Mbour

Mbour is located in the middle of the Petite Cote region, only 80 miles south of Dakar. Supporting a population of around 200,000, its Senegal's fifth largest city and one of the country's fastest growing. Bursting at the seams, many of the outlying cartiers are miles from a paved road, and half built houses can be seen everywhere, especially if you venture into the outlying areas. A visit to the market, or the fishing port will give one a sense of what the cities' main economic activities are. For the traveler, Mbour gives you a more authentic taste of Senegal and Africa in comparison to the prefabricated mass tourism feel of Saly Portugal.

A great base in which to explore the region, Mbour is located less than a day trip away from many other interesting sites on the Petite cote and the nearby Sine Saloum Delta. One can visit Mbour, see the beaches, visit the market, but then have an opportunity to visit, for example, nearby Joal Fadiouth, Park de Bandia, La Somone or Popenguine.

As a large city, Mbour contains a melange of all of the countries' ethnic groups and languages. While wolof is spoken widely throughout the city, and is the main form of communication among the Senegalese, one will also hear Sereer (as it is the second most dominant ethnic group in the city), and at times, Pulaar, French etc.

Due to its place as a large city expanding rapidly, Mbour suffers from the high employment that is endemic to many cities in Senegal and around Africa. Many young Senegalese have left their villages and smaller towns in search of better opportunities in the tourist economy of Mbour and Saly. Finding work hard to find, they end up turning to the sex trade or hassling tourists. Try to understand in any bad exchanges with the Senegalese that they stem from a disaffection with the government and system that provides much less opportunities compared to the west.

From Airport:

Taxi from Dakar to Mbour: 15,000 CFA

Taxi from Airport to Gare Routier Pompiers: 2,000 CFA

From Garage Pompiers: Take a Sept Place (Station Wagon that fits 7 People) to Mbour: 1,500 CFA & Pay only up to 500 CFA in Baggage. (You will see signs in the garage or someone in the garage will direct you there)

Take a Ndiage Ndiaye (Big white mercedes bus, stops many times to pick up and drop off passengers) To Mbour: 700 CFA

Take a mini-car (Smaller version of the Ndiage Ndiaye that fits around 16 people) To Mbour: 1100 CFA Baggage costs are also cheaper: Around 100-200 CFA

Once in Mbour: Taxis are relatively cheap,from 500-800 CFA depending on the length of the trip and the time of day.

A cheaper option is to take a clando taxi/route taxi once in Mbour:

Route taxis constantly go up and down the Rue National in Mbour. To find one, just hail a car and tell the driver where you are going. From the North side of town, there are either clando's that go to the large market or straight ahead towards the mayor's office. From the road that turns towards Grand Mbour, you should pay 100 CFA (If you go to the end of the route past the mayors office, you will pay 125 CFA)

There is also a clando that goes from Mbour to Saly. Hail any car on the main road going north towards Saly and ask for the final destination: Cost: 200 CFA

At the road that goes to Grand Mbour, (Intersection between supermarket Holidays and the supermarket Avalanche at the north side of town)

You can take a clando that goes to the hospital, (Also close to hotels Blue Africa, Auberge Ndaali and Tama Lodge) where the beaches are the nicest and cleanest in the city.

Tell someone near the large group of cars that you want to go to the collective. cost: 100 CFA

Between the Hospital and the intersection with the Rue Nationale, there is a road that parallels the Rue Nationale where you can take either a clando or a charette to the market. Clando: 100 CFA Charette: 50 CFA

• Fishing Market, Beach of M'bour. One of the highlights of Mbour is the fish market on the beach. It is a colorful, smelly chaos. Visit it in the late afternoon when the fishing boats arrive and the selling of fresh fish starts. Keep in mind that people are not too fond of having their picture taken. Make sure you get permission when shooting portraits or just shoot overview shots. Please dress decently to avoid annoying comments. Free. (updated Feb 2019)

Mbour, being so close to Saly, has a few good lodging options from small family style campements to a hotel with a pool.

Blue Africa Right on the beach, the campement has a great lounging area right on the ocean under a beautiful setting of palm trees. The rooms, simple and clean, are great for the mid-range traveler visiting Mbour.

Capacity 17 rooms 20,000 CFA plus breakfast includes air conditioning, hot water, bathroom (w/ western toilet), fan, and wifi throughout the campement

2 Houses 110,000 Includes two beds (one big and one small) and can hold 3-4 people and the other amenities mentioned

Phone number: 00221 76 689 36 34

Restaurant The restaurant has a price range between 2,500-4,000 serving fish, meat and various senegalese dishes.

Auberge Ndaali Ndaali feels like a peaceful garden of eden among craziness of Mbour. Each room is a two story hut with a loft, fan, hot water, full western bathroom and wifi throughout the campement. The restaurant has a large variety and good food, and the views of the ocean are great. Not to mention that the owner, Aziz, is a great guy and the executive director of the eco-tourism association ONITS.

Capacity 6 huts with each hut housing from 1-4 people Price: 17,500 1 person (with breakfast included) 25,500 2 people (with breakfast included)

Restaurant Dishes range between 2,500 and up, serving seafood, meat, pasta, and traditional senegalese fare.

Contact Phone: 33 957 47 24 Email: contact@ndaali.com www.ndaali.com