From the airport to the city centre Senegal
When you arrive at Blaise Diagne airport, you have several options for getting to Dakar, Saly or Thies. The easiest solution is to check with your hotel beforehand to see if it has a free or paid shuttle service to the airport. If this is not the case or if this option proves to be expensive, you can take a cab when you leave the airport, you will be spoilt for choice. It is still advisable to use an official driver, recognizable by his badge. Even if the rates are more or less the same depending on the cab, don't forget to announce your destination beforehand and to negotiate the price, which varies according to the distance to be covered, before getting into the vehicle. If the price is not convenient, try to negotiate or ask another cab. If you need to go to the capital, you can also take the Dakar Dem Dikk express shuttle bus (https://demdikk.sn), which runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with an average frequency of 30 minutes. The bus stop is located on the right as you leave the airport. It is also possible to reach Thies and Mbour, with the air-conditioned buses provided by the same company.
Arrival by train Senegal
At the time this guide went to press, it was still not possible to make the Dakar - Bamako journey by train, even though the rehabilitation of this line has been planned for several years now. As for the new regional express line (www.terdakar.sn), the first section was inaugurated in December 2021. The train currently links Dakar to the new town of Diamniadio, taking 46 minutes and serving a total of 14 stations. It runs Monday to Saturday from 5.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every 10 minutes, and from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. every 20 minutes. On Sundays and public holidays, the service runs every 20 minutes from 6.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fare to either city is between 1,500 and 2,500 FCFA. The TER is free for children under 4. By July 2025, the final phase of the section linking Diamniadio to the new airport should be completed, with an additional 19 km of track.
Arrival by boat Senegal
Close to the railway station, the port of Dakar houses a ferry terminal from which it is possible to reach the island of Gorée and Casamance. To reach Gorée, you need to take one of the longboats operated and managed by Liaison Maritime Dakar-Gorée (LMDG). Connections are frequent throughout the day, and it takes a good half-hour to reach the island. The round trip costs around 5,200 FCFA. To get to Ziguinchor and the Casamance island of Carabane, you'll need to board one of the ferries operated by Cosama (www.cosama.sn), a private Senegalese company that has been operating the line since 2007. The Aline Sittoé Diatta ferry, with its 2, 4 and 8-seater cabins, is the most comfortable way to travel on the open sea, and runs twice weekly. Expect to pay around 30,000 FCFA for a 2- or 4-seater cabin with breakfast. The other boats, Diambogne andAguene, alternate between the two routes, but have only armchairs. Since 2014, the boats have been calling at Carabane Island, both on the outward and return trips. On the day of departure, remember to arrive several hours early at the ferry terminal, especially if you have luggage to check in. Dakar departs at the end of the day, while Ziguinchor departs in the early afternoon. Fragile stomachs should avoid the Ziguinchor-Dakar return journey, which runs against the current and pitches vigorously.
Public transport Senegal
Coaches, buses and bush cabs are the most common means of public transport across the country. However, each has its own way of doing things. From Dakar, if you wish to travel to major cities such as Saint-Louis, Tambacounda or Ziguinchor, you can take the air-conditioned, and generally quite comfortable, buses of private companies. Dakar Dem Dikk is the safest company, and its network has developed well in recent years in the capital and inland. However, you'll need to check the departure point, which varies from company to company. To reach the rest of Senegal, go to the bus stations, where you can take express coaches, ndiaga ndiaye or 7-seater cabs. However, you should avoid the fast buses, with their dominant blue and yellow colors, and the ndiaga ndiaye, white vans with around forty seats, which are quickly overloaded, and whose passengers' safety is not their priority. The 7-seater cabs, more commonly known as taxi-brousse, can be a practical solution for getting around the country, although not always very comfortable, especially when you're sitting in the back of these old Peugeot station wagons, between Senegalese mamas. When you arrive at the bus station, ask the garage manager or his apprentices which cab will take you to your destination. He'll accompany you to the taxi preparing to leave. Prices are generally fixed, but may vary according to your luggage. Be aware, however, that the vehicle only starts once all 7 seats are occupied. This can sometimes take a while, especially if you're the first customer... There are also underground cabs, which, unlike traditional cabs, operate without a license. They generally serve the suburbs of Dakar and connect villages with other parts of the country. These cars are often in poor condition, but very practical for getting around in the bush, where there are often "garages clandos ". For some time now, there has been a WhatsApp group for carpooling between Dakar and Saly, as well as another between Dakar and Saint-Louis. Find out more on the spot.
With a driver Senegal
There are many agencies in Senegal that offer car rental with driver. Most of them are based in Dakar, and the prices remain reasonable if you choose this additional service. The other, more economical solution is to hire an independent driver-guide who offers transfer services at a fixed price according to distance. These transfers are punctual and fast and are carried out in personal, well-maintained and usually air-conditioned vehicles. You can also rent the car for a half or full day, depending on your schedule.
By car Senegal
If you wish to have more freedom in your travels, and if driving in Africa does not scare you, you can rent a car in one of the many agencies in Senegal, including international companies, with slightly higher rates, but with a very well maintained fleet. Generally, they offer flat rates, sometimes with a number of kilometers included or a fixed price per kilometer driven. The vehicle is usually delivered with a full tank of gas, and you will be asked to do the same on your return. As far as insurance is concerned, find out if it is included or not. However, we advise you to rent a car with a driver, because even if the road infrastructures tend to improve in the country, you will have to be very careful with children or animals crossing the road, sometimes also with potholes or road works. It is also recommended not to drive at night, as the roads are not lit.
Accessibility Senegal
The country is not yet really adapted to the reception of people with reduced mobility. However, some large hotel chains or guest houses easily welcome these travelers, in rooms specially designed to receive them. On the other hand, transportation facilities are still very inadequate, so be sure to find out more before traveling to the country.
