Dakar

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Dakar, capital of Senegal

Since the creation of the town of Dakar in 1857, Ndakaru, has always been a friendly land in the like ness of the Peninsula of Cap-vert, where in the course of the last centuries by successive waves, people of diverse ethnic groups from the in land found a shelter. These people call themselves Lebu and used to live in villages such as Yoff, Camberene, Ouakam, Ngor, Hann, Yeumbeul etc. Organized in a republic with a democratic system since the early 19's the Lebu very quickly knew how to set up themselves in the legislative field so as to resist the colonial pretentions on the lands in the peninsula of Cap-vert.

Shelter, cosmopolitan town of 20,000 dwellers in the early 20's, Dakar and its suburb count today about 2,500,000 dwellers. The rural exodus which skyrocketed in the middle of the 70's, years of drought keeps on remodeling the urban landscape of the peninsula and the suburbs of Pikine and Parcelles Assainies illustrate this perfectly.

The old district of the European Dakar gather round the district of Kermel and its famous market. Some old business houses with tiled roofs dominate the first quays of the harbour and as if to challenge time, the buildings of the central Bank of the West African States tower the old districts.
The most beautiful evidences of the colonial architecture are represented by the chamber of commerce, the foreign office situated down independance square, the Museum of IFAN, the railway station, the Presidential Palace and the town-hall.
The district of Mbott, an old Lebu village dating from the early 16's, today a district situated in the heart of Dakar will save you many suprises with its baobab and kapok-trees and wells.

The markets are unquestionnably, the most picturesque areas of the town. Kermel the European, will surprise by its architecture. Sandaga with its neosudanese architecture is the most visited market of the city through the variety of its goods. Tilene situated in the heart of the Medina is the most african.

If there is a visiting course which is a most restful one it's indeed the coast-road. A pleasant road situated down the seafront of some fifteen kilometers will lead you from mole 1 to the Mamelles lighthouse situated down a hill from where you'll have a magnificient view on the town and the peninsula. On your route, the beautiful Anse Bernard and its hotels and restaurants open on to the Lagon. From Cap Manuel and its beautiful lighthouse, one of the most beautiful points of sight on the Goree Island presents it self to you. The National Assembly, the Museum of IFAN, the Millenium Door, the bay of Soumbedioune and its craftmen's village as also Cheikh Anta Diop university of Dakar won't pass unnoticed.

For the evasion there is nothing like a visit down the islands situated round the Peninsula. Goree the memory island where time seems to have come to a stop. The Madeleines, old volcanic islands uninhabited and savage are a paradise for the migratory birds. The Ngor Island and its beautiful beaches and small huts are favourable to rest. A detour from the pink lake Lac Rose situated at about thirty kilometers from the town centre will make you forget about the noise in the city. Finally Dakar by night is for the visitor the occasion to discover quite a different town.

But Dakar is also a vast african town with its problems indeed, but also with its successes and hopes. Modern and up-to-date Dakar with its buildings and numerous cybercafes is resolutely turned to the future. Refined and traditional, the numerous restaurants will give you an idea about the cosmopolitan aspect of the town. Educated and cultured, Dakar shelters the most reputed academic centres of the west African Coast.

At about five hours of flight from North America and the main European capitals, Dakar is unquestionnably a town at the cross-roads.

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