Dakar Airport in Senegal is known by many other names including Leopold Sefar Senghor International and Dakar Yoff International. It is reputed as one of the most important transportation hubs in Western Africa. The airport connects passengers with an extensive network of cities around the world, including Europe, North America and Africa and is located in Yoff town in the northern tip of Dakar.
Dakar is the capital city of Senegal. The busy airport sees over 1.5 million passengers embarking and disembarking in a year. Given the substantial volume of commuters using the airport as a prime transportation hub it has in place a range of ancillary services including information desks, accommodation help, rental car agencies, ATMs etc.
Dakar is a big city with more than 1 million inhabitants. The city is built on the Cape Verde peninsula jutting out towards the Atlantic Ocean. The city has claims to a great history which dates back to early 15th century. Dakar was one of the worst victims of the slave trade until it was abolished during 1815 by the French.
Over the years the city has grown into a sprawling urbanized cosmopolitan region containing a range of modern facilities and structures. The new buildings blend harmoniously with the majestic colonial architecture of the past. One of the main attractions in the city is its happening nightlife. You should not miss out on visiting the legendary nightclubs spread in the coastal areas.
Given its massive landscape Dakar is not a region one can explore in a hurry. And to get the best results out of your visit you should have utmost freedom of mobility. Though public transportation is readily available in the city center to go off the beaten track you need something handier. This problem can be solved at Dakar Airport by making arrangements to rent-a-car from one of the car rental agencies operating their booths at the airport terminal.
The rail service is erratic and buses tend to be crowded and slow. Station wagons known as Sept Places which translates as Seven Seats is the most popular domestic travel mode. About seven people are packed into a congested seating area for the duration of the journey. This is not a very comfortable ride for visitors, especially when they have luggage to carry along. Taxis are found in abundance and the rates are comparatively cheaper and ideal for short distance journeys within the city center. Rental cars on the other hand, offers the advantage of smooth and seamless connectivity with onwards transfers and for travelling within the region.
