The national airline is Air Senegal International (DS) (website: www.air-senegal-international.com). From October 2006 BMed will operate direct flights from London to Dakar.

From Dakar to Paris is five hours 45 minutes, to London is seven hours and to New York is seven hours 40 minutes.

Dakar (DKR) (Leopold Sedar Senghor) is 17km (10.5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Regular coach and bus services go to and from Dakar. Metered taxis are available. Facilities: Duty free shop, bar/restaurant, bank/bureau de change, post office and car hire.
There are two other operating airports in Cap Skirring and Saint Louis.

None.

Main ports: Dakar (website: www.portdakar.sn). There are regular sailings from the Canary Islands, France, Morocco, Spain and several South American and West African ports.

There is one passenger train with restaurant and sleeping cars, running to/from Bamako, Mali. The train leaves Dakar every Saturday and Bamako every Wednesday. The journey can take 30 to 36 hours but expect four to 12 hour delays.

Roads from Mauritania are tarred and in good condition; the best place to cross the border is at Rosso. Roads from Guinea-Bissau are not yet tarred; there is a border crossing at São Domingo. There is a route from Senegal to Mali via Tambacounda. There is access across the Sahara by a 5500km (2120 mile) road that runs from Algeria via Mali. The trans-Gambian highway crosses the River Gambia by ferry. There is a good network of buses and taxis running across the major borders.

Air Senegal runs services to all the main towns in Senegal. Gambia Air Shuttle offers flights from Dakar to Banjul (The Gambia). There are aerodromes in Ziguinchor, Podor and Tamba.

None.

It is often quicker to travel by sea than road. A replacement ferry from Dakar to Ziquinchor (travel time - 20 hours) had its maiden voyage in 2005 after the Joola Ferry disaster of 2002. Sea shuttles depart regularly from Dakar harbour to the Île de Gorée. An excellent new service, L’Express du Senegal, links Banjul, Dakar and Ziguinchor. Fares tend to be high.

The country has a network of about 1225km (761 miles) of rail track. Trains run from Dakar to towns en route for Bamako in Mali. There is an ongoing programme of upgrading and expansion. Children under three travel free. Children aged three to nine pay half fare.

Traffic drives on the right. There are approximately 3900km (2423 miles) of asphalt roads linking the major towns and the coastal region. The network of roads in the interior is rough (about 10,400km/6460 miles in total) and may become impassable during the rainy season; it is not advisable to drive at night. There are often police checkpoints at the entrance and exit to villages to enforce speed restrictions; fines are paid on the spot. Bus: There are many buses available for short distances as well as mini-buses (known locally as car rapide), which are cheaper if less efficient. Fares are usually up to XOF100. Long-distance services operate subject to demand only. Taxi: Available in most towns and fares are metered with a surcharge of XOF100. Rates increase after midnight. It is cheaper to hail a taxi in the street than arrange to be collected from the hotel. Bush taxis and estate cars are good for journeys into the interior. Car hire: Companies are found in Dakar and the main towns. Documentation: A French or International Driving Permit and Green Card are required.

Bus and minibus services operate in Dakar.