Dakar, Senegal, is often called the Paris of West Africa, with beautiful tree-lined boulevards, French bistros and a very fashionable population.
This capital, located near the tip of the Cap Vert Peninsula, is bordered by beaches and 100-ft/30-m cliffs that drop into the Atlantic. For a pleasant introduction to the city, drive around its perimeter between the beaches and the cliffs, then take a walking tour of Dakar's markets.
Senegal is an Islamic country, so if you're in Dakar on a Friday, stop and listen to the afternoon call to prayers. If you want to observe the faithful, visit the Grand Mosque. (Non-Muslim women are not allowed to enter, and non-Muslim men are welcome to enter outside of prayer hours just to observe.)
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