ESSENTIALS

Getting there & around

Nonstop flights from London to the Senegal-Gambia region land in Banjul, in The Gambia. Titan Airways and TUI Airways fly from Gatwick; The Gambia Experience offers flights and packages. titan-airways.com tui.co.uk gambiaexperience.co.uk

Average flight time: 6h30m.

TAP Air Portugal, Royal Air Maroc and Brussels Airlines fly to Dakar with one stop via their hubs. Average flight time: 7h40m. flytap.com royalairmaroc.com brusselsairlines.com

A taxi ride from Dakar to Banjul takes six to eight hours; two-three hours from Banjul to Kafountine. It’s possible to fly between Dakar and Banjul (for Kafountine): a 40-minute trip with Air Senegal. flyairsenegal.com

When to go

November to June, when temperatures average 25C. Rainy season, July to October, sees temperatures exceeding 30C, with humidity and thunderstorms.

Places mentioned

Institut Français. ifs.sn

Maison des Cultures Urbaines de Dakar. facebook.com/mcudakar

La Mer à Table. facebook.com/Lameratable2018

Chez Fatou. facebook.com/chezfatoudakar Casamundi. facebook.com/casamundidakar

Phare des Mamelles. pharedesmamelles.sn

Museum of Black Civilisations. mcn.sn Dak’Art. biennaledakar.org

Where to stay

Pullman Dakar Teranga, from £234,

B&B. all.accor.com

Hotel Le Djoloff, Dakar. From £63, room only. facebook.com/HotelLeDjoloff

The Kora Workshop, Kafountine from £410 all-inclusive. thekoraworkshop.co.uk

How to do it

offers 10-day group cultural tours of Senegal, including Dakar and Casamance, from £2,399 per person, excluding international flights. nativeeyetravel.com