Dakar is a vibrant capital city of Senegal that abounds in museums, galleries, festivals, markets and beach sports. Places you cannot afford to miss once in Senegal includes:

Dakar Grand Mosque:Built in 1964, the Dakar Grand Mosque is one of the most visited religious buildings in the country. The mosque, designed by Moroccan and French architects, is located on Allee Pape Gueye Fall.

La Maison des Esclaves:A landmark site in Dakar, the La Maison des Esclaves was formerly a processing center for the African slaves. It is a perfect place to know about the life and adventures of African slaves. This century old museum is a must visit place for tourists from world over.

Saly Portudal:Located at a distance of just one and a half hours from South Dakar, the Saly Portudal spreads across 1,480 acres of lawns, tress and fragrant flowers and eucalyptus. The place is home to 12 hotels that feature iscos, casinos, horse stable, biking center, deep sea fishing center and shopping areas.

The Pink Lake:On the way to the Cayar Beach lies a beautiful spectacle. The warm and shallow Pink Lake is a nature`s miracle. Surrounded by white foam, almost everything floats on this lake due to the high salinity level.

From low end budget hotels to high class luxurious hotels, Dakar offers some superb accommodation options:

Budget Hotels: Simple and comfortable hotels that are quite budget friendly can be easily found all over Dakar. Prominent ones being Hotel Farid in the city center, Kingz Plaza Guest House, Hotel du Phare Les Mamelles near the airport, Auberge Keur Mouna and Hotel Le Palal du Lac Rose.

Luxury Hotels:Luxury hotels in Dakar boast of a comprehensive list of services and facilities for the tourists, along with great business facilities for the business travelers. Top end hotels worth a mention include Terrou Bi, Radisson Blu Hotel, Pullman Dakar Teranga Ex Sofitel, Hotel Lagon II, Savana Dakar and Novotel. Experience the finest of luxury with amenities like executive suites, bars, swimming pool, and top-end conference and meeting rooms.

All nationals intending to visit Dakar must possess a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.

Visa is not required by the British, Canadian, USA and other EU nationals for stays of up to 3 months, except the nationals of Bulgaria, Australia, Estonia, Hungary, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovak Republi, Romania and Poland who do require a visa to visit Dakar.

November to February is considered to be the best time to visit Dakar. Dakar is mostly cold and dry during these months.

Dakar experiences a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. May to November is the rainy season which is characterized by heavy downpours and heavy winds. The average temperature during this season hover around 27 degree Celsius. The dry season begins in December and ends in April. This season experiences very little or no rain along with hot and humid Harmattan winds.

Currency:The currency used in Dakar is the West African CFA Franc (XOF). ATMs can be easily found in Dakar but the rest of the country has limited banking facilities. Credit cards are accepted mostly by big establishments engaged in tourism trade. Travelers can easily get their travelers checks cashed in Dakar.

Language:Owing to Senegal`s French colonial heritage, Dakar`s official language is French. Spoken by close to 80% of the population, Wolof is the most widely spoken language in the city. Other official national languages include Serere, Haal Puular, Diola, Soninke and Mandingue.