Dakar - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you feel that it is safe to walk, run or hike outside? Are there areas where bike riding is possible? What is the availability and safety of outdoor space for exercising? Are these easily accessible?
Yes, it's safe in terms of security but not much in the way of sidewalks. Diesel fumes probably an issue if running on the main roads. However, one can run the backroads of Almadies and mostly avoid vehicles. Outdoor space: US Embassy's Ebbitts Field, International School Dakar (a lot of parents do exercise there), Park Hann is ok on the weekend (has a 1.5 km loop for running and where our kid learned to bike). And don't forget the sea--Virage Beach, Yoff Beach, Ouakam Beach have sand. Surfers are of course happy here. Road bikers have a club that does a big loop to downtown Dakar and back on Sundays. A mountain bike would be useful for getting through the sand and dirt of most of unpaved Almadies back roads. Not much hiking near Dakar, but there's a nice cliff near Popenguine where one could probably walk for 1.5-2 hours with a decent cliffside view. - Oct 2024
