Senegal

[Skin Two]

Would I encounter any problems taking my Gambia girlfriend to one of the major hotels in Dakar.

[WordUp]

Safariman,

Are you speaking of riding the Ferry to Gambia, which allows Heavy Truck, Farm Animals, and is over loaded with people that crosses that huge river which name I can not remember, but is a Sports Fishermans Dream ( the fisk in the River/Lake are just "HUGE", and plentiful).

If this is the Ferry, I rode it twice, and it was a National Geographic Experience, I "NEVER" want to do again. It wasted a lot of time, and the Ferry was 2 hours late, for the last Evening crossing. I never got any hassle from the Police on either side, but the border Police took a very long time looking at my passport. Like they were trying to spot terrorist, or something. I took a Chartered Bus, and it got so dusty in the bus with that red dirt, we had to plug up the doors and vent, but the Air Conditioner barely kept working. There were a lot of people wanting a exchange money.

I saw a woman, at one of the general store who I want to screw. Of all the women she was Very Tall, Thick, Shapely, Sexy, and Very Attractive.I got her to come over to the bus. And in a slang line I asked her if she would like to exchange SEX for Money, instead. It whent something like that meaning, in my broken African / English / French tone. She pondered a little and say yes. The only place was her home, or one of the restrooms. She lived about a 10-15 walk away, too long by my schedule, and with now many buses pulling up, the rests were out. So I paid one of the Store employees ($3) to use his work/sleep area. I paid her ($10) for what was a quickie. I had a friend keep an eye and ear for me, just in case. Afterward she was to get him a girl he had spotted and liked .And a $20 for an Police troubles. I hit it from behind quicky. I was not smell as I thought it would be, be NOT as Fresh smelling as I like it. I got full service from her. It took all of 15-20 minutes, and I give her a $5 tip once we finished. I even exchanged $100 with her, and did not get cheated. I did NOT post this then, because the girl turned out to be the daughter of someone important in the Town, and I thought mentioning the event, might get her known. Turn out I was wrong. It is still all about the Dollars, and this girl wanted an American to Sponsor her to come to America. NOW, I understand what she was talking about.

I think she would have done me for FREE, if I had more time to talk to me. I Border Police held everyone up for and hour for nothing. We did have a lot of people around the buses, so double check the bus locks. Don't have a CRIME of opportunity, hit you !!!!

ALSO, for people visiting Africa, have at least $50-100, in Dollars or Euros, to Bride a few palms, to get info, or service. Also a few for quick tips, and charity. NEVER EVER let anyone see you give money to someone begging, because if you do. THEY WILL BE ALL OVER YOU, And I Mean "ALL OVER YOU !!!! " That even goes for if you buy something from a street vendor. It is all about money.

[Safariman]

There are peugeot 504 taxi's. Go to the taxi stop place, make sure you get a place in the front or second bench: the one in the back gives you a crick in the neck!!! I can't remember the price, but it is not much. It takes about 4-5 hours to the Gambian border, where you have to walk across. The National Security Guys are nasty. Careful with your luggage: many people crowding around you to offer change of money etc. Then you take a Gambian taxi and you go as far as the ferry, where you buy a ticket, meet again a b*stard of the National Intelligence, who wants your name ("when the boat sinks we know you were on it", but he does not write the Africans: "Those we know" was the answer). Coming off the ferry again a policeman who wants to see your passport: welcome to the Gambia policestate! Enjoy the girls, although Senegal is better!

[Everywhere]

Hey, to all Senegal experts.

I will be in Dakar in about 4 weeks time and intent to travel to Banjul. Can anyone advice me about the distance and whether Banjul can be reached by traveling overland, by bus or by train.
This would be my preferred option to flying.

I consider It will be helpful if I know all my possibilities in advance including what I can espect to pay. Rip-off merchants coud be everywhere.

Thank You

everywhere.

[ILS05]

Visited Dakar recently. Some hotel action at the Sofitel but the place to go is Africa Star. Decent music, recently renovated place and loads of company for lonely nights. Got one of the best BJs there!!!

[Oetziboy]

yust back from 4 days in dakar, since business took the whole day, only evening left, our group was at Meridien president which is quiete away from the center, fine Hotel, but rooms are far from what you're used to expect from any other Meridien in Europe, Far Esat or Asia, for the hobby yust go to Casino de Cap Vert, after 10/11 pm - Taxe 2.000 Cfa, you'll find the girls in the piano Bar (upper level - no entrance fee) or in the disco (better later) entrance 5.000 Cfa, I got only ones a girl and I was lucky enough to find a really nice and kind one, they are generally quiete relaxed (not really pushing for business) I may re-confirm that I had a real "safe" feeling everywhere at anytime, no airport hassle, but completley full booked planes

[Poupard2000]

Senegal was a wonderfull destination for mongers ten years ago but, unfortunatly as in all West Africa, fundamentalism has progressed in this muslim country. The main consequence is that, despite the natural kindness of Senegalese people, girls with white boyfriends are looked down in small villages. They can have problems with local boys if they are seen with white men. So it is easier to find a girl in a big city and to go after in another place where she is unknown. Like that she can avoid "islamic" harassment.

These were not problems ten years ago. A girl was PROUD to have a white boyfriend. Now it is Dangerous.

[Malti]

Dear Admin and fellow mongers,

I am writing in this Forum not because I have been to Senegal recently. My punting trips have all been reserved to my homeland, Malta. However I feel that it is very unfair that people like PHOTO TIME steal reports from other people and post them as their own.

I think action needs to be taken against this form of plagerism

Regards,

Malti

Hi,

I am always willing to review problem reports and effect the appropriate action, but with everything I have to do to maintain the Forum on a daily basis, I find it somewhat time-consuming to hunt down and identify an exact report in the Forum from amongst the thousands of reports. Therefor, I would ask your assistance in helping me identify the report by asking you to please use the "Report this Post to a moderator" link at the bottom of the report.

When you select this link, the program will display a dialog box wherein you may enter your comments about the report. After that, please select the "Send Report Now" button at the bottom of the screen, and the Forum software will send me an email with your comments and a link directly back to the report. This makes it very easy for me to read your comments, and then go directly to the report where I can effect the appropriate response.

Thanks,

Jackson

[Getopardo]

My 2 cents,

If you speak a few words of French, choose Senegal. A poor country, yes, but civilized in its way, and most people "smiling" and pleasant to meet.

If you don't speak French at all, you have a better chance to meet English-speaking girls in Cameroon. The latter are usually more "hungry" for money than the average girl in Africa (esp. compared with Mali or Senegal).

Or just learn French in Dakar, or Togo for that matter.

[Weasel]

Hi Mates,

The time has come. I have a break from work and I am off to Africa. Let me posit my dilemna and would welcome feedback.

I want to go to Ngeria. But, I believe this is mostly based on Mike_Q's university expriences. Plus, I do find Nigerian woman very beautiful. But, frankly, I am not comfortable that I will be safe.

This leaves Senegal and Cameroon. I believe I will go to one of these two destinations and perhaps wait on Nigeria until I can meet someone down there that is "street smart".

Between Cameroon and Senegal, which is friendlier, more English speaking, and easier to meet girls...the two places seem about the same for ease of meeting girls (if some of you recall, I did not really meet non-pros on my first trip to Ghana). I would like to meet regular girls as well as pros.

Earlier, FrankAfrica highly recommended Cameroon and I am leaning towards Cameroon on what I consider his highly expert opinion.

Please respond with opinions and any new information. I will head out in mid-April, but will be buying my ticket in the next ten days or so.

Thanks in advance and you can all count on a good few reports wherever I end up.

Weasel

[Frank Africa]

Dear Photo Time:

Yes, a decent report, but I'm not sure all of if the words that you wrote are originally yours or if you stole them from another poster.

Why do I say this? You recently posted a long report on the Ivory Coast section of WSG that was a 100% copy of a post by a senior WSG member back in October 2002! Yes, you're a thief!

I'm also surprised at the negativity in your report. There are many fine hotels and restaurants in Dakar. The most expensive hotel that I've stayed in is the Terranga, just off the Place de l'Independance, for less than $80 a night. The nearby "Lagon II" hotel is similar. For the budget traveller, the Hotel Ganale near the Marche Sandaga runs about $30 and is better than any Motel 6 in the U.S. It's also next to a great low-priced restaurant named the "?" Restaurant.

As for food, there are so many good restaurants in downtown Dakar that I can't begin to name them all. Try the Belgian restaurant on Rue Ponty near the Place de l'Independance for lunch, or the Cape Verdean restaurant "Chez Loutcha" for dinner, or the "Hanoi" Vietnamese restaurant two blocks south of the Hotel Ganale, or the "Angkor" Chinese Restaurant or the "La Dagorne" French Restaurant near the Marche Kermel, and the list goes on and on and on.

The one exception to all this is the Hotel Independance right on the Place, truly an overpriced dump.

[Photo Time]

My thoughts on Senegal (last visited late '02).

Senegal is a Muslim country on the coast of West Africa. There are direct flights on South African airlines 2 or 3 times per week for less then $1000RT from NYC. It is a good flight, less than 8 hours. Senegal is very, very safe and hassle free for the experienced traveler.

Upon arriving at Mohamand Segnor airport in Dakar, you will pass through most friendly customs. They will tax obvious consumer goods but nothing like Nigeria or Cameroon. Africa is well known for customs agents trying to extract bribes from travelers. I have traveled to Africa more than 50 times and problems with customs officials is very true but in Senegal this is not an issue for the normal tourist. You simply check through customs as you would in NYC on a busy day. I only carry a small backpack, your mileage may vary.

Upon exiting the customs area, it is usually early morning; you walk into a small but relatively modern arrivals area with regular things you would expect to see in an airport; car rental counters, money exchange, cafe, duty free, a couple of guards with automatic weapons but nothing too intimidating. Most of the hustlers are not allowed in the airport, only official hustlers are allowed in the airport. I always have a buddy pick me up but I talk to these guys, they are not criminals, they only want to make a buck or two to help you with your bag, I never need this service because I only have one bag but I would keep an eye on them. They will try hard to get you to hire them.

As you leave the airport, on an AM, you walk outside to little activity for an African airport. I have traveled to most int'l airports in West Africa, places like Lagos, Douala and Accra there are thousands of people leaning over the gate. It is quite intimidating for the lone, first time traveler, even when you are sitting behind the security gate waiting for your ride. When you walk outside people are tugging at your bag wanting to help you. Maybe they just want a small tip (25 cents), maybe they will run off with your bag. In Dakar, you have none of this. It is very sleepy and relaxed outside of the airport. Of course some people will ask you if you need taxi/change money/hotel but a simple "Non s'il vous plait" (NOH SEE VUU PLAY) is fine.

What I do is to see one taxi driver out of my peripheral vision and pick him out, I say this is my taxi, this is my friend and I want to go with him, negotiate a price (IMPORTANT) and go. Actually think when you were a little kid, you were taught to be suspicious of people who approach you but it is ok to approach stranger if you have a problem. First principles brothers.

Ride into Dakar is interesting, about 30 minutes, about $15, desert, architecture that is Africa/Arab/European. You don't get to see the people carrying eggs/car tires/soccer balls/water cans on their heads like you do in other African countries but it is a mellow ride with light to medium traffic.

Hotels suck and don't pay them more than 2 days in advance. Get there, get your stuff in order, when you are in the street, you can find another place. Is important to have a night in advance (I travel to Bogota or Rio with no prior reservations but in Africa if you don’t have a friend it is a necessity.). If your hotel is $80 and it sucks but it doesn't suck that bad then you did pretty good. You should be able to find a $50 hotel that is about comparable to what you would find in Mississippi for $20.

Safety. Violent crime is non-existent. If you are alone, constantly people try to hustle you pulling all kinds of shit on the street. Heymyfreind, heymyfreind, whereyou from...... I walk very fast like I live there and don't talk to strangers (unless I initiated the conversation in which case people are nice) and put paper or dirty socks in my pockets. Learn how to be clever about hiding your money, only bring things you are prepared to lose.

Girls: Ground zero is Africa Star Nightclub. Dakar is fairly centralized; you have your downtown section and some suburbs. Basically the centre revolves around Place de la Independence. If you go there, just pick up a taxi and ask him to go to Africa Star. You need to be able to speak French enough to say "how much to go to.....". maybe $1 taxi to Africa Star from there. If you can’t speak French at all you will always be able to hire a friend on the streets for a small tip, he will tag along with you everywhere and only leave when you ask him to. Sometimes these guys can be helpful but trust on a case by case basis only after you know then very well. Don’t worry about finding him, he will find you.

Africa Star is on a little street with another bar across the street (Texas Bar) about 5 blocks from the Place de la Ind.. You walk inside, on weekends they have a cover ($3), looks like a white trash bar you would find in the US, go to the bar, order a beer. They have urban dance music playing. Nothing like being the only white guy alone in a crowded African dance club at 2AM with music blaring (WHATCHU WANT FROM A NIGGA!) but I felt completely safe and I have been here at least 10 times. In the back they have couches (someone hides condoms in the couches). Girls will mob you, or you can brush them off and approach the one you want, buy her a drink and take it from there. Most of the girls here are from Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia and speak English pretty well. Price depends on you, maybe 10000CFA ($16), maybe 20000 ($32), maybe free. If the girl is a nice girl this will be for as long as you want, if the girl is on drugs then she will try to leave so she can immediately smoke the money you gave her or go back to make more. On any given night there are 20-40 girls here with 3:1 girl/guy ratio.

There are many other bars in Dakar and chances are 99% if the woman is alone she will go with you. Regular pretty brewpub type establishments. Hit/miss ratio here is like 90%. Maybe buy a drink, maybe will want a tip like money for taxi but I think it is the only reason she is there, it is a Muslim country so unlike the US girls can't just be out at night alone in bars.

Black girl heaven. For example in Africa Star, I sat at the bar, ordered a cold Flag beer. One girl sat on one side of me (very nice girl, little chubby from Gambia, when I say chubby I don’t mean pookie, I mean 10 extra pounds, my standards are brutal), another sat on the other side (dead on, I mean dead on Whitney Houston look-alike from Senegal, lived in Spain for 5 years, spoke English as good as me, wow, hot). I just played it cool. I talked to both of them at once in English, bought them both a beer, said I was tired, we will have another beer, dance a little and Whitney suggested maybe both would give me a massage to make me feel better. Well the beers are only $1.25, I said I only have $50 and I need to pay by beers and taxi home and motel, so what is left you can have. We go to a motel 2 blocks away, it is $11, the girls are not into each other at all, the chubby girl I think it is her first time out, the Whitney Houston girl I think is addicted to something, she is all asking for more money, more money, chubby licked me everywhere while Whitney blew me 2 times to completion sans condom (poor judgment). Then we all made plans to go out, I met them in the bar 30 minutes later, Whitney never showed up but I hung out with chubby all night at an outdoor place near the pier (any taxi can find), didn’t take her home but she showed me a lot of cool places (Samba club, Bar Havana), she begged be to take her to my hotel so she can give me a massage but I was afraid to bring her there. Two nights later, I ran into Whitney and she was pissed, where the hell were you. I came to the bar an hour later and the bartender said you left with the other girl. Apparently she waited all night for us. I got to know her a little better and she is addicted to something, bad news.

Only problem is the food sucks, the hotels suck, nobody speaks English but the people are very friendly and the weather is nice. For safe adventure it is top notch, within 3 hour drive there are so may unusual things to see, pink lakes, beaches made of seashells, deserts, jungles, beaches, slave forts, etc, etc, etc, I don't believe it is worth a trip specifically for sex but if you made the trip 50% adventure, 50% romance then it would be worth your while. See, if I travel I don’t care about busting a nut, I don’t visit the thermas or massage parlors, I like the head games, the bullshit, the temporary love, I love chasing girls in my own country. It is more troubling but to me it is more rewarding. I am young and I would like to learn my lessons the hard way myself. In Africa, not possible but in Africa the sky is the limit - you are a king. Forget *****s, to find a beautiful Naomi Campbell look-alike girlfriend who wants nothing more than your company, to be taken out to simple dinners and a little respect is like free candy, easier than shooting a fish in a barrel. If this is your cup of tea then go for it, you won’t be disappointed.

[SeniorCitizen]

Is that the pool you walk down about 1000 stepe to get to? I've had that experience also

[WordUp]

HEY MEATMAN,

THANKS for the thumbs up on my pic. I actually spent over the limit because I did not have time to search around since I was always on the go. I paid $50 for the night. She came from the Hotel Bar. She had been charging $100 for the same, but she liked me for her own reasons. Hotel SW are always more expensive, like in Las Vegas. And get this folks are paying her $100 for a short time FS. The next night she brought her best friend who was a very beautiful very light skin African from Senegal. She almost broke the door down when the very mention of taking picture was said.

I had a chance to do do a few of the local SW for $10 for a few hours at a hotel. I declined then, because the hotel girls were "SAFER." The Hotel I was at lets you bring girls in, if they have a Health Card up=to=date on them.

Just for the fun of it, and $5 to a guard, I got a few quickies for $5 from just passing girls on there way home at night. . It all happened down by the Pool area, and the guard keep watching around for us. THAT WAS THE MOST FUN !!!!

[MeatMan]

WordUp,

Nice pics man! I'd assume you did a few all nighters with them. How much? was it? I'm sure it was pretty cheap, it being Senegal and all.Love to hear the details if you could provide it!.

MeatMan