Incredible Landscapes
French colonial architecture sunken into blistering honey hued sands; amber beaches laden with colourful fishing boats; and gleaming sapphire water dancing sensually against the shores.
Dakar is a place where the gleam of a burgeoning metropolis collides with the wild dusty plains of West Africa, before slipping into the glittering waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. Dakar is the capital of Senegal, and the largest, with a population exceeding 2.4 million people. Attractions include Lake Retba, House of Slaves, Deux Mamelles and Gorée.
Get ready to be lured into a world of jazzy Senegalese pop and rustic West African charm with cheap flights to Dakar. Dakar is home to Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR), which is a 30 minute drive from the city center. DKR serves South African Airways and Kenya Airways. Non-stop flights to Dakar depart from Johannesburg. Connecting flights to Dakar depart from Cape Town and Durban. Flight duration from Johannesburg to Dakar is approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.
Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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French colonial architecture sunken into blistering honey hued sands; amber beaches laden with colourful fishing boats; and gleaming sapphire water dancing sensually against the shores.
Music and dance is deeply woven into the city. Each street moves to its own beat, creating a dazzling tapestry of rhythmic mbalax, Senegalese folk, hypnotic jazz and electronic ragga.
Whispered tales of ancient empires and mysterious kingdoms slip from cracks in the walls and whirl through the streets, while Ile de Gorée recalls a time when the city was used as a port for the slave trade.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
Country | Senegal |
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Currency | West African CFA Franc |
Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 47.33 XOF |
Language | French / Wolof |
Hub Airport | Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) |
Time Zone | GMT+0 |
Travel Adaptor | Standard type C / D / E |
Dakar has a hot semi-arid climate made up of a short rainy season and lengthy dry season. Rainfall cascades over the city from July to September as hot monsoon winds blow in from the south. Humidity and temperatures rise during these months, often reaching the low-mid 30s. Some hotels close down during this period; while others raise their rates. The city is particularly beautiful during these months, as plant life flourishes and transforms the city into a glittering oasis. The rain begins to wane in October and temperatures begin to ease up from November. The city opens up exquisitely from November to May. A number of weird and wonderful bird species emerge, offering wonderful feathery visions for bird watching enthusiasts. The cooler temperatures and dry landscape makes this the ideal season for sightseeing and exploring the city. A number of festivals take place throughout the year. These include the Dak’Art Biennale, Kaay Fecc, Gorée Diaspora Festival and Festival International du Film de Quartier.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Low °C | 17°C | 16°C | 17°C | 18°C | 20°C | 23°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 25°C | 23°C | 20°C |
High °C | 26°C | 26°C | 26°C | 24°C | 25°C | 28°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 29°C | 27°C |
Rainfall (mm) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 50 | 150 | 150 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
Dakar is an enchanting West African metropolis sunken into the blistering sands of Senegal. The gleaming teal water of the Atlantic Ocean and smouldering stretches of savannah grassland wrap around French colonial architecture, creating an alluring juxtaposition of desert and ocean.
Situated on the western-most tip of Africa, the city has played an important role in trade between Europe and West Africa throughout history. It also played a prominent role in the slave trade from the 15th to 19th century – Gorée Island was the largest slave-trading centre until the early 1800s.
Although its history is deeply etched into the bones of the city, Dakar has managed to overcome its troubled past and blossom into a place of extraordinary heart and soul.
Hear the wild beat of its soul in the frenzied rhythm of mbalax music; find it hidden between the pulsing labyrinth of Marche Sandaga; taste it in the spiced and roasted street food at Mbote on La rue de Guele Tapee; or search for it amongst the mystical leaves of the baobab.
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