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I must confess, I’ve always thought that a vacation to Africa was reserved for those with time, inordinate amounts of money, disproportionate needs for adventure and, of course, Europeans on holiday. Africa in my mind seemed exotic, rugged and raw, and an out-of-the-ordinary trip that required mental and emotional preparation equally as much as it required planning. So when my mother and I were offered the short notice chance to explore the French –speaking, majority Muslim country of Senegal, a west African country which many people could not without delay pinpoint on a map and unsurprisingly, where North American tourism borders insignificant, I was, to say the least, somewhat hesitant, not having a clue as to what to expect.
Not to be misunderstood, I do consider myself an adventure traveler of sorts. I have indeed visited countries of the developing world- paragliding in the mountains of Colombia, hanging out in the barrios of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic etc., but this was Africa, and we were not starting out with the customary countries of South Africa, Kenya or Egypt. My mom, a lady who unashamedly enjoys the creature comforts of the first world, and I were headed to Senegal for seven days to explore a country about which I knew next to nothing.
For what I thought would be the longest trip on a plane in my life to a faraway land into the unknown, the flight to Dakar took only seven short hours on board South African Airways from Dulles Airport in Washington, DC. Arriving in Senegal, I noticed the airport populace was as diverse in nationalities as a meeting held by the United Nations, and as vibrant as an open air market in Istanbul. There were people from all over- the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. I saw people on business trips and people on vacation with small children shuffling to and fro. For an airport so busy and varying in the types of travelers, and such relatively close proximity from the United States, I wondered why I, a self-proclaimed ‘girl of the world’, didn't know more about Senegal and why hadn’t I been here sooner?
We were greeted energetically by our tour guide from African Connection Tours, a friendly man named Amath. He embodied the typical Senegalese physical form-tall, dark, physically fit and regal (Regality, as I would learn, is typical of the Senegalese, who, despite their status as a developing country, are very respectful and cultured, characteristics you can attribute to the French, with a dogged pride in their ethnic identities and the Islamic religion).
Our excursion to the hotel (Everything is an excursion here, it’s Africa!) from the airport allowed us to see just how alive Senegal’s capital city really was. All around the city were open air markets with vendors, stands and stores along the rocky white sand beaches. They were filled with craftsman, fisherman, artisans, animals, food, playing children, joggers, jewelry makers and buyers all in unorganized rhythm haggling prices in Wolof and French. We took a tour through the Artisan’s Market, one of Dakar’s most well-known open air markets where you can bargain with small shop owners for handmade, authentically Senegalese arts and crafts (you can actually see the sculptors and woodcutters at work). Furniture making is also an important industry in Dakar. The markets also allowed us unique interactions with Senegalese people who were hospitable, curious and eager to practice their English language skills with tourists.
Driving along the coast of Dakar towards downtown, our tour guide pointed to one of Senegal’s new, yet-to- be officially unveiled tourist attractions, the African Renaissance Monument. The colossal, Greco-Roman styled bronze structure perched atop a 330 foot hill facing the Atlantic Ocean is a 160 foot statue of a three person family-man, woman, and child. The $27 million project that has already been compared to the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower by the Senegalese President, the monument is meant to symbolize potential, rebirth and liberation of African people. I was appalled by its grandeur and beauty, but managed to catch my breath before we got to the downtown area where we saw buildings that still very much resembled typical 18th century French architecture. With most of the structures largely un-restored, I felt as though I was strolling through during the colonial period of West Africa. The beautiful mosques dotted throughout the city and the call to prayer heard all over Dakar bestowed an almost angelic soundtrack over the hectic city of 1.5 million people.
As a part of our culture tour, we got to take the ferry ride to visit the world-famous Goree Island, just off the coast of Senegal. The 45-acre island, now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site was once the center for the warehousing of Africans for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Here is where we visited the House of Slaves (French: Maison des esclaves), the most famous tourist attraction on the island. A colonial-styled house built in the late 1700’s, it is now preserved in its original state to serve as a museum with displays of slave artifacts.
After learning about the horrors of slavery at the House of Slaves, I felt like a pilgrim visiting a holy site. In addition to learning about the history, we mingled with the locals on the island to enjoy the arts, crafts, dance, music and food. Lunch was at the Chevalier de Boufflers, where we sampled Senegalese cuisine that included right out- of-the water fresh fish in peanut sauce.
We completed our tour of Dakar with a visit to the Palais Présidentiel (presidential palace) a majestic white building with luscious gardens where we took pictures with the guard at the gate using the palace as the backdrop. Other photo opportunities awaited us at The Third Millennium Gate (La Porte du 3ème Millénaire). Also known as known as The Gate of Africa, this magnificent structure was assembled in 2001 to symbolize Senegal's entry into the third millennium. According to our tour guide, Dakar was, especially during the colonial period, an important port city because of its location on the Cape Verde. Foreign trade, including the slave trade, is what has helped to shape Dakar into an international city of commerce. With trade, countless cultures passed through Senegal resulting in a true melting pot of influences as evident in the food, language and customs. Even though it is a multicultural city with French, North African and Middle Eastern influences, Dakar has still managed to keep its own unique culture flair and traditions.
cialis prices: Dakar: Senegal has, starting during the days of French rule, been a popular vacation spot for French tourists and their families. Our hotel, Terrou-Bi, a favorite among French families, is a contemporary four star hotel with art deco inspiration, a casino for tourists and some of Senegal’s highest rollers, a private beach and pool and on site restaurants serving fine French and Senegalese fusion cuisine. The hotel is ten minutes from downtown and ten minutes from the airport. Visit www.terroubi.com .
cialis prices Just4U, a popular hang out where even kids are welcome to dine with their parents and enjoy the sounds of Africa, as local and international acts take the stage transforming the essence of Senegal and Africa into sound. For more information, visit www.just4udakar.com .
For more information visit, www.senegal-tourism.com or contact African Connection Tours (ACT) www.actours-senegal.com
- ADT Video