Dakar

Dakar - darkometer rating : 3 - The capital city of Senegal and one of the hubs of West Africa as a whole. For the dark tourist it is one site in particular that's the main reason for coming here as it is one of the world's most recognized memorials to the vile history of the transatlantic slave trade. But the city also has a couple of further sights worth seeing. > What there is to see > Location > Access and costs > Time required > Combinations with other dark destinations > Combinations with non-dark destinations > Photos What there is to see: Cynics might say that Dakar as such is a rather dark destination, but that would be a bit unfair. Yes, it is a very African metropolis, i.e. a riot of colours, noise, chaos, open sewers, rubbish, and dust .. the latter in particular in the dry season (winter) when the so-called "Harmattan" winds from the Sahara bring a constant orange haze to the sky and layers of fine sand deposit themselves everywhere on the ground. Walking around, especially as a white Westerner, means constant hassle and in some parts isn't without its risks (pickpocketing and even muggings are not altogether uncommon). But there aren't any Kalashnikov-waving militias patrolling the streets or any such things, as can be the case in some much more unsavoury corners of the continent – no, compared to many other African cities Dakar is actually relatively safe and organized. From a dark history point of view, Dakar's claim to fame, or rather infamy, is primarily due to the transatlantic slave trade. Naturally, this westernmost African trading post was crucial in the shipment of such "cargo" across the sea to the New World.