Every traveler has their “bucket list”—the places they absolutely must visit before they are no longer able to wander the world. We decided now would be a great time to share locations that are on our bucket list, starting with the West African city of Dakar, capital of the nation of Senegal.
Like many West African nations, Senegal was a victim of the American and European slave trade. Colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, Dakar and its surrounding regions were used as a base for slave ships on their way to Europe, and a couple hundred years later, to the United States as well. But Dakar rose from the ashes of the slave trade and has established itself as a travel hub for West Africa, most recently with a brand new international airport which cost US $600 million to build.
Senegal has also been enjoying a period of political stability that has lasted almost 60 years, since the nation declared its independence. While there have been some administrative changes over the past half century, the general government structure has been intact.
With that out of the way, here are a few places we’d love to see.
1. Goree Island
This isn’t one of the most beautiful places in Dakar, but it is one of the most important. It provides tourists with “a colorful but painful memory of the slave trade era,” as Afrotourism.com puts it. There are a number of monuments including La Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves), historic forts, colonial buildings, and museums. It’s a great place to appreciate the journey from colonized land where people were stolen from their families to perform backbreaking labor, to a new, modern nation with a stable government.
2. The African Renaissance Monument
The African Renaissance Monument was unveiled in 2010 to celebrate Senegal’s 50 years of independence. It’s Africa’s tallest monument, and it’s even bigger and taller than the Statue of Liberty. It’s perched on top of a hill that overlooks the ocean and can be accessed by a row of steps built from the base of the hill to the top. (Sorry, there’s no ramp or elevator for people with mobility impairments.)
3. The Soumbedouine Fish Market
When the sun sets over Dakar’s coastline, a makeshift fish market sets up shop every other night. As many as 20 vendors sell fish grilled over wood fires at incredibly low prices. You can enjoy an array of seafoods from grouper to hogfish, mullet to sailfish, lobster to sea urchins and shrimp, and even red snapper and crabs. Whatever came from the ocean that day is what’s on the grill, and we’re told that there’s no taste experience quite like the Soumbedouine.
4. The Night Life
Dakar is West Africa’s entertainment capital, and internationally renowned artists such as Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Mal, and Didier Awadi can regularly be seen performing at the city’s clubs. However, since most of the shows start after midnight and go well into the wee hours of the morning, we’ll definitely be taking a good “power nap” before we go out for our night on the town!
Have you been to Dakar? What was your favorite spot? Please tell us in the comments so we can be sure to visit!
Photo: Shutterstock