9 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Dakar - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Dakar

House of Slaves

Despite a fraught and controversial history this African island holds a powerful monument to the tragedy of the slave trade.

The Great Green Wall of Africa

Over 4,700 miles of trees being planted to hold back the desert.

African Renaissance Monument

This giant statue is the product of a mixture of corruption, Stalinist architecture, and North Korean manpower.

IFAN Museum of African Arts

Dakar is home to one of the oldest African art institutions in West Africa.

Bantyii Dibiterie

A smoky doorway in Dakar leads to one of the city’s great communal eating experiences.

Gorée Island

This tiny, tranquil Senegalese island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade.

Cap Manuel's Abandoned Bunker

This abandoned bunker looks out over the Atlantic from its clifftop perch.

Mosque of the Divinity

This unique religious structure is an architectural gem with arresting ocean views.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Dakar

Bantyii Dibiterie

A smoky doorway in Dakar leads to one of the city’s great communal eating experiences.

Explore Dakar, Senegal

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alisonbyrnes818 wants to go to Gorée Island

alisonbyrnes818 wants to go to The Great Green Wall of Africa

lehkost has been to Mosque of the Divinity

lehkost has been to Gorée Island

lehkost has been to African Renaissance Monument

Stories About Dakar

Pape Diop, shown here working in Dakar in 2018, was one of the most prolific street artists of Bamba images.

The Reluctant Saint Who Watches Over Senegal as Street Art

Amadou Bamba stood for freedom from imperialism, and now means much more.

by David A. Taylor

Sandaga Market in December 2019, before the government relocated vendors and started to demolish informal stalls. Many of these vendors are selling clothing, but one blows bubbles from toys for sale.

The Fight to Save One of Dakar's Most Distinctive Markets

In a city full of French colonial influence, Marché Sandaga was built in a uniquely West African style.

by Ricci Shryock

October 5, 2020

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