Taxis
Although taxis are the easiest way to get around Dakar, keep in mind that road accidents are fairly common in Senegal. They are easy to spot by their yellow colour and signalisation board on their roof. You can hail a taxi on the street or find them at popular destinations (e.g. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza). Many drivers do not speak French well.
Some tips:
- Before getting into the vehicle, negotiate the price of your ride (around CFA 300/km). Taxi fares are metered and rise after midnight.
- If you are satisfied with the driver, you can ask for his phone number to hire him again.
- Drivers do not often have enough change. Try to pay with small notes.
- For safety reasons, it is advisable to always put your seat belt on. If you sit next to the driver without your seat belt on, you can be fined.
Public transportation
Intercity travel is not recommended at nigh due to the lack of street lighting and the presence of pedestrians, animals or obstacles on the road. The shuttle buses are called Carapid. They are complex to use for those who do not speak Wolof, are mostly dilapidated, can be very dangerous and are not recommended at all. The public transport company Dakar Dem Dikk offers connections to several cities in Senegal with good quality buses: www.demdikk.sn. Senegal has a fast train line (TER) that connects Dakar city center to the Diamniadio urban hub.