Senegal Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 15
Home Country: senegal
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 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: GETTING AROUND IN SENEGAL / SENEGAL TRANSPORTATION GUIDE |
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GETTING AROUND IN SENEGAL
BY AIR
Air Senegal runs services to all the main towns in Senegal. Gambia Air Shuttle offers flights from Dakar to Banjul (The Gambia).There are aerodromes in Ziguinchor, Podor and Tamba.
Departure tax: None.
BY SEA
It is often quicker to travel by sea than road. A replacement ferry from Dakar to Ziquinchor (travel time - 20 hours) had its maiden voyage in 2005 after the Joola Ferry disaster of 2002. Sea shuttles depart regularly from Dakar harbour to the Île of Gorée. An excellent new service, L’Express du Senegal, links Banjul, Dakar and Ziguinchor. Fares tend to be high.
Dakar-Goree
Information: 823 80 06.
Every hour from and to Dakar between 6:30 AM and 10:30 PM, $6 round trip.
BY RAIL
The country has a network of about 1225km (761 miles) of rail track. Trains run from Dakar to towns en route for Bamako in Mali. There is an ongoing program of upgrading and expansion. Children under three travel free. Children aged three to nine pay half fare.
Railway Station: 823 31 40.
Dakar- Saint Louis (daily)
Dkr 3PM - SL 8PM
SL 6:30AM- Dkr 11:30 AM
$4 (2nd class) - $6 (1st class) one way
Dakar-Kaolack (daily)
Dkr 4PM- Klk 8:50PM
Klk 6:15AM - Dkr 11AM
$3-$4 one way
Dakar-Tambacounda-Bamako
Dkr 10AM (Wed., Sat.) Tb 7PM
Bmk 2:20PM next day
Bmk 10AM (Fri. Mond.) Dkr 2:20PM next day
The Senegalese train leaving on Wed. is air-conditioned.
The Malian train leaving on Sat. Train is ventilated.
$37-$58 one way.
BY ROAD
Traffic drives on the right. There are approximately 3900km (2423 miles) of asphalt roads linking the major towns and the coastal region. The network of roads in the interior is rough (about 10,400km/6460 miles in total) and may become impassable during the rainy season; it is not advisable to drive at night. There are often police checkpoints at the entrance and exit to villages to enforce speed restrictions; fines are paid on the spot.
Bus
There are many buses available for short distances as well as mini-buses (known locally as car-rapide), which are cheaper if less efficient. Fares are usually up to XOF100. Long-distance services operate subject to demand only.
Taxi brousse
To travel between cities is done by taxi-brousse or big Mercedes buses ("Ndiaga Ndiaye"), going to the bus station (gare routiere) Pompier in Dakar. The destinations are indicated on panels and the price depends on the condition of the vehicle and the road. You will also be required to pay a fixed price for your luggage.
Car rental
Companies are found in Dakar and the main towns.
Documentation: A French or International Driving Permit and Green Card are required.
URBAN TRANSPORTATION
Taxis are vailable in most towns and fares are metered with a surcharge of XOF100. Rates increase after midnight. It is cheaper to hail a taxi in the street than arrange to be collected from the hotel.
The famous car-rapide Renault supplement the urban public transport in the large cities, in competition with the "Dakar Dem Dikk" bus company, that started in January 1st 2001, replacing SOTRAC.
In Dakar, where traffic is infernal, the car-rapides (small buses) are often crammed: avoid the peak hours. If you do not know the city, it will be hard to find your destination. The young ticket collector hanging from the rear door, calls out the final destination (Dakar, Dakar, Dakar, Dakar... or Pikine, Pikine, Pikine, Pikine, Pikine, Pikine...) the destination are called out as the car-rapide passes, often with an accent perfectly incomprehensible. |
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