Dakar

Dakar sprawls along a peninsula on Senegal's Atlantic coast, and the energy hits you as soon as you leave the port gates. Mole I is the main cruise berth, close enough to the city centre by taxi, though you should negotiate the fare before getting in. The African Renaissance Monument, at 49 metres, dominates the skyline from its hilltop above the Corniche coastal road. Sandaga Market is dense, noisy, and full of fabric vendors, tailors working at treadle sewing machines, and stalls selling everything from phone chargers to hand-carved wooden figures. Thieboudienne, the national dish of rice and fish cooked in tomato sauce, is served in nearly every local restaurant. Yassa poulet, chicken in a sharp lemon and onion marinade, is the other standard. Île de Gorée, a short ferry ride from the port, was a departure point for captive Africans during the slave trade and is now a UNESCO site with a sobering museum. French is the main language. The city is safe in tourist areas but stay aware of your belongings in crowded markets. Cafés near the Corniche often have free WiFi.