When is the best time to fly to Dakar?
As the weather is generally warm all year round, there isn’t a bad time to book a flight to Dakar. The city has a hot, semi-arid climate which means the dry season is much longer than the rainy season. Rain falls from July to October and the rest of the year is dry. Between December and May the weather is warm but not hot with temperatures between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius. However from May to November the weather becomes hot with temperatures reaching 31degrees Celsius. Sea breezes keep the city cooler than much of Africa, all year round. A variety of festivals occur throughout the year, so you might want to plan your flights to Dakar to take advantage of the International Arts Festival or traditional dance festival.
Some travellers avoid the area when it is very hot or during the rainy season so it is possible to get good deals and cheap flights to Dakar at this time of the year. Festival times will see higher accommodation rates and airfares as will school holiday periods, the festive season, Islamic holidays and New Year. The rainy season still offers good weather but the rain may deter travellers and taking advantage of deals during this time is prudent.
Dakar overview
Sometimes dusty and often hot, the beauty of Dakar lies in its colourful markets, traditions, its Medina and the constant hum of traffic and Senegalese pop which throbs through the city. If you're looking for magnificent views, look no further than Les Mamelles where you can see the Cap-Vert Peninsula from above the only two hills in the area. From this vantage point, you can see the Atlantic, cityscape and the African Renaissance Monument (Monument de le Renaissance Africaine) which is bigger than the Statue of Liberty. Local and international music is very much a part of the local culture in the city and for the best in live local artists, a visit to Just 4 U, is a great choice.
The Medina is a series of streets laid out in grids. These narrow walkways offer a busy area where you can see the Grand Mosque and plenty of local colour in the form of horse-drawn carts, stoves, open air food stalls and ones selling rugs, art and crafts and techno gadgets. For art and culture, head to the Institut Français to enjoy coffee in the gardens, film shows and exhibitions all year round. Good food is plentiful in Dakar from al fresco fare on Avenue Pompidou, where you can find fish, mutton skewers and rice at very low prices, to La Fourchette, where you can enjoy international cuisine.