake and then enjoyed my $5 boat ride as my videographer captured breathtaking videos of me.
The video shoot continued as we drove across the street to ride camels on the beach for $10. This was my first time riding camels and I had so much fun even though it was a very uncomfortable and bumpy ride. The scenes of the sunset and the children playing at the beach allowed me to get a different view of all the perfect gems Senegal had to offer.
Day 3
Prior to my trip I learned about the surf clubs in Dakar and decided to try surfing lessons. Although surfing seemed pretty difficult, I was up for the challenge. I found a small family owned surf club on Ngor Island, a beach right outside of downtown Dakar. My lessons were with Copacobana Surf Club (@yoro9697). I took a small boat to the island and had another order of Yassa Poulet before my lesson. The lesson came with a rented board and wetsuit. The key to not falling over is to use your arms to guide you and stand up quickly before the waves come. I could barely stand up for two seconds but after consistent splashes of salt water in my eyes, my lesson ended a little early. Though I never got to successfully surf for more than two seconds, it was a fun time.
I rewarded myself with delicious beignets. The fried pastry treats were so good. This sweet Senegalese dish is almost identical to New Orleans beignets, of both French origin. Blogger Sophie Brochu quotes, “Americans in the South are eating Senegalese-influenced food and a lot of them don’t know it.” Throughout my trip I loved learning the ties between African American and Senegalese culture.
Later that evening, I met with a fellow blogger at Terrou- bi, a five star luxury resort hotel. As a solo traveler it’s always nice to connect with other travel and local bloggers. I was excited to hang out with locals and learn more about the rich Senegalese culture
Day 4
Goree Island known as “House of Slaves” sits off the coast of Senegal and is most known for its major role during the Atlantic slave trade. The slave quarters shipped hundreds of thousands of slaves to Brazil and the Americas. As a child I went to several African American museums but standing where my ancestors were before arriving to the US held a deeper impact on me than I could imagine.
The tour began with a ferry ride from downtown Dakar. As I purchased my ticket I was met with my 14-year old tour guide who spoke both English and French and was very knowledgeable of the dark history of Goree Island through his grandfather, who had been giving tours for decades.
As I arrived on the island I had another order of yassa poulet and I promise the meal got better each time. As soon as the tour began I held back tears from hearing what my ancestors endured before even boarding the horrendous slave ships. Though the island holds a dark history it is still home to a beautiful Senegalese community. The residents don’t have access to much but the beauty and culture remains present on the island.
After a heart-wrenching, yet informative tour, I switched gears to enjoy the nightlife in Dakar. Partying with some of my newfound blogger friends until 4:00 am was exactly what I needed. The clubs we went to were Kings and La Parilla. The music was a diverse mix of afro beats and hip hop. I highly recommend checking out both to get the full experience of Senegalese nightlife.
Day 5:
I spent the last day of my trip with my blogger friend, whose family opened their beautiful home to me. In Senegal, it is a common family tradition for families to have dinner around a communal bowl. Though her family didn’t speak any English, their warm smiles and delicious home cooked meal showed their amazing hospitality. I felt right at home and loved that I was able to enjoy Senegalese culture in a unique way. Spending an evening with this family was an amazing way to end my trip.
Senegal is an amazing country that doesn’t get a fraction of the recognition it deserves. From the great food, rich history, beautiful beaches, and fun club scene, I would definitely recommend adding Senegal to your list of West African countries to visit.
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