Thanks for this, Hannes. I appreciate your perspective.

I've been to Dakar four or five times and have always enjoyed my visits there. I even have a few favorite restaurants there: Ali Baba and Chez Loutcha. I love sipping on a cold Gazelle beer at the French Cultural Center!

You mentioned religion and I would like to point out something that I found to be of interest:

My first visit to Senegal, I had been living in Mauritania, which is an Islamic Republic with 100% of the population being Muslim. By contrast, in Senegal, Muslims are 95% of the population, but the huge difference is NOT that 5%. It is the fact that the government and the relgion are not one and the same. Whereas I saw alcohol served only in expat restaurants in Mauritania, it was just about everywhere in Dakar. The Muslims there drink, and they make no big deal about it.

The people are friendly, helpful, and welcoming in Dakar. I would never hesitate to return.