Is Dakar Safe in February 2026?

Individuals near tourist sites and hotels approach visitors with handicrafts or small gifts — often a beaded bracelet or carved figurine — insisting it is a free gift or a gesture of friendship. Once accepted, they demand escalating payment, follow the tourist for several blocks, and become verbally aggressive or physically blocking if refused. A common variation involves someone fastening a bracelet onto the visitor's wrist without asking, then demanding 10,000–20,000 CFA. The behaviour is concentrated around the Independence Monument, the corniche, and the Soumbédioune craft market.

How to avoid: Firmly decline any item offered "for free" on the street and do not allow anyone to place or tie anything on your person without consent. If followed, walk directly into a hotel lobby, restaurant, or police post — these individuals typically will not follow inside. Purchasing handicrafts at the fixed-price Village Artisanal de Soumbédioune reduces street harassment significantly.

Dakar taxis routinely refuse to use the meter and negotiate flat rates that are 3–5 times the local rate. A standard 10km ride that locals pay 1,000–2,000 CFA for can cost tourists 5,000 CFA or more.

How to avoid: Use Yango (Yandex ride app) or InDriver for fixed upfront fares. Official yellow taxis at designated stands are more regulated than street taxis. Research typical fares for your destination before getting in, and negotiate firmly — know your number before the conversation starts.

On Gorée Island, self-proclaimed guides approach tourists the moment they step off the ferry and offer "exclusive" tours for 5,000 CFA. They then demand far more at the end, or lead visitors to overpriced craft stalls where they earn commissions.

How to avoid: Book official guides at the Gorée Island visitor center for a fixed fee, currently around 2,000 CFA, from guides with official ID badges. Do not accept tours from anyone who approaches you at the dock. The island is small enough to explore independently with a map.

Scammers posing as plain-clothes police officers or customs officials approach tourists and claim they have committed an infraction — carrying undeclared currency, visa irregularities, or "suspicious behavior." They flash fake badges and demand on-the-spot cash payments to "resolve" the situation.

How to avoid: Never hand over money or your passport to anyone who claims to be a police officer outside a recognized station. Ask to go to the official police station (commissariat). Real officers do not demand cash on the street. Call your embassy if you feel threatened.

Seafood restaurants along the Corniche and Île de Gorée present dishes without clear pricing or weight specifications. Waiters describe fish by French names unfamiliar to tourists and quote vague prices. Final bills are 3-4x the verbal estimate, justified by claims of "fresh catch pricing" or "weight-based billing." Staff become aggressive if challenged.

How to avoid: Always ask for the exact price per dish and kilo before ordering. Request prices in writing on your table. Stick to restaurants with posted menus and fixed prices near major tourist areas. Eat where locals eat—cheaper and more transparent. Take a photo of the menu and verbal price agreement before ordering.