Dakar stay safe · Dakar travel safety advice
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Dakar travel safety advice
Dakar travel safety advice
Crime in Dakar is relatively high; crime against tourists is common, even around Place de l'Independance. Use common sense: women should not walk around alone after dark. Watch your pockets in crowded places, such as Sandaga, and keep a close eye on your belongings. There are many different scams to get money from tourists, so be wary. The African favourite 'I work at your hotel and have run out of fuel, please can I borrow €10' etc are common, so don't be fooled.
Avoid the beaches at night. Try not to wear any outwardly expensive items of clothing or jewellery. The Senegalese people are in no way violent. Some people turn to stealing so that they can drink alcoholic beverages and eat. Overall, though, the Senegalese are an incredibly friendly and hospitable people and you will meet many people who are genuinely interested in talking to you.
Senegal is one of the most governmentally stable countries on the continent of Africa. The police force is useless for your safety, although they all speak French hence are good to ask directions.
You should particularly avoid walking in the evenings (or nights) along the Corniche, particularly the stretch between the International School of Dakar and the Club Olympique.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Dakar
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Dakar - updated Apr 2024
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Dakar Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.