Audio walk · Dakar
Ngor and the Almadies
Put your phone in your pocket and walk. Your phone reads each stop aloud, then waits while you walk to the next one; tap “I've arrived” to carry on. Everything it says is written out below, so the walk works without sound too.
- 3 stops
- about 5 min of listening
- about 20 min between stops
- Cluster guide
3 stops · about 5 min listening · about 20 min between stops
Before you start
Voice and speed
The script is in English. On-device voices keep working with no signal once this page is open or saved.
Transcript
Everything the tour says, in order. Read it instead of listening if you prefer.
Before you start
Welcome to the Ngor and the Almadies audio walk in Dakar. 3 stops: Ngor Island, African Renaissance Monument and Pointe des Almadies. Evening cluster: the coast at the north-west tip; restaurants and beach bars; a car from the Plateau.
Ngor village and the beach road toward the Almadies. Underfoot: sand and paved roads; slope: flat; shade: low.
Dakar is a peninsula city at the western edge of Africa: a colonial port turned capital, with a memorial island offshore, a market district that never sleeps, and a beach-side quarter at its north-west tip.
Before you start: Strong currents: swim only at beaches where lifeguards or locals say it is safe. Keep your eyes on the street, and pause the audio before you cross a road.
1. Ngor Island
Île de Ngor
Stop 1 of 3: Ngor Island. Locally, Île de Ngor. Arrival point: Ngor beach pirogue landing (near the Ngor village end of the beach road).
A short pirogue ride from Ngor beach to a small car-free island: sand lanes, painted houses, a beach and simple seafood; go for a slow half day, not a rushed hour.
At the north-west tip, the Almadies and Ngor have become the beach-side quarter of the city, with hotels, bars, seafood terraces and a surf scene, and a pirogue crossing to Ngor island.
Agree the return fare before you board. Quiet on weekday mornings; busy on weekend afternoons. Beachwear on the beach only; cover up in the village lanes. A morning boat gives you the island before the day trippers arrive. Bring cash, sunscreen, a hat and a dry bag. Ask for a life jacket and check the return times before you settle in. Swim only where locals do; currents are strong at some beaches.
Walk:Next, stop 2: African Renaissance Monument. This leg is usually a ride, not a walk: car to the ngor landing, about 20 minutes. The next stop is about 3.9 km to the south-east. The tour waits here. Tap I've arrived when you get there.
2. African Renaissance Monument
Monument de la Renaissance africaine
Stop 2 of 3: African Renaissance Monument. Locally, Monument de la Renaissance africaine. Arrival point: Ouakam hill road; taxi or hired car to the entrance.
A 49 m bronze statue on a hill in Ouakam, unveiled in 2010: go for the view and the scale, 45–75 minutes, on the way between the Plateau and Ngor; the walk to the top is hot, so go early or late.
Dakar was also one of the four communes whose African-born residents held a form of French citizenship, which made it a centre of early African political life. Blaise Diagne, elected to the French parliament in 1914, was the first Black African deputy, and the airport that now takes his name opened in 2017. In 1966 the city hosted the World Festival of Black Arts, a landmark for African culture.
Sun exposure: hat, water, early or late visit. Busy on weekend afternoons; quiet on weekday mornings. Casual; modest clothing for the surrounding neighbourhood.
Walk:Next, stop 3: Pointe des Almadies. It's about 0 minutes on foot, about 4.4 km to the north-west. The tour waits here. Tap I've arrived when you get there.
3. Pointe des Almadies
Stop 3 of 3: Pointe des Almadies. Arrival point: Almadies point road, taxi to the end.
The westernmost point of mainland Africa: a rocky headland with a sign and a view; skip unless you are already on the Almadies road, and go at sunset if you do.
Waves break on the rocks: stay back from the edge. Busy at sunset; quiet mid-morning. Casual. Combine with a sunset drink or an Almadies dinner rather than making a trip. Do not go alone late at night; use a booked car. The plaque and sign are the main reason to come. Do not swim off the point. Is it really the westernmost point? It is commonly described as the westernmost point of mainland Africa. Is it worth a visit? A short photo stop at sunset; otherwise skip. Shoes on.
End of the walk
That's the end of the Ngor and the Almadies walk. To carry on, The Plateau is about 30 minutes away (car south-east).
Built from this site's place pages, walking times and city deep dive; nothing is added that isn't on those pages. Opening hours, prices and rules change: check each place page before you go. Walking times are typical (median) and assume a steady pace.