Senior travel: Dakar
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 66 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Cathedral of African RemembranceStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 35 minSteps at the main doors; ask about a side entrance (check).
- Gorée Historical MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minFort stairs and sandy lanes; no step-free route confirmed.
- Kermel marketStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 50 minCrowded aisles and uneven floors.
- House of Slaves, GoréeStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minSand, cobbles and stairs inside the house; a step-free route is not confirmed.
- IFAN Museum of African ArtsStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minSteps at the entrance; galleries mostly level (check).
- Grand Mosque of DakarStep-free: check (check before you go) · about 30 minApproach steps; confirm a side access.
- African Renaissance MonumentStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 70 minMany steps to the base and the viewing level; a lift may operate (check).
- Ngor IslandStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 180 minBoat steps and sand; not suited to wheelchairs.
Getting around in Dakar
Dakar is hard going on wheels. Pavements are broken, high-kerbed or missing, and step-free access exists mainly in newer hotels, malls and a few museums. Plan door-to-door car rides and pick a hotel with a lift.
- Pavements:
- Broken, with open drains in places; the Corniche promenade is smoother in places.
- Getting around:
- Cars from apps or hotels are the step-free option; buses, minibuses and pirogues are not.
- Hotels:
- International-standard hotels in Plateau and Almadies have lifts and accessible rooms on request.
- Toilets:
- Accessible toilets in malls and larger hotels; rare elsewhere.
- Gorée:
- Sand and cobbles, a boat with steps and no step-free route confirmed; plan for help.
Medicines and health on the ground
The Senegal guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Malaria:
- Present in Senegal; take prophylaxis as advised by a travel clinic, use repellent from dusk, and sleep under a net or in an AC room.
- Yellow fever:
- A vaccination certificate may be required if arriving from an endemic country; check your route before you fly.
- Heat:
- Shade and AC every 60–90 minutes, bottled water, and no midday exertion in the humid months.
- Food and water:
- Bottled or filtered water only; busy canteens with fast turnover are generally safer than quiet ones.
- Sun and sea:
- Strong sun on the Atlantic coast; use sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard.
- Vaccination and clinics:
- Ask a travel clinic at home several weeks before you travel; private clinics in Dakar can help on arrival (check).
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.